Originally Posted by
bigfred
But, generaly speaking, the majority of aluminum failures provide some warning signs if you know how to recognize them.
Sounds like aluminum is very similar to carbon fiber in this regard!
With the interruption of just a couple carbon threads the "crack" so to speak is already started and then propigates (sometimes very quickly) through the remaining material.
No, it doesn't. At worst, it
might propagate through a single layer of the carbon lay-up. Even that possibility seems remote. The likelihood that a scratch leads to catastrophic failure of the entire frame is minuscule. If carbon frames failed as often as you seem to be suggesting,
nobody would be riding them and their manufacturers would have been sued into oblivion.
This is enough of a concern that some manufactures prescribe the repair of even superficial gelcoat damage in order to mantain the integrity of some components.
Name one?
There is a reason why manufacturers have starting prescribing weight limits to carbon components.
Right: it's because their lawyers have nothing better to do.