Bike alloys for GCSE work

[mickle]

Fairynuff.

 

[Rob3rt]

A GCSE level project wont require huge detail to score very high marks, lets not get ahead of ourselves.

Some general info on the alloy type, the tubing structure and the heat treatment methods/requirements and relate said info to the world of cycling would more than likely do better than suffice.

It wont matter if Columbus Airplane, Columbus Spirit, Reynolds 531 or whatever are brand names, the student can use this to their advantage and cite branded tubesets rather than just "chromoly tubes" they can say, "a chromoly alloy tubeset such as the <insert branded tubeset name> with its <rough comment on butting/heat treatment, or other feature> lends itself well to <insert particular feature expected on a bike frame>" etc.

 

[mickle]

... "a chromoly alloy tubeset" such as the "insert branded tubeset name" with its "rough comment on butting/heat treatment" lends itself well to "insert particular feature expected on a bike frame" etc.

Are you absolutely sure about these facts?

 

[snailracer]

Aero engineering websites often have information about the various aluminium alloys available, only a small selection of which are used in bicycles. The sobering thing is that the peculiar failure modes of each type of alloy were often discovered by air crash investigations .

 

[asterix]

My audax bike was built by Roberts using Columbus Nivacrom extra light. I do most miles on this bike. The frame is a compact and the shape of the tubing makes it nice and stiff for good hill-climbing.

My other Audax bike was built by Ellis Briggs using Reynolds 631. A nice lively ride.

My favourite tourer is Reynolds 531ST. ST means it is a bit stronger (stiffer) than plain R531 which I found a bit too bendy in standard sized tubes. It is 27 years old and good for another 27.

I do have a tourer with 531 but it is in oversized (fatter) tubes. Fatter tubes are more rigid than thinner tubes. It's a good load carrier but not as lively as the others.

Steel is springy (they make spring out of it!) and does not suffer metal fatigue. Aluminium is not springy (they don't make springs out of it) and it does suffer metal fatigue.

 

[Jack Flash]

Thank You Guys!

I'm going to "hit the library", I cant make head or tail of the internet.

 

[PpPete]

a couple more to add to the list.... Titanium alloys:
Ti-3Al-2.5V aka "Grade 9"
and
Ti-6Al-4V aka "Grade 5"

 

[Zoiders]

a couple more to add to the list.... Titanium alloys:
Ti-3Al-2.5V aka "Grade 9"
and
Ti-6Al-4V aka "Grade 5"

Now what you see here is Pete naming actual multi industry wide standards and not brand names.

"Reynolds" or "Columbus" are not going to be recognisable unless someone cycles.

 

[Rob3rt]

Now what you see here is Pete naming actual multi industry wide standards and not brand names.

"Reynolds" or "Columbus" are not going to be recognisable unless someone cycles.

I think we get your point Zoiders, its pretty obvious what you are getting at. But lets face facts, the person marking GCSE level work is relativelly unlikely to recognise either brand names, nor highly specific alloy standards. Secondly, this project is based on bikes yes? So being aware of cycling specific tubesets, whether branded or industry wide standards is a possitive, there is little use in writting an essay about loads of exotic alloys in all their glory if the tubesets are not relevant to the essay title.

 

[Zoiders]

I think we get your point Zoiders, its pretty obvious what you are getting at. But lets face facts, the person marking GCSE level work is relativelly unlikely to recognise either brand names, nor highly specific alloy standards. Secondly, this project is based on bikes yes? So being aware of cycling specific tubesets, whether branded or industry wide standards is a possitive, there is little use in writting an essay about loads of exotic alloys in all their glory if the tubesets are not relevant to the essay title.

It's a basic excercise on the properties of materials.

Leave the brand names out, keep it simple, it's not a cyctech course.