PhanthomJay said:You went through more work than necessary, you could have isolated a section of the right hand part with a cut at x to find the axial force. Your answer looks numerically correct, but is the axial force compression or tension in the member?
Isolate from point x to D.DanRow93 said:Which right hand part do you mean I could have isolated, from point X to C? It would be compression I think, so should be -5.08?
PhanthomJay said:Isolate from point x to D.
Compression is correct, but why do you say that?
PhanthomJay said:Isolate from point x to D.
Compression is correct, but why do you say that?
when you isolated the section AB, the vertical force at B acts downward on AB. (Don't rotate the members as you have done, this confuses the issue). Anyway, if the vertical force at B acts downward on AB, then what does Newton's third law tell you about the direction of the vertical force at B on BC?DanRow93 said:I actually don't know, I've confused myself. At point B the axial force along BC is downwards, so axial force in X is opposite which means it should be tension doesn't it
the problem statement tells you that a positive value for the axial force in BC indicates tension, implying that compression is entered as a negative value.I put the answer 5.08 into the online test that I had to do and I got it wrong...
Axial force is a type of force that acts along the axis of a structural member, either pushing or pulling it in the direction of its length. It is also known as compression or tension force.
Axial force can be calculated by using the equation F = A x σ, where F is the axial force, A is the cross-sectional area of the member, and σ is the stress acting on the member.
Finding the axial force at a specific location is important in structural analysis as it helps determine the amount of stress and strain that a member will experience at that point. This information is crucial in designing and analyzing the stability and strength of a structure.
The axial force in a structural member can be affected by various factors such as the type and magnitude of external loads, the material properties of the member, and its cross-sectional area. Other factors that can influence the axial force include temperature changes, structural connections, and the presence of other forces acting on the member.
The axial force at a specific location in a structural member can be determined experimentally by using strain gauges or load cells. These devices can measure the strain or deformation of the member, which can then be used to calculate the axial force using the equation F = A x σ. Other methods such as hydraulic jacks and load cells can also be used to measure the axial force directly.