Race car bodywork layup
 

Im wondering anyone can help me with a fibreglass layup for a race car body im going to have to make.

Ive had to modify my current body, which now weighs a ton. So next is to make a mould and then a new engine cover, rear end.
Heres a picture of a similar rear end
http://motorsporttrader.com/en/ad-14...orts_2000.html

Anyhow what layup would you suggest, no carbon is allowed, so im thinking 200grm csm, followed by 300grm woven then more csm either 200/300/450 with localised core matt stiffening.

I would welcome any thoughts that you have.

Thanks

Mark

well link doesnt work, but how about this http://cheshireclassics.webs.com/app...toid=152611237

Keep it simple and light, the layup you've got there iwill be about 1kg/m2 at least!

If you are going to gel it then I would do something like

Gel
tissue
200gsm woven glass
2mm coremat/cork
200gsm woven glass

You should be able to get it down to around 2.5-3mm thick and 0.5-0.6kg/m2

with localised sitffening/solid layup at mounting points, add an extra bit of core in a cross brace arrangement on larger panels such as the bonnet. You can use things like Bighead fasteners either bonded on after or layed into the laminate for most of the fixings.

If you can vac it down during the cure that will make it even better, if you are using polyester resin then limit the vac to around 0.5.

If you use csm then you'll be lucky to get 60% resin/glass ratio and get it fully wetted out. If you use woven then you should be able to get it down to 50/50. If you can get hold of some really light triaxial then you can get it down even further.

If you want to play around with a few materials then try using diolen as it's really flexible but you need to use poly resin with that otherwise the elastic modulii are getting close to incompatible. If you use diolen then you can have a little contact without it cracking the laminate.

Don't make it too stiff or thick otherwise you will be fixing it everytime you have contact (plus it's extra weight)

Chris

So something like this

http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/acatalog/CFS..._wide_367.html

and for the core mat

http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/acatalog/CFS...ecore_383.html

Any alternative supplies or products you would suggest??

Cheers

Mark

Wiz at http://www.mcmc-uk.com/ (bristol) The site looks all fancy but if you give them a ring then they will do the small amounts you are going to need.

There is also http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/ who last time I checked were a bit cheaper than cfsnet

steer clear of easycomposites as they are a bit more high end carbon etc...

If you need loads like 25kg resin and 20m cloth then you could always go direct to huntsman resins and carr reinforcements but they don't supply the bits like brushes etc they are more bulk materials suppliers as they are the importers/manufacturers/weavers

If you have large flatish areas or of gentle single curvature then use corecork, otherwise go for coremat.

Weave types:

Plain is strong but harder to form to shapes
Twill is slightly weaker as they weave allows more fibre movement but it also makes it easier to drape and work into more complex shapes
Uni-Bi and Tri axial are straight fibres which are easily ruined so it may be prudent to steer clear if you are just starting out

If you need to make the mould as well then best to lay up gradually about 2-3mm thick at a time, use a mix of csm and woven.

There's plenty of info on the ECF site, just get stuck in!

Thanks for your help, will have a look at the websites you mention