[DML] Re: Torsion Bar "Relief"...........

["Toby Peterson" <tobyp@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

NM - From an engineering perspective, the torsion bars should be 
stressed at a level below the elastic limit for the material.  What 
this means in lay terms is that the material should never yield and 
become permanently set in a deformed or changed state.  From a real 
world perspective, there is a phenomenon called "plastic creep" where 
the material slowly yields and creeps under high sustained stresses.  
These torsion bars are highly stressed with the doors closed, and it 
is possible for the material to undergo this creep over a long period 
of time.  I pulled together all of the necessary equations in order to 
calculate the stress levels when the doors are closed, but I have 
never taken the time to crank through the calculations.  Perhaps I 
will do that, see just how close we are to the elastic limit.  If it 
is close enough to the limit, then creep would be possible.  Somebody 
poke me if you don't hear back from me in a few days on this topic.  
Thanks.

Toby Peterson VIN 2248 "Winged1"
DeLorean Parts Northwest, LLC
www.delorean-parts.com 


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "ctdmc83" <nmastrocinque@xxxx> wrote:
> Gentlemen, forgive me, but another owner told me that he routinely 
> leaves his door open (he has a master battery disconnect switch) to 
> relieve the stress in the torsion bars.  He believes that this will 
> prolong their life (and "springiness").
> Does anyone else do this?  Do you think that there is any physical 
> basis to support this?
> Thanks,
> NM







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