Calculating steel round bar's max capacity to support?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the maximum capacity of a steel round bar (2 inches in diameter and 5 feet in length) to support a load without bending. Participants explore various factors that may influence this capacity, including material properties, loading conditions, and support arrangements.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests assistance in calculating the load capacity of the steel bar without bending.
  • Another participant suggests that the type of steel, the location of supports, and the position of the load are critical factors that need clarification.
  • A different participant asserts that the bar will bend under its own weight, implying that the question should focus on acceptable deflection rather than maximum load capacity.
  • Another response emphasizes the need for detailed specifications, such as the arrangement of the bar, end conditions, and loading type, and recommends consulting engineering resources for relevant formulas.
  • This participant also notes that the material will always deflect under load, and that engineering principles determine acceptable levels of deflection.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the factors influencing the load capacity and acceptable deflection of the steel bar. There is no consensus on a specific approach or solution, and multiple competing perspectives remain in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the importance of specifying conditions such as loading type and support arrangements, which are critical for accurate calculations. There are unresolved assumptions regarding material properties and the specific context of the load application.

esaulog
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First off, I am new to this forum.. However I wanted
To find out if anyone would be able to help me calculate
How much a steel bar (2 in. In diameter, 5 ft. Lengthwise)
Would be able to hold up without bending?
 
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esaulog said:
First off, I am new to this forum.. However I wanted
To find out if anyone would be able to help me calculate
How much a steel bar (2 in. In diameter, 5 ft. Lengthwise)
Would be able to hold up without bending?
Uh ... do you think maybe it might matter what KIND of steel you are talking about? Do you think it might matter where the supports are and where the load is? Could you maybe be a little more vague in your problem statement?
 
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esaulog said:
First off, I am new to this forum.. However I wanted
To find out if anyone would be able to help me calculate
How much a steel bar (2 in. In diameter, 5 ft. Lengthwise)
Would be able to hold up without bending?

Zero.

Even with no weight on the bar it's still bending under it's own weight.
Adding additional weight makes it bend more.
The real question is, how much deflection is acceptable?
 
Sigh. This doesn't have to be hard.

Specify, specify, specify before asking anything.
  • Sketch the arrangement (horizontal, vertical, something in between) and form a Free Body Diagram.
  • Identify the end conditions (simple, pinned, cantilevered, whatever).
  • Specify the loading (point load, distributed load), specify the material.
  • Find an Engineering-related website or (gasp) perhaps even a Strengths of Materials textbook that provides formulas for beam loading.
  • Find the applicable equation for beam loading.
  • Apply the correct material strength & section moment of inertia values.
  • Those equations will tell you the amount of stress & deflection present in the beam at any point.
  • Use those values to determine if your conditions are suitable.
The material is elastic and will always deflect under load ("zero"). But "Engineering" not "Science" determines what is an acceptable deflection.
 

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