Unidirectional carbon fiber tube means that the fibers are only arranged in one direction, that is, only longitudinal or transverse fibers.
One-way and multi-way
As mentioned above, “unidirectional” has to do with the way the carbon fibers are aligned. All fibers on the outside of the tube are oriented in the same direction as most other layers in the tube.
Multi-directional tubing presents a unique braided look. When fibers are arranged in multiple directions, they can be woven together to create a fabric.
So, why unidirectional instead of multidirectional? It really depends on how much power is needed and where it is being used. Carbon fiber itself is a reinforcing material. Combine it with epoxy resin to make carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Much of the tensile strength provided by carbon fiber components is related to fiber alignment.
Same direction force
The tensile strength of carbon fibers tends to be in the same direction as the fibers. Therefore, the one-way tube is very strong along its length. Its tensile strength moves back and forth along essentially the entire length of the tube. In contrast, multidirectional tubing exhibits tensile strength in multiple directions.
One-way tubing is ideal for applications involving only back-and-forth motion and stress, such as rocket bodies, model rockets, hockey sticks, and more.
Increase tube strength
One-way tubing can add strength in key areas by adding an extra layer of fabric. In practical applications where two or three pipes meet at a common joint that is subject to stress from multiple directions, the pipe can be reinforced by adding one or two layers of fabric.
This is one of the benefits of choosing carbon fiber over metal. Just adding extra layers of fabric in key places adds strength while adding very little weight. This is very difficult to do with aluminum, steel or titanium.
