6 replies to this topic

[JL Wade]

I understand that some F1 teams are experimenting w/ Aluminum-Beryllium motor blocks in order to reduce weight. Anybody no more about this?

Also, I know once aluminum-beryllium composite is ignited the gasses it releases are very toxic and the stuff burns like hell. Is ignition a danger here?

[mono-posto]

Many teams are using the Beryllium alloy in number of engine components. But as of 2001, it will be illegal to use.

Intrestingly, McLaren currently make wide use of the stuff, where as Ferrari don't use it at all. Many have suggested that this sets up Ferrari to be in an advantage for 2001 as they will have experience without it.

I believe the FIA ban was due to 'economic' consideration and not safety.

Ahhh yes. Here we are...

21.1 Changes to Article 15.1.2 (for 2001)

No parts of the car may be made from metallic materials which have a specific modulus of elasticity greater than 40 GPa / (g/cm3). (in other words Alluminum-Beryllium)

Oh..
And here's something else..

"Materials - Materials which have a specific modulus of elasticity greater than 40 GPa/(g/cm3) (e.g. aluminium beryllium alloy) are banned with immediate effect, except for internal engine parts. A total ban, including engine parts, comes into force on 1 January 2001."




[This message has been edited by mono-posto (edited 04-12-2000).]

[desmo]

Mono-posto,

I have seen it said numerous times that Ferrari do not employ BeAl alloy in their engines. Is this merely a rumor or is there some substantiation for this claim? It would seem to me that although this is a developmental dead-end now that the ban comes into effect in 2001, there is little real downside to using BeAl pistons and gudgeon pins in the meantime. The mass reductions in these recipricating parts reduce loads on parts as well as potentially increase performance through higher revs. Particularly if you have the resources to do parellel development programs. If this is true, it makes Ferrari's performance this year even more impressive and does not bode well for McLaren in 2001.

[Laphroaig]

The biggest advantage of Be/Al isn't weight (weight is a side effect), it's the expansion factor when it's heated. It expands much less than normal metals, thus requiring less cooling. The development is quite hard, and if ferrari never started it a couple of years back you can't 'just' make an engine using Be/Al since you'd have to redesign all the engine parameters, including the cooling system!
I'm not so worried about a big gap between Ferrari's Be/Al-less engine and Mercedes, because Mercedes knew Be/Al was going to be banned and they have the recources to have a perfectly good 2001 spec engine lying around already.

[desmo]

Unfortunately the 3.75 bar coolant rule in large measure mitigates this potential upside of using AlBe alloy pistons.

Perfect Bore Managing Director Martin Case reckons that substitution of AlBe for conventional Al pistons can yield a 35% to 55% reduction in mass in this critical recipricating component. This upside, in my opinion, outweighs the other potential benefits given the 3.75 bar rule.

When used in conjunction with AlBe liners, to take advantage of AlBe's lower thermal expansion and greater thermal conductivity, it seems to me too big an advantage for Ferrari to lightly dismiss.

[f1speed]

If Ferrari isn't using Be/Al they sure wasted a lot of money buying the stuff. Read Race Tech.

[Sudsbouy]

The Mole at the www.itv-f1.com site had an interesting article regarding exotic materials. He said that banning AlBe would only pose a problem on the cost end of things.

Apparently, it's possible to brew up a material with the right qualities at will. However, costs rise significantly. If this is correct, then the ban the F1 has imposed won't change the current scene.

Thank you.