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    •  Michigan Mars Rover Team
      • (2019 Extreme Retrieval Mission Score: 32) 
      • CF box tubes connected primarily by fasteners and aluminum gussets fitted to the outside of the tubes,
      • 2020:
      • image2021-4-18_3-36-36.png
      • CF box tubes once again assembled with gussets and fasteners, however this time in addition to aluminum tube fittings
    • Team Anveshak (2020)
      • CF box tubes connected using gussets and fasteners

Comparisons

Member Style Comparison

StyleProsCons
Round
  • Higher strength to weight ratio compared to square tubes
  • More resistant to flexing and torsional twisting
  • More difficult to mount to compared to square tubes
    • More complex mounting solutions might result in more weight & space
Square
  • Easier to mount to compared to round tubes
    • less complex mounting results in less weight and less wasted space
  • Better for bending
  • Lower strength to weight ratio compared to round tubes
  • Less resistant to twisting and flexing
Custom
  • Save on weight by only reinforcing in required spots
  • More difficult / requires more effort to make custom carbon fiber parts

Member Material Comparison

MaterialProsCons
Aluminum
  • Easier to make custom parts
  • Easier for mounting
  • Less expensive
  • Weighs more than CF
  • Not as strong as CF
Carbon Fiber
  • Weighs less than aluminum
  • Stronger and stiffer than aluminum
  • If bonded with epoxy, easier than welding
  • lower thermal expansion (not really relevant to us though)
  • Machining holes weakens CF
  • More complex mounting solutions can potentially create more weight and take up more space
  • Fails more suddenly compared to aluminum
  • Anisotropic properties make analysis more difficult
  • More expensive