Titanium Tubing????

[AMcCormick]

Any engineers out there have experience with Titanium tubing? I need a 10' foot long piece of tube that can take 12-15k lbs of compression. Stand the tube on vertical end with 15K lbs on the top and not buckle. That is what I need to do. Weight is an issue here so no steel. I have thought about using aluminum but windage is also an issue so the smaller the OD the better.

 

[rbattelle]

Have you calculated the buckling load for the tubing you're considering?

I guess I'm not really sure what you're asking. If you're asking someone to calculate the tubing dimensions required to support the load you suggest, you've got a few issues. First, what safety factor do you want to use for which failure modes? Second, I'm not sure how willing someone will be to perform the calculations for you with the risk that they don't fully understand the problem and you go off and kill someone then come after the engineer who told you what to do. Third, how much deflection is acceptable? Fourth, what's the OD limit? Fifth, how is the beam supported? Sixth, does this "tube" have to be round? Seventh, is the load pure compression and parallel to the long axis of the tube?

Beware that titanium is significantly weaker than steel, and in certain applications a steel beam can be lighter than a titanium beam for a given load. A proper analysis would take this into account if weight is really important.

Have you already checked Machinery's Handbook to see if it has any guidance?

Ryan

 

[WCPoe]

Any engineers out there have experience with Titanium tubing? I need a 10' foot long piece of tube that can take 12-15k lbs of compression. Stand the tube on vertical end with 15K lbs on the top and not buckle. That is what I need to do. Weight is an issue here so no steel. I have thought about using aluminum but windage is also an issue so the smaller the OD the better.

Maybe these guys might have some insight:





Titanium Tubing - ASM Aerospace Specification Metals Inc.







ASM Material Data Sheet

 

[Yo Hoot]

We use titanium hydraulic tubing through out the V-22 Osprey. It's 5000 psi system. The reason for the ti is weight.

Super expensive material.

 

[AMcCormick]

I was able to source a carbon tube that was built for a different project. Also spoke to the builders about what type of loads we are expecting and they give it the green light. I did speak with ASM but they could not provide the info just material.