Originally Posted by
Uplinker
Wow, I had no idea that graphite was so strong in tension or resilient to vibration - I thought it was a soft material and not very mechanically strong at all.
But graphite, being made of carbon, might behave as an electrical resistor if a very large current from a lightening strike travelled through it. If so; its resistance to current flow would have made it get very very hot and disintegrate.
Wait for it…..someone will show up claiming that graphite was chosen specifically with this scenario in mind in order to create a “weak link” to ensure separation of the spar and both blades at the hub in the event of a lightning strike. Clever, forward looking those designer folk!