I'm doing a paper for my Materials science and Engineering class, and I'm comparing different materials for driveshafts. So far, I just have the basics: steel compared to Aluminum and Carbon fiber. Can anyone help a poor college student out with any input on material selection, specs on the driveshafts for our cars, or any other things that are important. If not, just point me in the right direction, or the people I should talk to. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

One important fact, carbon fiber is usually laid a certain way to provide strength in that direction, the driveshafts are made to withstand the twisting force, but a small object striking it from the side could break it easily such as a small rock or maybe an unforseen object in the road, seeming to make em a bad idea for street cars.

 

I don't have any good specs on our driveshafts, but feel like I've done a decent amount of materials research and selection. So, I can give you a hand finding specs for given materials, but can't supply specs for the existing driveshafts.

 

thanks for the help on the carbon drive shaft. MikeS, if you wouldn't mind sharing some of your research, HITHERE'd really appreciat it. Thanks