A rod which flixed in only 1 direction.

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter dE_logics
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Direction Rod
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of a mechanical rod or component that flexes primarily in one direction while remaining rigid in others. Participants explore theoretical and practical implications of such a design, considering its potential applications and limitations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the existence of a rod or mechanical component that flexes in only one direction, suggesting that while such an object could be postulated, it does not exist in reality as all materials exhibit some degree of flexibility.
  • One participant mentions that I-beams are designed to be more rigid in one axis than another, implying a partial solution to the problem.
  • Another participant suggests that a bicycle chain is compliant in one axis while rigid in others, indicating a real-world example of directional flexibility.
  • A participant proposes the idea of a rod that is stiff in one direction but soft in another, allowing for portability when rolled, and speculates on its advantages in construction applications.
  • One participant references protective gear for snowboarders that bends easily in one direction but locks in another, drawing a parallel to the proposed rod concept.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the practicality of the proposed design compared to existing solutions like I-beams, emphasizing the importance of structural integrity in multiple axes.
  • A later reply mentions the creation of a prototype that could serve as a foldable construction material, suggesting potential applications similar to those explored in nanotechnology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the feasibility or practicality of a rod that flexes in one direction. There are competing views regarding the existence and utility of such a component, with some expressing skepticism and others proposing theoretical applications.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the discussion is largely theoretical, with some ideas depending on specific definitions of rigidity and flexibility. There are unresolved questions about the material properties and structural applications of the proposed designs.

dE_logics
Messages
742
Reaction score
0
Is there any sort of rod/mechanical component which only flexes in 1 or a few direction?

Or do we have any such sort of bar which is fordable only in one direction?...if you apply force in other directions it will be rigid.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
dE_logics said:
Is there any sort of rod/mechanical component which only flexes in 1 or a few direction?

Or do we have any such sort of bar which is fordable only in one direction?...if you apply force in other directions it will be rigid.
We can of course postulate such an object, for example, the term "rod" in mechanics means a one-dimensional object or a line-element (usually a rigid line-element). Obviously, such an object doesn't exist in reality and in fact there are no absolutely rigid objects in reality. So the notion of an object being absolutely rigid in one or two directions may be used as an approximation, but such an object doesn't exist in reality.
 
I-beams are made to be much more rigid in one axis than the other.
 
A bicycle chain is approximately perfectly compliant in one axis and approximately perfectly rigid in two other axes.
 
I'm not talking about rigidity, this is a mechanical component, i.e we can assume prefect rigidity.

No I beam will not be it.

Yeah, I was wondering about chains, but is there anything which is solely made to flex in one direction and in the other its actually made to withstand large amounts of force.

Cause in chains this is comes as an obvious result...though its not actually desired.
 
None has been made yet?
 
Can you give some context to your question? (Like the application or need.) A hinge satisfies these requirements, but it's hard to tell what you're looking for.
 
No not a hinge, its strictly a rod/bar.

Imagine a rope which's stiff in one direction but soft in the other, such that it can be folded (and made portable) if rolled in one direction while in the other it can serve as a sort of stiff rod.

Should should have a major advantage as a construction beam...and various other applications which are concepts actually.
 
I'm thinking about some kind of protective gear I saw once for snowboarders, I believe it was for your back. It could bend forward easily, but not backward. Basically it was just a few 'plates' locking into each other such that they locked when you bend backward, and they released when you bend forward.
 
  • #10
humm...yep that will be it.

Irony is no one knows the potential of such an arrangement.
 
  • #11
dE_logics said:
No not a hinge, its strictly a rod/bar.

Imagine a rope which's stiff in one direction but soft in the other, such that it can be folded (and made portable) if rolled in one direction while in the other it can serve as a sort of stiff rod.

Should should have a major advantage as a construction beam...and various other applications which are concepts actually.
I-beams are used for a reason - they have a high strength to weight ratio. To understand why, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the concept of moment of inertia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_of_inertia

In addition, a beam needs at least some strength in its other axes to prevent buckling.

What you are suggesting would be significantly inferior to an I-beam for structural purposes.
Irony is no one knows the potential of such an arrangement.
Including you!

I'm not seeing much a point to this thread, just a vague, ill-posed question that doesn't seem to have a purpose behind it. Are you going somewhere with it, or is this all there is?
 
  • #12
Well...I made one, it can be worked out as a very good construction material and make things 'foldable' such that when undone it give a specific shape, thus can take shape of predefined objects...the same thing which people are trying to achieve using nano tech.

I beam has to do purely with statics...this is something very different, initially, we're not talking stress here.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad A rod that falls while rotating from the end of a table
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Does the shape of an object affect the pressure?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
High School A scenario of non-uniform circular motion
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Undergrad Angular velocity of a rod and what formula to use while solving.
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
High School Question about the definition of Torque Equilibrium
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
High School Torsion Involving an Off Axis Thrust
  • · Replies 66 ·
3
Replies
66
Views
6K
High School Rod resting against a smooth peg
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
High School Move in Space without mass exchange
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Conservation of angular momentum during collisions
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Undergrad Landau Mechanics Chapter 2 Problem 1: Direction of Potential Energy?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
749