- #1
stevewindmill
- 2
- 0
Hello everyone :)
I have a problem which I would love help with, very briefly I am having a model windmill built as an exhibition stand. As it's height is just over 3 metres I am being asked some pretty tough questions by the health and safety team at the show.
Specifically "what weight is required to stop the windmill overturning".
It's mainly built of honeycomb cardboard, but with a wood frame underpinning. I have calculated its weight, footprint, and have most measurements available to me, but the physics behind their question baffles me.
Facts I know:
Main structure 3.36m high
Total height including sails 4.5m high
Footprint of base 3.31sq/m
structure tapers and at a height of 3.3m the 'footprint' is 1.69sq/m
Total weight of honeycomb cardboard external shell 37kg
Timber internal structure 59kg
motor 5kg at a height of 3m
total weight of 101kg
43kg below a height of 1m
will add a weight at each corner of the base but need science behind how much.
We've talked about 20kg in each corner, adding 80kg to the total weight, but this is just based on guesswork sadly.
I'm assuming that the question will actually need more specifics - what weight is required to stop the windmill overturning is very vague. I'd like to be able to say that the weight of an average-above average person applied at a specific height of 1.5m to the side of the structure, or similar, would definitely not topple the windmill (with calculations to back it up). Input is appreciated here also - it's unlikely that someone could apply their entire weight with a sideways force at this height?
I'm really stressing out over this, the company designing and building the stand have been very helpful but when it comes down to this level of physics, we're all just staring blankly and scratching our heads.
I have lots of measurements and details here so if there's anything glaringly obvious that would help calculations just let me know.
I have a problem which I would love help with, very briefly I am having a model windmill built as an exhibition stand. As it's height is just over 3 metres I am being asked some pretty tough questions by the health and safety team at the show.
Specifically "what weight is required to stop the windmill overturning".
It's mainly built of honeycomb cardboard, but with a wood frame underpinning. I have calculated its weight, footprint, and have most measurements available to me, but the physics behind their question baffles me.
Facts I know:
Main structure 3.36m high
Total height including sails 4.5m high
Footprint of base 3.31sq/m
structure tapers and at a height of 3.3m the 'footprint' is 1.69sq/m
Total weight of honeycomb cardboard external shell 37kg
Timber internal structure 59kg
motor 5kg at a height of 3m
total weight of 101kg
43kg below a height of 1m
will add a weight at each corner of the base but need science behind how much.
We've talked about 20kg in each corner, adding 80kg to the total weight, but this is just based on guesswork sadly.
I'm assuming that the question will actually need more specifics - what weight is required to stop the windmill overturning is very vague. I'd like to be able to say that the weight of an average-above average person applied at a specific height of 1.5m to the side of the structure, or similar, would definitely not topple the windmill (with calculations to back it up). Input is appreciated here also - it's unlikely that someone could apply their entire weight with a sideways force at this height?
I'm really stressing out over this, the company designing and building the stand have been very helpful but when it comes down to this level of physics, we're all just staring blankly and scratching our heads.
I have lots of measurements and details here so if there's anything glaringly obvious that would help calculations just let me know.