Solar Train Project Solar powered planes are beginning
Solar Train Project • Solar powered planes are beginning to be introduced • Gave us the thought of solar powered trains in the future could be a modern topic for leaving cert projects
Materials and Economic Costings Some Materials that may be used for the project: Aluminium (Main parts of train) Properties: Low density therefore low weight but doesn’t affect its strength. 1/3 the density of steel High strength Easy to machine such as milling, drilling, cutting, punching and bending Easy to recycle Superior malleability Excellent corrosion resistant properties Good thermal and electrical conductivity Life cycle of material: Aluminium production is a time consuming and energy intensive process. But once it is made, it can be recycled over and over without losing its superb qualities.
Nylon (Train or rail wheels) Properties: • Light • Good resistance to wear • Good frictional properties • Good temperature resistance • Strong and rigid Mild Steel (Axles or other main parts train) Properties: • Tough, ductile and malleable • Easily cut and machined • Good tensile strength but poor corrosion resistance • Since the material is soft mild steel is easy to weld Economic costing: • One the cheapest types of steel available • Very useful for projects in schools as it is cheap
Brass (May be used for axles, wheels) Properties: • An alloy of copper and zinc. • Appealing metal to look at. • Depending on the combinations of copper/zinc alloys properties differ such as strength, machinability, ductility, wear resistance, hardness, colour, electrical and thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance. Acrylic (Window/windows on train if used, chair if used) • Excellent clarity • In sheet form can be easily sawn, drilled, machined, bonded and formed into simple shapes when heated.
Going forward: • Research more deeply into materials and economic costings for the project • To work more closely with my group to discuss each elements we have • This will result in using the most efficient materials in the design of the finished product
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