- #1
lupac
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1. Here is what I am trying to solve. I am not looking for a direct answer, I just need help solving the problem. I am a mechanical EIT working for a clean energy company. My boss (P Eng.) and I are trying to solve this problem but can't quite grasp the concept.
OK so, we have a tunnel with a 140m radius, the penstock for the powerplant will be traveling through this tunnel. The pipe lengths are 8m long each and the total tunnel distance is roughly 200m (this is not important). What we would like to do is push a section of pipe into the tunnel then weld the next section then push the whole assembly into the tunnel then weld the next section... and so and so forth. The pipes will be mitred to compensate for the 140m radius.
What we are trying to determine is the force required to push the pipe into the tunnel. This will be a friction force opposing the direction of travel. It is easy to find the force required to push the pipe on a flat section. Our problem is finding the force required to guide the pipe around the bend. The pipe will be bolted to two sliders (one on each end of each pipe). The sliders will slide on a track. There will be guide plate (similar to how a roller coaster stays on track) that will guide the pipe around the corners.
We are basically looking for the normal force pushing on the guide as it goes around the corner. How do you solve this problem? Do you use a bending moment? We are stumped. Please help.
Attached my work so far to help you understand the problem! Assume no elevation change. How to you find the force required to guide the pipe around the corner? Momentum can be ignored because the pipe will be traveling sooooo slowly as it is pushed through the tunnel
OK so, we have a tunnel with a 140m radius, the penstock for the powerplant will be traveling through this tunnel. The pipe lengths are 8m long each and the total tunnel distance is roughly 200m (this is not important). What we would like to do is push a section of pipe into the tunnel then weld the next section then push the whole assembly into the tunnel then weld the next section... and so and so forth. The pipes will be mitred to compensate for the 140m radius.
What we are trying to determine is the force required to push the pipe into the tunnel. This will be a friction force opposing the direction of travel. It is easy to find the force required to push the pipe on a flat section. Our problem is finding the force required to guide the pipe around the bend. The pipe will be bolted to two sliders (one on each end of each pipe). The sliders will slide on a track. There will be guide plate (similar to how a roller coaster stays on track) that will guide the pipe around the corners.
We are basically looking for the normal force pushing on the guide as it goes around the corner. How do you solve this problem? Do you use a bending moment? We are stumped. Please help.
Attached my work so far to help you understand the problem! Assume no elevation change. How to you find the force required to guide the pipe around the corner? Momentum can be ignored because the pipe will be traveling sooooo slowly as it is pushed through the tunnel