Barrichello's Crash

[shiny side up!]

I wouldn't imagine too much FEA was done on the halfshaft unless it has some odd features at the ends (step-downs, radii, etc). FEA would certainly be used for the tripod CV joint design, but in looking at the pictures, the housing still looks good, suggesting that the tripod was pulled out (and thus not the culprit in the accident...).

Despite Ferrari's official line on what went wrong, I still think as I said originally that it was a halfshaft failure, you could call it a materials failure or a fatigue failure if you'd like, but the loadings (instantaneaous or otherwise) that actually caused the failure are mere speculation coming from us...

[avsfan733]

Originally posted by The Zuschauer
Are you an engineer? ... ...it was a freak failure.

1) yes, third year RIT, mechanical w/automotive emphasis
2) yes, but a "freak" failure is usually the result of a part exceeding the stress that its designer thought probable

EDIT: TYPO