In both cases (Configuration A and Configuration B), the simulation was performed in static load conditions and each tube was assumed to have a ring-shaped section with external diameter of 30 mm and 2 mm of width and to be almost infinitely stiff. The last choice derived by the fact that the carbon fibre composite was approximated as an elastic, linear, homogeneous and isotropic material with an elastic modulus of about 10¹¹ Pa (corresponding to the order of magnitude of the fibers’ axial modulus). Loads and constrains were imposed as boundary settings. 

Configuration A Configuration B

The two configurations brought to different stress distributions, particularly for the horizontal tube, which is almost unstressed in B. After setting a minimum desirable safety factor of 2, it was verified that every type of composite, commonly available in catalogues, can be used in configuration A, while only the unidirectional ones (i.e. all fibers parallel) are good for configuration B.

The observations described in the previous section, suggested that configuration A, shown is more suitable for the prototype production: it allows more flexibility in terms of material’s composition and consequently of the fabrication processes.