| Titanium Substitution for Steel Fasteners
The selection of a fastener size, material and preload for a given design application is based on a number of considerations - mechanical stress, vibration, temperature fluctuations and corrosive environments to name just a few. Consequently, improper material substitution or an incorrect tightening force on a bolted connection can result in failure, reduced performance, warranty problems, or even unintended disassembly of a vital component.
Titanium has half the density/weight of steel, but also 50 - 60% of steel’s shear and Young’s modulus. So you’ll often need bigger fasteners, which negates the 40% weight advantage of titanium.
Direct substitution for steel parts, size for size, with titanium replacements is rarely the best way to proceed when dealing with safety-related fasteners such as brake parts or wheel attachments.
[Edited on 12-1-2005 by Shazaam!] |