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Re: [TowerTalk] Adding Expanding Foam inside boom

To: Bob Matthews <kt3rr@verizon.net>, "charlie@thegallos.com" <charlie@thegallos.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Adding Expanding Foam inside boom
From: Kimberly Elmore <cw_de_n5op@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-to: Kimberly Elmore <cw_de_n5op@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2018 20:31:15 +0000 (UTC)
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
In a similar vein, I'm helpingto rect an antenna in a relatively inaccessible 
location and want to minimize element vibration. I have no intention of 
tryingto fill each element with foam, but I've read that securing a rope inside 
the element will prevent resonant vibration from occurring. If this is true, 
will something like "parachute cord" do the trick? It won't be exposed to 
eather, so UV deteriorartion isn't an issue.
Kim N5OP

      From: Bob Matthews <kt3rr@verizon.net>
 To: charlie@thegallos.com 
Cc: towertalk@contesting.com; jimlux <jimlux@earthlink.net>; "Bob Shohet, KQ2M" 
<kq2m@kq2m.com>
 Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2018 2:20 PM
 Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Adding Expanding Foam inside boom
   
I used a 2 part foam many years ago on a 30 ft 10 meter Yagi boom. It made the 
boom quite rigid and strong. The materials I used were industrial marine grade 
so they would not absorb water. I’ve seen similar products on Amazon  
https://www.amazon.com/TotalBoat-Urethane-Density-Flotation-Reinforcement/dp/B01AAWRYZG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524769730&sr=1-1π=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=two+part+foam&dpPl=1&dpID=51TCGebM86L&ref=plSrch
Or you can just search 2 part foam marine to see the various products 
available. I can say that the particular product I used held up very well. But 
it was so long ago I have no idea what manufacturer I used. 

Bob  KT3RR

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 26, 2018, at 11:42, Charles Gallo <charlie@thegallos.com> wrote:
> 
>> On Thu, April 26, 2018 9:20 am, Bob Shohet, KQ2M wrote:
>> I would also expect that the rate and quality of the “curing” would be
>> impacted by the ambient temperatures and humidity levels/climate at a
>> given location.  In much of New England the temperature can easily vary
>> by more than 120 degrees in the course of a year – and significantly more
>> in the great plains states.  And the climate can very enormously from the
>> generally wet/humid East to the desert SW. This has to have an impact.
>> 
>> 73
>> 
>> 
>> Bob  KQ2M
> 
> Of course there are foams (2 part) that mix on spray, and don't require
> water vapor to cure
> 
> That said, what is the problem you are trying to solve?  Usually foams are
> used to stop vibration/change resonance frequency.  Here is the question
> (and I don't know the answer) - how often do we see fatigue
> cracking/failure on the BOOM of an antenna?  Not the elements - heck, they
> crack on some, but I don't think I've heard of booms failing except during
> extreme events like ice/wind storms.
> 
> The foam might not give you ANY extra strength, and even you look at
> strength/weight, I'm going to guess it'll be a net negative.  Now if you
> know your boom has a vibration problem, we are talking another story. 
> Even then, there are probably better ways to make the boom stiffer (put an
> end cap on both ends, attach a cable that runs inside the boom from end
> cap to end cap, and come up with a way to tension the cable - aka put the
> boom under compression, or put a metal ROD in, and put the boom under
> tension - both will change resonance)
> 
> The material that interests me.  I've heard that they make tube that is
> similar to ACM sheet - basically a pair of Al tubes, with a composite in
> between (ACM siding is polystyrene or similar)
> 
> I'm wondering if these materials might be the way to go in new designs -
> they are about 90% as strong, but also less than half the weight.  I
> wonder if we could go to some of the carbon fiber/aluminum composite
> tubes, and get MORE strength, for LESS weight (for the same size), or
> downsize, to go SAME strength, but less area and load.. (of course at
> greater expense)
> 
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> 
> 
> 
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