Quote:
Originally Posted by RWebb
1st - the tough wheel would perhaps toughly slice thru the bulkhead and driver - why would it distribute the load at all?
|
The wheel is wider than the post by a factor of ~5 and it's not going to collapse. Push the wheel back and you take virtually the entire fuel tank and a good section of the bulkhead with it.
Quote:
|
2nd - thw wheel is not fastened in place - it will just rise up as the crash proceeds -- in fact, if may rise up and be pushed back, striking the driver in the head
|
What, pop it out and rip it clean through the hood in a front end? Yea. And even if you do that's going to take plenty of energy.
Quote:
this is why engineers do simulations using finite element or other models
it is why they do testing
|
Yep. They did testing. I do FEA day to day and have spent some time looking a the 911 chassis. I've seen the result of a real world "test". You? You're welcome to believe what you want to based on your assumptions. Sounds like you've made your mind up.
The spare might well be more than 10% of the sprung weight forward of the front bulkhead on an early car. Likely significantly more if you eliminate things like fuel and batteries which won't help you much in a crash. As much as I hate to agree with Island about anything, I know which I'd choose in a crash.
edit: (sprung weight. Damn, that's twice in one thread)....