DOES THE HDK SUSPENSION K-MEMBER HANDLE BETTER THAN A T-BAR SUSPENSION?
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.
Actually no. FEA was around in the '40's. The math behind it was around even before then. It wasn't widely used until computers could be used to carry out the modeling, because it's a long and tedious process to carry out all the calculations, especially as the mesh gets smaller. Check out the "history" section here...
Finite element method - Wikipedia
And you know what? Maybe the factory didn't specifically use FEA in the narrow sense you want to define it. Fine- maybe I was too broad with my statement, that was my mistake. But the factory did absolutely engineer the K frame, calculating loads etc. They didn't just carry out physical testing. Regardless, besides XV, no one has carried out that level of engineering. And that was my point.
Who cares what the program cost, no where is it stated they bought the program they used - they made a lot of unverified claims - Yet its only supported by more unsupported claims
I don't care what the program cost, I was just quoting what XV said. Hence the quotations in my post. If you'd like to offer proof of XV's unverified claims, feel free. I doubt they'll be more egregious than any other aftermarket suspension manufacturers claims.
What parts were billet besides the sway bar mounts
My mistake, I said "billet" when I meant extruded. I fixed my post to reflect the extruding tubing construction. Not sure it really matters, because you just said "welded aluminum", which covers pretty much everything.
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 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.
I have the feeling you've never welded cast aluminum, based on that comment. I have, and welding extruded tubing is definitely easier. And since you'll go bezerk,
of course the metallurgy of the specific alloy also has an effect there. But with the widely used alloys that I've encountered, that's held true.
But you're trying to move the goalposts here. You didn't say anything about "current technology" or materials engineering, or any of that. You said-
I'm sorry, there are huge issues with welded structural Alum suspension pieces... you very seldom see if ever welded alum suspension items. It a common misconception.
And that, as I said before, and have shown since, is absolute horse puckey. Your claim was very generic, and any suspension components made in decent numbers that are made from welded aluminum disproves it.
You don't like XV's welded aluminum K, even though you have absolutely no evidence to show it's less up to the task than any of the other aftermarket K's. I'd say prove your claim, but none of the other aftermarket K's have published the engineering, if they've even done it. So it's just your unfounded opinion.
you really try hard to forget I clearly mentioned upfront "If I remember correctly
When did "if I remember correctly" become a catch all to bury us in bullshit? You go nuts when someone else makes what you consider to be an "unsupported claim" but want free rein to say whatever comes into your head as long as you say "if I recall correctly".
Well, newsflash, you don't remember correctly.
The only lower radiator support that XV ever sold was steel tubing that welded to the bottom of the frame rails in place of the factory lower support. Even if there was an aluminum prototype (to be attached how?), that's not what any of us were talking about. It's not what's in the article. Or the magazine. Or anything relevant to this thread.
