In a message dated 4/30/02 7:21:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time, sachs@erols.com writes:
<< I'm not a materials scientist or mechanical engineer, but advise folks to
be a bit skeptical about reports of "fatigue" failures of Al w/o
pre-existing cracks. I do think, though, that failures of Al tubes, etc.
are more likely to be sudden; >>
Aluminum always cracks first, then breaks, usually without warning, unless
you are smart enough to keep your bike clean and see incipient cracks
developing. It always seems sudden. Steel "talks to you" first and is usually
a more progressive failure.
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA