Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- tubing:start [2024/03/17 08:56] – mtbtimeline
+++ tubing:start [2024/04/22 17:04] (current) – mtbtimeline
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-<wrap centeralign> {{c2020.jpg?100}} {{r531_1989.png?100}} </wrap>
+<wrap centeralign>
+{{c2020.jpg?50}}
+{{r531_1989.png?50}}
+{{t2024.jpg?50}}
+{{c72.jpg?50}}
+{{r531_1972.png?50}}
+{{t81.jpg?50}}
+{{c75.jpg?50}}
+{{r531_1981.png?50}}
+{{t84.jpg?50}}
+{{c77.jpg?50}}
+{{r531_1995.png?50}}
+{{t93.jpg?50}}
+{{c78.jpg?50}}
+{{c91.jpg?50}}
+{{c95.jpg?50}}
+</wrap>
@@ Line 7: / Line 23: @@
 ===== Tubing =====
-Before the the coming of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-fiber-reinforced_polymers|carbon]] in 1990, all mountain bikes started their life as a box of metal tubes.  Before [[canon:start|Cannondale]] and [[klein:start|Klein]] made aluminum commonplace in 1984, 99% of all MTBs were built from steel tubing((Other early Al frames include: [[cc:start|Cunningham, 1978 -> 1993]], [[snr:start|Speed & Research, 1982]], [[crotch:start|Crotch Rocket, 1983]], ...)) from dozens of suppliers, from gas pipe to Reynolds.  MTBs with a quality steel sticker were a cut above the rest, and probably a lot lighter as well.  How important are these stickers, other than in dating the bike?  A full materials science primer will follow, but for now, consider two bicycles:
+Before the the coming of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-fiber-reinforced_polymers|carbon]] in 1990, all mountain bikes started their life as a box of metal tubes.  Before [[canon:start|Cannondale]] and [[klein:start|Klein]] made aluminum commonplace in 1984, 99% of all MTBs were built from steel tubing((Other early Al frames include: [[cc:start|Cunningham, 1978 -> 1993]], [[snr:start|Speed & Research, 1982]], [[crotch:start|Crotch Rocket, 1983]], [[kettler:start|Kettler, 1984+]]...)) from dozens of suppliers, from gas pipe to Reynolds.  MTBs with a quality steel sticker were a cut above the rest, and probably a lot lighter as well.  How important are these stickers, other than in dating the bike?  A full materials science primer will follow, but for now, consider two bicycles:
   * A 2024 [[https://www.homedepot.com/p/Huffy-Classic-Deluxe-26-in-Men-s-Cruiser-Bike-26648/304490184|Huffy Classic Deluxe]], complete with fenders, basket, rack and a chain guard.  Single speed.
@@ Line 78: / Line 94: @@
 ==== Choose ====
 |< 100% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% >|
-|@#F0F0F0:[[{tubing:r531_1989.png?0x100}reynolds|Reynolds]] | @#F0F0F0:[[{tubing:c2020.jpg?0x100}columbus|Columbus]]|@#F0F0F0:|||
+|@#F0F0F0:[[{tubing:r531_1989.png?0x100}reynolds:start|Reynolds]] | @#F0F0F0:[[{tubing:c2020.jpg?0x100}columbus:start|Columbus]]|@#F0F0F0:[[{tubing:t2024.jpg?0x100}tange:start|Tange]]|@#F0F0F0:|||
+</div>
+<div column 100% #decals>
+----
+===== Decal Timelines ====
+{{page>:timeline_reynolds}}
+{{page>:timeline_columbus}}
+{{page>:timeline_tange}}
 </div>
@@ Line 113: / Line 138: @@
   * **ultimate strength** := the most stress a material can endure without breaking, aka "tensile strength" or "ultimate tensile strength."
-Bicycle owners should probably care more about yield strength instead of UTS, as a deformed tube is often thought of as a failed tube.  Tubing manufacturers tend to publish UTS numbers, because they're much bigger.
+Bicycle owners should probably care more about yield strength instead of UTS (ultimate tensile strength), as a deformed tube is often thought of as a failed tube.  Tubing manufacturers tend to publish UTS numbers, because they're much bigger.
 If the gap between the yield strength point and the fracture point is small, the material is considered to be **//brittle//**, such as glass.  Else, it's **//elastic//** or **//ductile//**.  For example, Reynolds 953 is 2.7 times stronger than Reynolds 531.  Yet 531 is fairly elastic and is easier to repair than 953, such as by [[https://www.paragonmachineworks.com/frame-building-tools/tube-blocks.html|rolling tube blocks]] around the dent to squeeze it all back to shape ((Another problem with Reynolds 953 is that it's so hard that tools simply find it difficult to work or cut.)).
-**//Young's modulus//** is how stiff the metal is: how much force it takes to bend((All Reynolds tubing has identical Young's modulus values.  The difference is in the tube thickness.)).  Bending is related to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatigue_limit|fatigue limit]], which is the point where bending starts to wear on the material.  For steel, this is often about half the yield point.
+**//Young's modulus//** is how stiff the metal is: how much force it takes to bend((All steel tubing has identical Young's modulus values.  The difference is in the tube thickness.)).  Bending is related to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatigue_limit|fatigue limit]], which is the point where bending starts to wear on the material.  For steel, this is often about half the yield point.
-Steel can withstand an //infinite//((A well designed spring should last billions of cycles.  Not all springs achieve this.  Think of the comparison between an internal combustion engine value spring, which lasts about 20 billion cycles, versus a garage door spring, which is only 10,000 cycles.  See [[http://springcalculator.com/Goodmandiagram.html|Goodman diagrams]] for a calculator on spring lifespan.)) amount of bending without wear until its bent near the fatigue limit.  A well designed steel spring it will be springy until the end of time, or rusts claims it.  Similarly, a well designed bicycle frame will never flex past its fatigue limit - which, of course, is very far from its yield and ultimate strengths.
+Steel can withstand an //infinite//((A well designed spring should last billions of cycles.  Not all springs achieve this.  Think of the comparison between an internal combustion engine valve spring, which lasts about 20 billion cycles, versus a garage door spring, which is only 10,000 cycles.  See [[http://springcalculator.com/Goodmandiagram.html|Goodman diagrams]] for a calculator on spring lifespan.)) amount of bending without wear until its bent near the fatigue limit.  A well designed steel spring it will be springy until the end of time, or rusts claims it.  Similarly, a well designed bicycle frame will never flex past its fatigue limit - which, of course, is very far from its yield and ultimate strengths.
 Aluminum has no fatigue limit at all, so that any bending will degrade the material and cause it to fail, eventually.   Typically, aluminum frames and components are overbuilt with this in mind to keep them alive for decades.
@@ Line 139: / Line 164: @@
 |Ti             |500    |620    |1542 |
 |6061 Al        |270    |310    |1700 |
+=== Densities ===
+|< 100% 30% 30% 40% >|
+^^^^
+| @#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>Material</fs>**| @#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>Density (g/cm3)</fs>** ||
+|Steel  |7.85 |@#F0F0F0:|
+|Titanium       |4.48 |@#F0F0F0:|
+|Aluminum       |2.7 |@#F0F0F0:|
+|Carbon |1.75 |@#F0F0F0:|
+**Tech Resources:**
+  * [[https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/faqs-on-reynolds-steel-tubing/materials/]]
+  * [[https://valvejob.wordpress.com/tag/bike-frame-design/]]
+  * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_Technology]]
+  * [[https://bike.bikegremlin.com/11144/bicycle-frame-materials-explained/]]
+  * [[https://bike.bikegremlin.com/11843/metallurgy-for-cyclists/]]
+  * [[https://www.framebuilding.com/Tubing%20Materials.htm]]
+  * [[https://gravelcycling.wordpress.com/2016/07/07/steel-the-different-types-of-steel-in-bike-frames/]]
+  * [[https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/lightweight_extras/sculptured-in-steel-the-three-historic-lightweight-frame-designs-and-beyond/]]
+  * [[https://donard.cc/blog/tech-an-introduction-to-capillary-motion-in-bicycle-joints]]
 </div>
@@ Line 148: / Line 198: @@
 [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ductility_(Earth_science)|wikipedia]]
 \\
+{{fail_steel.jpg?300|failed steel}}
+\\
+Double butted top tube crimped at the taper point.
+\\
+[[https://www.peterverdone.com/the-bird-is-down-or-how-a-bike-frame-should-fail|peterverdone]].
+\\
+{{fail_al.png?300|failed aluminum}}
+\\
+Aluminum fatigue failure at seat stay.
+\\
+[[https://www.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/comments/vfavmm/thursday_i_learned_about_flexing_aluminium/|reddit]]
+\\
+{{fail_ti.jpg?300|failed titanium}}
+\\
+Arc welding weakens tubing at the weld points.  Titanium.
+\\
+[[https://www.ebay.com/itm/115444170113|ebay]]
+\\
+{{fail_carbon.jpg?300|failed carbon}}
+\\
+Shattered carbon.
+\\
+[[https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a43350616/should-you-buy-a-repaired-carbon-frame/|bicycling.com]]
+\\
 </div>
+<div column 50% #butting>
+----
+===== Butting =====
+{{butting.jpg?600| Tange butting}}
+\\
+Tange butting. The shorter butt side is marked with paint.
+[[https://www.tange-design.com/tubing_list.php?type_sn=1|tange-design]]
+All quality bicycle tubing since 1898 have included double butting, which have thicker ends than in the middle, saving weight while retaining strength.   A 1948 Reynolds price list has the following available dimensions and prices for 1" top tubes((Reynolds 1948 prices were for 4 tubes in shillings & pence.)).
+|< 100% 35% 35% 15% 15%>|
+^^^^^
+| @#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>Gauge</fs>**| @#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>Millimeters</fs>** | @#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>Price in pence</fs>** | @#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>Quality</fs>** |
+|19 straight    |1.07                   |28d    |A      |
+|20 straight    |.89                    |38d    |HM     |
+|22 straight    |.71                    |40d    |531    |
+|19 x 22 x 19   |1.07 x .71 x 1.07      |38d    |A      |
+|20 x 24 x 20   |.89 x .56 x .89        |56d    |HM     |
+|21 x 24 x 21   |.81 x .56 x .81        |60d    |531    |
+This assumes that Reynolds was using the Birmingham Wire Gauge Standard((The BWG is averaged in [[https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2044.1999.00895.x|The story of the gauge]].  There were 28 different Birmingham Wire Gauge standards.  The Reynolds Tube Co. Ltd. probably had their own.  See "The Story of the Gauge" and [[https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/BWG-wire-gage-d_508.html|engineeringtoolbox]])).
+The shorthand for these buttings is written as 1/7/1 for "A" or 8/5/8 for "531" tubing.  Bicycles are often made with a mix of buttings, depending on size, style and rider weight.  Today, the thinnest Reynolds 953 is available .55 x .35 x .55mm for a 1 1/8" top tube((The mix of imperial and metric measurements for bicycles persists.  Mountain bike wheel rim diameters are in inches.  Mountain bike wheel hub widths are in millimeters.  And frames are sized in cm or inches but frame tube widths are in inches.)).  That is, if you can find 953, as production has been halted on that strongest of their tubing.  Reynolds 531 is also no longer produced.
+Gauge is old British wire measurement ostensibly in units of a fraction of an inch.  Sort of.   There are 55 different sets of gauges from sheet metal to music wires.  Some gauge examples in fractions of an inch:
+|< 100% 40% 20% 20% 20%>|
+^^^^^
+| @#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>Standard</fs>**| @#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>4ga</fs>** |@#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>12ga</fs>**|@#F0F0F0:**<fs x-large>20ga</fs>**|
+|US steel sheet standard        |.2344  |.1094  |.0375|
+|British Standard Wire Gauge    |.232   |.104   |.032|
+|Birmingham Wire Gauge          |.238   |.109   |.035|
+|US aluminum sheet standard     |n/a    |.0808  |.032|
+|US zinc sheet standard         |.008   |.028   |.070|
+<blockquote>
+The use of gauge number is discouraged as being an archaic term of limited usefulness not having general agreement on meaning.
+<cite>
+ASTM International, as cited in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheet_metal#Gauge|wikipedia]]
+</cite>
+</blockquote>
+Gauge Resources:
+  * [[https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2044.1999.00895.x]]
+  * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheet_metal#Gauge]]
+  * [[https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/BWG-wire-gage-d_508.html]]
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{butt2.jpg?300| single butting}}
+\\
+Single Butted Tube
+[[https://www.fairing.com/butted-tubing|fairing.com]]
+\\
+{{butt4.jpg?300| double butting}}
+\\
+Double Butted Tube
+[[https://www.fairing.com/butted-tubing|fairing.com]]
+\\
+{{butt3.jpg?300| bulge butting}}
+\\
+Bulge Butted Tube
+[[https://www.fairing.com/butted-tubing|fairing.com]]
+</div>