[jluetjen]

Snowman, I can understand the value of starting with a simple model -- like your strap. But I'm not really sure what you'll learn that will be applicable to con-rods since con-rods have a more sophisticated shape in order to withstand compresson as well as tension forces, not to mention the centrifical forces. My understanding is that the most common failure locations are near the rod bolts, or at the small end where the rod necks down. But then again I haven't seen that many rod failures first hand.