wrote in message
...

The AIRFRAME is an example of a structure having optimized ratios of
strength-to-weight. Although the very best materials are expensive,
the cost of materials is not linear with regard to strength. Going to
other-than-optimum materials... giving away perhaps 10% of our
strength... which may also be read as increasing our WEIGHT by 10%...
or reducing our LOAD by 10%.... does not reflect a price redduction
of 10%... what it reflects is more on the order of a 90% REDUCTION in
price.

-R.S.Hoover

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I can't speak exactly to the percentages, but it still a very important
point. Same can often be said for the investment in engineering time.

Kind of makes you wonder how long our automobiles would last if they spent
an extra 10% on cost or weight. I just had an 06 Explorer with independent
rear suspension and an aluminum differential case, hang it's tongue out at
90k miles.