> >I'm a student at Natal University (Durban), South Africa.
> >
> >I'm currently in my 4th Yr. and my project is to design and manufacture
a
> cricket bat consisting of composite materials.
> >
> >It would be greatly appreciated if you could send me any info. related
to
> this topic and in particular, "Cricket Bat Improvements" and "Finite
> Element Impact Analysis of a Flexible Cricket Bat".
> >
> >Info. on testing of cricket bats would also be of great help.
> >
> >Please paste my request on the Sports Engineering Mailboard.
> >
> >Please forward any other contacts...
> >My E-Mail is [log in to unmask]
> >
> >Thanks for your time...
> >Uwe.
>
Hi,
I wrote the paper in question on the Flexible Cricket Bat, and I would
certainly be interested in your thoughts (and anyone else's) on composite
bats. Yes I do realise that the rules say that the bat must be made of
wood, but I think that is widely interpreted as the contacting surface must
be made of wood (so as not to damage the ball unduly). I certainly know of
one group who are doing some very hush-hush work on a composite bat that
isn't all wood. Bats are allowed to be coated or covered but only up to a
specific thickness and I'm not sure if you are restricted to certain
materials.
I don't know too much about specific materials, but there are certainly
some very good arguments for using stiffer materials in certain parts of
the bat, and less stiff ones in others. I suppose it is possible to choose
different woods that satisfy these criteria, but then the problem is to
keep it all together. Laminated bats, and ones with different wood inserts
in the toe (toe reinforcement) have been around for years.
I don't know whether composite bats have much of a future though, as the
sport is so conservative and radical ideas tend to get rejected out of
hand. There is also the issue of making such bats.... I think £150-200 is
way too much for a bit of shaved wood anyway.
Discuss.
Justin Penrose
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Justin Penrose
Medical Physics * NEW * Tel: +44 (0) 114 271 2180
University of Sheffield Fax: +44 (0) 114 271 3403
Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.
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