Originally Posted by polyspheric
A bar curved in its linear axis will change length when compressed or tensioned, a straight tube won't. Unless it's significantly stiffer than its linked tubes, this bending will allow the others to move.
NHRA doesn't have any structural engineers making these decisions...


I think I understand your point on qualifying/noting the thickness of the bent tube in this context, but not to mislead anybody here, if the bent tube for arguments sake is the same dia as the connecting tubes, even if the bent tube was solid, it will still flex to some degree, and change its length as you noted. My point in noting this, there is no thickness increase solution feasible/practical, when the addition of a simple straight brace is possible, originating at the bend.

Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.