Spreading the load
Discussion
I'm putting some flooring in my garage which is (comparatively) 'soft'. This is to improve the appearance, keep down the dust and make it more comfortable while I'm working under the car. I intend to put some aluminium plates under the axle stands in order to spread the weight loading on the floor a little. What thickness ali plates should I be using to avoid them splitting or bending too much?
Car weighs just on 1000Kg and the plates will be approximately 300-350mm square. Car will be raised up on 4 axle stands.
Car weighs just on 1000Kg and the plates will be approximately 300-350mm square. Car will be raised up on 4 axle stands.
hmmm not sure if this is helpful, it's quite late so my brain is too broken to do calculations. I really doubt splitting is going to be an issue unless you've got some extremely thin ali plates (especially on a soft floor). Tbh given the choice, I'd use wood, how well it's going to distribute the load is (very roughly) going to depend on how thick a block you have cubed, i.e. doubling the thickness of the block will have the same effect as using a material eight times as stiff - so you're better off using a large block of something with a low density (obviously, you could use loads of aluminium, but then you're adding to the weight the floor must support). So use as thick a piece of wood as you can practically manage (above 8-10mm, you're probably not going to get any benefit, but that's a guess). If you were really keen you could use aluminium honeycomb, or a carbon fibre shell - but I doubt you have that lying around...
This is really very simple.
Take a look at the recommended pressures for your car's tyres; maybe 30-40PSI. That's all the car exerts on the ground through the small contact patches it has.
Go larger in bearing area and things become even easier, rapidly. Four 1 x 1foot squares of 1/2" ply under the stands will be far more than enough (= just 2psi under a 1.5ton car... or about the same as an adult on his feet. It won't damage your flooring.)
Take a look at the recommended pressures for your car's tyres; maybe 30-40PSI. That's all the car exerts on the ground through the small contact patches it has.
Go larger in bearing area and things become even easier, rapidly. Four 1 x 1foot squares of 1/2" ply under the stands will be far more than enough (= just 2psi under a 1.5ton car... or about the same as an adult on his feet. It won't damage your flooring.)
It's the metal yield strength you need to be concerned with. If you wait till tomorrow till I'm at work I'll be able to come up with something as I calculate deformation points of orifice plates for various materials.
Could easily determine a weight figure and the what I'd so is take the yield strength and apply an engineering safety factor, basically increase the value.
No idea how PH forum works can you get my email address from my profile? If so drop me a quick email.
Could easily determine a weight figure and the what I'd so is take the yield strength and apply an engineering safety factor, basically increase the value.
No idea how PH forum works can you get my email address from my profile? If so drop me a quick email.
Edited by ryandoc on Sunday 1st April 10:03
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