Renault R29

[Callum]

Is a transaxle a gearbox/diff all in one?

[scarbs]

There a lot more carbon around it this year and the totally different torsion bar damper layout.

[ISLAMATRON]

Is a transaxle a gearbox/diff all in one?

yep

[ISLAMATRON]

There a lot more carbon around it this year and the totally different torsion bar damper layout.

Please elaborate, or provide a pic of the R28 transaxle... I'm still looking.... you got a sweet job, being able to get a close look at all the cars.

[Callum]

Is a transaxle a gearbox/diff all in one?

yep

Thanks.

[scarbs]

There a lot more carbon around it this year and the totally different torsion bar damper layout.

Please elaborate, or provide a pic of the R28 transaxle... I'm still looking.... you got a sweet job, being able to get a close look at all the cars.

LAst years car has a mainly Ti case, with a limited amount of carbon bonded to it to reinforce the local area. This years case appears to be fully wrapped in Carbon.
The torsion bar\damper has been switched to the more common layout or longitudenal torsion bars running right down to the ballst at floor level, leavign the heave damper (No interter visible here) accross the top and the dampers tilted down into the top of the casing.

[ISLAMATRON]

Thanks Scarbs, you're a great guy for sharing with us like you do.

[timbo]

I've spotted new front wing on FA's car.

[xpensive]

I have heard Ti has the same thermal-expansion as the carbon matrix, making this bonding possible, can this be correct?

[kilcoo316]

I have heard Ti has the same thermal-expansion as the carbon matrix, making this bonding possible, can this be correct?

Dunno...


I know its (ti) coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) can be mucked about a bit by alloying - but I doubt they can drop an order of magnitude.

In plane, CFRP has a CTE of ~ 5 E-7 (out of plane that may jump to around 5 E-5 - but that is dependant on resin used)
Ti has a CTE of ~ 5E-6


Invar is probably the best metallic for working with composites (thermally), but its a bitch to work with mechanically.



What would the operating temperature of the titanium gearbox be?

How good would the thermal conductivity from ti to the CFRP be?

[xpensive]

A factor of ten, eh?
Possibly gearbox temperature never gets that high, except locally at gears and bearings, but energy-losses are then quickly removed by the oil-circulation?

The splashing of oil on the inside should rather efectively give the casing a uniform temperature, why I doubt if you see much of a temp gradient between Ti and CFRP sections.

[ISLAMATRON]

did renault have a major sidepod revision? Looks like they got ride of the saggy ass that they had before, or did I miss something?

[timbo]

Looks like that, and another iteration of front wing too.

[zgred]

Looks like that, and another iteration of front wing too.

Seems like it is.

[ben_watkins]

As there was no thread on the R28, I thought you'd like to see it anyway here..

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/0 ... ml#photo28




United Arab Emirates champion rally driver Mohammed bin Sulayem crashes a Renault Formula 1 R28 during a drag race with a Ford GT, unseen, at the Dubai autodrome, Thursday April 9, as part of ING Renault F1 team's roadshow campaign in the United Arab Emirates