Need assistance in material selection

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Hello everyone I am new here, this is my first post. I am currently designing something that needs to be crush resistant and virtually crush proof on certain levels. Having the ability to run over with a car without any structural fatigue. The catch is the item would be the size of a wedding ring. If you had to make a wedding ring that could be run over by a car what metal or material would you strongly consider using. I apologize for my limited information. Im trying to keep information limited due to what I am designing seems to be first in its market from the research I have done and it will hopefully change lives. I will definitely answer any questions you may need to ask to help me solve my situation. Thanks in advance.
Reply:I'm thinking a heat treated tool steel may be good choice.  The alloy and heat treatment would determine the ultimate strength and toughness.
Reply:If you're talking about a solid disc, just about any steel will work if it's the cars' tires that are running over it.  If it's a hollow ring, or if the vehicle is the weight of a car but has solid steel wheels like an asphault roller, rather than rubber tires, that would be another story...MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33If you're talking about a solid disc, just about any steel will work if it's the cars' tires that are running over it.  If it's a hollow ring, or if the vehicle is the weight of a car but has solid steel wheels like an asphault roller, rather than rubber tires, that would be another story...
Reply:As light and and strong as possible? I hate to point out an obvious choice, but did you consider titanium?
Reply:So you're intending to run over some folk's hands with a car and these rings are supposed to keep their fingers from being crushed??   Good luck finding volunteers for that!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I would have to agree with Grimm1 here, titanium is definitely a very resilient material and also light. I believe there are various grades that could determine it's resistive "crush" value, I'm not certain whether it is heat-treatable or not, but I believe it is. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:What's your budget?I would probably look at a carbon fiber/peek thermoplastic but it wouldn't be the cheapest solution.As for metal Titanium could be good.Stainless can be made to be pretty strong too and is another that won't oxidize.Lincoln precision TIG 275Millermatic 140 MIG
Reply:Yes I have strongly considered titanium and I know its very strong for its weight compared to most metals, I have not worked with it much physically though. I didn't mention anything about it because I wanted to leave the door completely open as far as suggestions. I also wanted some confirmation that this metal is a strong choice before I spend money on forging/milling and testing. DesertRider ,yes for demo purposes someones hand will get run over .It will be mine, I would never create and give someone something I couldn't trust using myself, and prove to do what I claim it to. I also will do alot of testing, finding the limits of the metals and my design before I would consider putting my hand inside of it.Last edited by Tonyg41; 12-11-2009 at 01:32 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by yoshimitsuspeedWhat's your budget?I would probably look at a carbon fiber/peek thermoplastic but it wouldn't be the cheapest solution.As for metal Titanium could be good.Stainless can be made to be pretty strong too and is another that won't oxidize.
Reply:Originally Posted by Tonyg41My budget is high, I was considering resins and carbon fiber. Due to design and purpose though I don't know if carbon fiber would handle certain traumas. Even though its extremely strong under pressure it can be compromised fast if the wrong thing happens in the right way. I know titanium has weakness just like everything else but metals can take dings better then carbon fiber can. I do some mountain biking and know many top end bike frames are carbon fiber for the weight to strength ratio. If those frames contact a rock in the wrong way everything fails. Where as I have seen aluminum frames survive but it was at a cost of weight of course.
Reply:Originally Posted by yoshimitsuspeedWhatever material you choose you will have to find the balance between hard, strong and brittle.Aluminum is nice because it will bend a good bit before it fully fails (Of course depending on the type of aluminum). Something like a hardened stainless or tool steel will be very strong until it flies apart similar in a way to CF.Fiberglass has a lower strength but also flexes more before it fails. Kevlar will give better abrasion resistance and be stronger than FG but weaker than CF. IF your budget is big enough and or if you have the time the best thing to do would be to do analysis and figure out the best material from an engineering point of view then probably take a couple of the ones that look the best on paper and try them in the real world. It sounds like this is armor for your hands. Will it be single pieces or will it have joints?