question about carbon fiber (fact or fiction?)

07-28-2007, 05:10 AM

i heard awhile back that there was a person who had a carbon fiber hood in his integra or something and he rear ended a car. the carbon fiber hood was so strong that it didnt even break and cut his head, causing him to die obviously. would a story like this be accurate? can carbon fiber hoods really be that strong?

im not sure if i wanna believe this, sounds like the tooth fairy or santa or something. but then again carbon fiber IS strong so....

do you guys think something like this can really occur? or do you think the impact of rear ending a car, or getting any damage to a carbon fiber exterior part for that matter, SHOULD cause damage?

Acheron · 07-28-2007, 05:20 AM

From what i've experienced the cf parts are stronger perpendicularly against their weave so this is probably just an urban legend bs. It should have shredded/shattered from that direction and it seems all to unlikely that it sheered from the bolts attaching the hood, and the latching mechanism, coming through the windshield while not hitting the a frames and moving fast enough to decapitate someone. CF is strong and generally holds its shape better than metal/fiberglass but no from that kind of shock it will shatter before becoming a guillotine. Though hell anything is possible and it could be some super freak occurence.

c0nstant · 07-28-2007, 05:40 AM

thats gotta suck so much

07-28-2007, 05:44 AM

yeah im convinced that this stuff is just a myth...

but as you said anything CAN happen and carbon fiber IS strong so who knows......

im not saying i dont want to get a cf hood or anything cuz im afraid to become sleepy hollow but its weird thinking about this...

Zeiss · 07-28-2007, 05:52 AM

Send mythbusters a email.

07-28-2007, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BNR32

Send mythbusters a email.

MikeCCrutchfield · 07-28-2007, 07:08 AM

Stock hoods are required to crumple just like the front of the car, so they have a set weakness to make it fold in half.

CF Hoods don't go through crash testing and are probably generally molded to fit the proper location, and not to crumble.

SO, if the CF hood is stronger than the metal in the hinges, it is very possible.

e93 · 07-28-2007, 08:08 AM

Not keen on meeting your version of the tooth fairy or santa. Thats a gift I can do without

561design · 07-28-2007, 10:06 PM

Yes it is very possible. Most CF hoods are being made without proper standards. I've seen hoods delaminate due to UV rays from the sun and making the hinge points significantly weaker. I've seen and heard of many hoods breaking off the vehicle and hitting a different car. At the time of impact the hood was in one piece in most cases.

07-28-2007, 05:10 AM	#1
nico335 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	question about carbon fiber (fact or fiction?) i heard awhile back that there was a person who had a carbon fiber hood in his integra or something and he rear ended a car. the carbon fiber hood was so strong that it didnt even break and cut his head, causing him to die obviously. would a story like this be accurate? can carbon fiber hoods really be that strong? im not sure if i wanna believe this, sounds like the tooth fairy or santa or something. but then again carbon fiber IS strong so.... do you guys think something like this can really occur? or do you think the impact of rear ending a car, or getting any damage to a carbon fiber exterior part for that matter, SHOULD cause damage?
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07-28-2007, 05:20 AM	#2
Acheron I just wanna go fast mamma! 10 Rep 138 Posts Drives: 2009 Shelby GT500/1985 318i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0)	From what i've experienced the cf parts are stronger perpendicularly against their weave so this is probably just an urban legend bs. It should have shredded/shattered from that direction and it seems all to unlikely that it sheered from the bolts attaching the hood, and the latching mechanism, coming through the windshield while not hitting the a frames and moving fast enough to decapitate someone. CF is strong and generally holds its shape better than metal/fiberglass but no from that kind of shock it will shatter before becoming a guillotine. Though hell anything is possible and it could be some super freak occurence.
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07-28-2007, 05:40 AM	#3
c0nstant Lieutenant General 1832 Rep 17,322 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	thats gotta suck so much
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07-28-2007, 05:44 AM	#4
nico335 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	yeah im convinced that this stuff is just a myth... but as you said anything CAN happen and carbon fiber IS strong so who knows...... im not saying i dont want to get a cf hood or anything cuz im afraid to become sleepy hollow but its weird thinking about this...
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07-28-2007, 05:52 AM	#5
Zeiss Lieutenant Colonel 348 Rep 1,864 Posts Drives: Bicycle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	Send mythbusters a email.
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07-28-2007, 07:08 AM	#7
MikeCCrutchfield Lieutenant 22 Rep 587 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Vert Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chestertown, MD iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 135i Convertible [0.00] 2007 VW Rabbit [0.00] 2006 VW Jetta TDI [0.00]	Stock hoods are required to crumple just like the front of the car, so they have a set weakness to make it fold in half. CF Hoods don't go through crash testing and are probably generally molded to fit the proper location, and not to crumble. SO, if the CF hood is stronger than the metal in the hinges, it is very possible.
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07-28-2007, 08:08 AM	#8
e93 open air motoring at its best 19 Rep 481 Posts Drives: BMW E93 335i Convertible Join Date: May 2007 Location: Central Coast NSW Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 e93 335i [0.00]	Not keen on meeting your version of the tooth fairy or santa. Thats a gift I can do without __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 2007 335i Convertible \|\| Black Sapphire \| Cream Beige \| Burr Walnut \| 6 AT Paddles \| Comfort Access \| Aluminium Pedals \| Aero Front Spoiler \| Remus Quads \| KW V3 Coilovers \| Velocity V-715 wheels \| M3 Rear Lip Spoiler \|\| On Order \|\| \|\| Wishlist \|\| \|\|
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07-28-2007, 10:06 PM	#9
561design z4um Hooligan 154 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 3.0Si Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woodstock,Ga iTrader: (1)	Yes it is very possible. Most CF hoods are being made without proper standards. I've seen hoods delaminate due to UV rays from the sun and making the hinge points significantly weaker. I've seen and heard of many hoods breaking off the vehicle and hitting a different car. At the time of impact the hood was in one piece in most cases. __________________ Charles flickr
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