Blow outs - Does a black strut/LE increase the risk?

4 years ago
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Capt1986
Capt1986
3 posts
3 posts
30 Mar 2022 4:01pm
Hi everyone, I had a wing that blew out spontaneously while it was on the shore.
I'm a little lost how or why this happened.

Suspecting that the black colour caused an increase in pressure and inadvertently the blow out.
Anyone else have this happen to them?
Jethrow
Jethrow
NSW
1282 posts
NSW, 1282 posts
30 Mar 2022 7:44pm
I've seen carbon windsurf mast go that way so it's possible.

It would have to get pretty hot though unless you're real close to the max pressure.
airsail
airsail
QLD
1604 posts
QLD, 1604 posts
30 Mar 2022 8:02pm
Yes, the heat in the black leading edge can increase the pressure substantially and cause a blow out. If leaving your wing on the beach on a hot day, let a little pressure out.
I go as far as not pumping my wing up completely until I'm ready to go on a hot day, and get the wing to the water reasonably quickly. Manufacturers are suggesting really high pressures in wings now, add some solar heat and there will definitely be more failures.
J_foil
J_foil
NSW
128 posts
NSW, 128 posts
30 Mar 2022 9:34pm
Capt1986 said..
Hi everyone, I had a wing that blew out spontaneously while it was on the shore.
I'm a little lost how or why this happened.

Suspecting that the black colour caused an increase in pressure and inadvertently the blow out.
Anyone else have this happen to them?


Was it sitting on hot sand? That's the only time I ever saw one blow up before.
goggo
goggo
378 posts
378 posts
30 Mar 2022 6:36pm
Black is not a good colour for anything that is prone to expansion, except in the case of the model T, which intially was only available in black as the paint dried faster.
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