Quote:
Originally Posted by qax
I remember reading somewhere that the 6UL design was inspired by some 7-split spoke Lotus wheels? Is 6UL lighter than 7UL or are there any other beneficial factors when it comes to spoke design?
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Not the case. I wonder where that came from. The basic pattern came from a prototype 16" centerlock wheel for a Radical SR8. We used the pattern, changed the spoke profile, added a draft to the spoke cross section, added a lug well to stiffen the wheel, eliminated the stepped lip and a made a few other changes to come up with the original 6UL design.
Overall 10-12 spokes is the sweet post for load dispersion. We chose 12 because of the symmetry although it makes it harder to match up with 4 and 5 lug bolt patterns. Without getting too deep into the weeds on design, we spend many hours on each fitment reviewing stress concentrations to improve fatigue life and stiffness. Tiny changes to a radius or fillet can have profound effects on ultimate strength.
From 2006
