Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 Forum - View Single Post - Camaro Torsional Stiffness Across the Model Range

Norm Peterson · 03-21-2018, 11:04 AM

When you cut a fairly wide, fairly long hole out of the roof panel, it loses a lot of stiffness as a shear panel. You still have a little shear stiffness (from the pieces that are left), and the roof's frame is still there, but beams in shear + bending aren't as rigid as short deep panels in shear as long as the panels don't buckle. I imagine that reinforcement gets added, but you can't make that as effective as what you cut out either. Stronger locally so that you don't get fatigue cracking with use, sure. But strength isn't necessarily a direct indication of stiffness either.

Norm

03-21-2018, 11:04 AM	#12
Norm Peterson corner barstool sitter Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Eastern Time Zone Posts: 6,990	When you cut a fairly wide, fairly long hole out of the roof panel, it loses a lot of stiffness as a shear panel. You still have a little shear stiffness (from the pieces that are left), and the roof's frame is still there, but beams in shear + bending aren't as rigid as short deep panels in shear as long as the panels don't buckle. I imagine that reinforcement gets added, but you can't make that as effective as what you cut out either. Stronger locally so that you don't get fatigue cracking with use, sure. But strength isn't necessarily a direct indication of stiffness either. Norm __________________ '08 GT coupe 5M (the occasional track toy) '19 WRX 6M (the family sedan . . . seriously)