NDS spoke durability is my last issue per trying to learn some things about wheelbuilding this winter. I've read & been patiently tutored about the use of brass washers.. different lacing patterns including radial.. butted spokes.. offset rims.. glueing the NDS spokes to prevent them going slack... about have covered the gamet. Still some issues leave questions.. against this backdrop. I set something over two big stones (200+ lbs currently) on my rear wheel. Once in a while one is forced to take a pothole... sure we all try to avoid them but it does happen. Say at 17mph... bang.. that rear takes one heck of a jolt. Usually that event does not break spokes.. hasn't for me at least... I'm riding a good LBS 36H build. But that jolt sets the stage for a break/s later on. That spoke stressed.. fractured [?].. goes later. Head slap I'd term it.. the detensioning of the spoke and rapid retensioning as the wheel rotates... usually they go in the elbow area. Yet it looks to me like any method used does not prevent this 'head slap'.. some numbers.

This data comes from a 46mm hole width flange.. 33.1 vs 20.7 flange center.. 72/113-116 KgF build.. later figures vary with lacing.. not really that significant. Using these spoke options: 2.3/12 gauge, 2.0, 1.8 and 1.6mm's.

1.6's show .020" elongation under tension at 3x.. .0208 at 4x
1.8 .016 3x .0165 4x
2.0 .013 3x .0133 4x
2.3 .009 3x .0101 4x

Any of these spoke options is going to completely detension via said pothole scenario.. I wonder if in every case the spoke head is going to set back into that recess the same way? The elbow bend is getting a jolt no matter the spoke diameter.. washers I guess would set that impact in way to lessen the bend stresses [?]. Washers in effect try to accomplish the manner in which straight pull spokes function. Butted stretch they say more in the middle.. lessening impact on the bend... that I question. Given the short timeframe.. and still the bend gets a rap.

Improving the spoke line/angle to the flange on the inside spokes... an attempt to get flange contact after the bend. Is this really a pre-stressing of the spoke... giving the metal some.. the word (?).. some memory.. or ability to handle later stresses of this type?

My inquiry is a desire to understand why something works.. or doesn't. Testimonials aside.. the why's.... Spokes will continue to break.. one of my motivations is when I come across the heavy wt spoke buster.. I can be of some real help.

12 gauge on the NDS.. I threw that out per the relative mass of the metal. If their practical NDS I doubt it.. but I wonder given their stiffness even at NDS tension levels. 48H is the answer for these applications.. yet find the hubs of decent [?] quality that'll fit traditional rear dropouts.... sans a tandem.