[snowman]

A little home experiment to start the series. Cut several strips of newspaper, about 1/2 inch wide and 6 inches long. Use good clean paper without defects. Place a pen mark in the middle of it. Now wrap the paper half way around a large marker or a 1/2 inch drill bit on the smooth part. Hold both ends of the paper together with your fingers, making sure the mark is on the outside, opposite edge of the pen or drill bit. Now pull on the pen or bit until the paper breaks. Do this again for several times. Note where the paper broke. Was it at the mark or about half way around the pen?

My results showed that the paper usually breaks about half way around the pen or bit. Anyone else see something different? Also note how strong the paper strap is, for a piece of paper. If you were to use 0.0005" copper shim stock, a very weak metal, you probably couldn't break it with your hands.

I will be drawing a diagram shortly to clarify this test if you are not clear on it now.

The point of this experiment is to demonstrate where the weak points are in a strap, and eventually where they are in a connecting rod.