Hi everyone.
Im going to have a bash at making my own carbon fiber motorcycle fairings. My original fairings are made from 2mm thick abs plastic. I was just wondering what peoples thoughts were as to how thick i should make the carbon fiber to give it the same strength as the original fairings?
Thanks
Hi, i make a supermoto fender thats 3 plys of 2x2 twill. Its about 1mm thick. Its far stiffer than an ABS fender but I doubt it would flex as fas as ABS before failing.
For fairings put a layer of kevlar on the leading edges. I’d be tempted to use a 800gsm multiaxial with outer layer of twill. This would be about 1.5mm thick.
Here’s my fender …
Your carbon fiber fairing definitely won’t flex nearly as far. Carbon fiber usually fails around 1 to 2% strain
Agreed but also depends heavily on the resin used too. I can roll a cured A4 sheet of 2 plys of 200gsm 2x2 twill to less than 100mm diameter. 3 plys will flx alot more than 1-2%.
A plate of 200gsm twill and 1 layer of 800gms biaxial at 0,+90 is alot stiffer but would have less deflection before failing.
as a general rule, your CF will be thinner than the plastic version for the same strength. You can always add an extra layer around the edge, just to get it some stiffening around the edge.