Ok, so, you think the factory didn't do finite element analysis? Yes Of course they did. I mean, they did it long hand and with no where near the granularity that is done now, You think? but how do you think they figured out to put spot welds say every ~2" instead of every 4"? Testing Or what gauge of metal to use for frame rails vs K frames vs floor panels? Yes, the factory did the math. Math is not proof of FEA. FEA never came of age until computers became the norm, and in the early uses in the 60's FEA was dedicated to most difficult engineering tasks, a K frame that was already in producion/use before 1960 and its design remained nearly unchanged for over a decade with no known shortcomings was not a pressing engineering problem that needed further analysis.
And XV claimed they used a "million dollar program" to run the FEA on their K frame and suspension parts. Maybe that's not entirely accurate, Who cares what the program cost, no where is it stated they bought the program they used but, they said they did FEA .they made a lot of unverified claims. None of the other suspension manufacturers for these cars have even made the claim, and I imagine if they'd done anything even marginally close to FEA they'd use it as a marking point. No reason not to.
So no, my claim isn't unsupported. Yet its only supported by more unsupported claims XV's claim of FEA is in the article and ad, and the factory did it, because they engineered the whole damn car. Right.
No, because welded aluminum is in fact used in modern subframes by the MILLIONS. And the XV K-frame was billet What parts were billet besides the sway bar mounts, not cast, but if anything billet aluminum makes for better welds than cast. Not sure I agree on the "better" claim exactly HAZ and all with different materials, but cast has a special advantage here in the shapes in casting can be optimized much more cost effectively than billet shapes can be mass produced, ala the c7 and later vete's alum chassis coonecters and the Bimmer frames below and the huge technology progress in hydroforming and fabricating alum chassis in the last 17? years that XV was left out of
BMW's use welded aluminum K-frames. Here's a 2015-2020 M4 K frame, links included in case you want to look at even bigger pictures รข 15-20 OEM BMW F80 F82 M2 M3 M4 Front Axle Support Suspension Subframe K-Frame | eBay Sorry, this below is apple to oranges comparison in terms of current technology, era, material, engineering, FEA, cost, etc, right up there with mentioning a motorcycle rear Alum swing arm.
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Here's a rear subframe for a 2010-2012 750 10-12 BMW 750 F02 REAR SUBFRAME SUB FRAME CROSSMEMBER CRADLE OEM GENUINE | eBay
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Needless to say, welded aluminum isn't a problem for K frames or suspension pieces as long as it's properly engineered. And you also want to claim the sky is blue?
Seems like everything you said here is unsupported. Your memory you really try hard to forget I clearly mentioned upfront "If I remember correctly" has already been shown to be fairly inaccurate Relative to yours? LOL, so, let's see this prototype aluminum lower radiator support. My online records only back to 2007 on this topic, If I had that info, I would have already posted it. Trust me, If I had saved or had access to what I thought gave me the impression the rad support was initially alum, you would have been trying to dismiss it long ago as only a prototype I suspect. Why it's such a big deal for you of what my impression initially was over 17 years ago of what the rad crossmember was made out of, confounds me.
