JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #84 - October 2013 - 12

Applications

industrial

Carbon drive shafts:
the best specific torque transfer
- Carbon drive shafts:
the best specific torque
transfer ....................... p12
- 3D composite sandwich
with high-energy shock
absorbing oriented
bridges ........................ p14
- The Volkswagen XL1 super
efficient vehicle ........... p16

World-Class
Glass Yarn
&
Fabric
Manufacturer
Sales
&
Seeking for
Agency
www.glotechgf.com

Although carbon drive
shafts are already used
in some motor boats and
luxury sports cars, they do
not have much of a foothold
in industry. This is probably
just due to conservatism,
since they have many advantages. Here are some of
the solutions proposed by
Centa Group, a specialist in
that area.

L

ightweight drive shafts made of
carbon-fibre reinforced plastic
(CFRP) exhibit energy-efficient
power transmission while allowing
increased velocities of the driven
machines.
In cooperation with the Technical
University of Darmstadt and leading classification societies, Centa has
developed its own range of CFRP drive
shafts. Their strength and stability are
comparable to steel, but with significant weight savings (lower inertia).
The shafts can be combined with a
variety of flexible couplings and connecting elements for optimum torque
compensation. They are fatigue free,
extremely durable, and corrosion
proof. They dampen noise and have a
low coefficient of thermal expansion.
Centa Group can provide any length,
with up to 10 metres per section.
The admissible torque range is 0.1 to

12 jec composites magazine / No84 October 2013

650 kNm in a temperature range of
-40° to +90°C. Their intrinsic properties make the shafts easier to handle
and reduce maintenance and costs by
eliminating the need for additional
components such as bearings and
foundations.

Operational experience
Centa CFRP shafts have been successfully applied in fast ferries (monohull
and catamaran), cruise vessels, naval
ships, luxury yachts, tug boats, dredgers, research ships, drill ships, rescue
boats, excursion boats, hydrofoils,
double-ended ferries and pilot boats.
Since 1996, Centa has become a market leader worldwide for CFRP shafts.
To date, more than 150 ships with 500
drive shafts have been equipped by
Centa, clocking up thousands of hours
without technical problems. This has
given the company wide engineering
and design experience, enabling them
to produce sophisticated yet cost-effective solutions. Their close contacts
with all partners involved, e.g. shipyards, manufacturers (engines, gear,
waterjets, shaft bearings/seals, etc.)

More information

Advantages of CFRP shafts
- Low weight - typically 70% weight
saving compared to conventional steel
shafts
- Longer spans reducing or eliminating
line shaft bearings, hence providing
lower weight and fewer assembly
parts (not only eliminating the need
for pedestal bearings, but also
reducing the cost and weight of the
pedestal-supporting structure)
- Long service life, no corrosion, no
wear, no maintenance, non-magnetic
- Low thermal expansion
- Noise damping
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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #84 - October 2013

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