Drawing FBD: Cable Passes Over a Smooth Peg

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around drawing a Free Body Diagram (FBD) for a cable passing over a smooth peg, focusing on the forces acting at specific points, particularly at point C and the internal loadings at point E. Participants explore the implications of the cable's properties and the assumptions necessary for accurately representing the forces involved.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether to draw one or both force arrows at point C, with a focus on the nature of the forces acting there.
  • One participant asserts that the cable can only pull and cannot push, emphasizing that it is not attached to point C.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about their assumptions regarding the forces and seeks confirmation on their FBD representation.
  • There is a discussion about the equivalent point load of a distributed load, with conflicting views on its value and the implications of different load values.
  • Some participants highlight the importance of including all forces in the FBD and maintaining equilibrium conditions in the analysis.
  • One participant mentions a lack of reaction forces at point C due to its smooth nature, while others challenge this assertion.
  • There are requests for patience and understanding as participants navigate the complexities of the problem and their own uncertainties in statics concepts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach consensus on several points, including the number of forces to represent at point C and the nature of the reaction forces. Multiple competing views remain regarding the correct approach to drawing the FBD and calculating the internal loadings.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express confusion about basic concepts from statics, indicating potential limitations in their understanding of the problem. There are also unresolved questions about the mathematical steps involved in determining the loads and reactions.

xxxyzzz
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Homework Statement
Determine the resultant internal loadings on the cross-section at point E. The cable passes over a smooth peg at C.
Relevant Equations
N/A
1662225476972.png

Attempting to draw the FBD for this problem but was wondering what to do about the cable, especially when I determine the internal loadings at E. At C, do I only draw one force arrow (CB), or draw both on the left and right side?
 
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xxxyzzz said:
At C, do I only draw one force arrow (CB), or draw both on the left and right side?
You draw ALL of the forces extant at that point. How many are there?
 
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xxxyzzz said:
The cable passes over a smooth peg at C.
...
At C, do I only draw one force arrow (CB), or draw both on the left and right side?
Welcome!
The cable, just like it happens to any rope or any chain, can only pull, it can't push anything.
In order to pull an object, it needs to be solidly attached to it.
Please, note that the problem states that the cable is not attached to the point C, it can only freely slide over it.
 
Hello, thank you for the welcome and responses. I am unsure if the notifications will be received if I do not click on the reply button, but I drew my idea of the FBD below and what I think all the forces are. I did not think that the cable is only pulling. Is this a correct assumption of the forces?
1662322284412.png

And to find the internal loadings at E, do I proceed with this?
1662322428982.png

Thanks all.
 
I believe that the equivalent point load to the distributed one should not be 12 KN.
What Ve stands for?
 
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Lnewqban said:
I believe that the equivalent point load to the distributed one should not be 12 KN.
What Ve stands for?
My apologies, I screenshotted the problem from the textbook where w=3 kN/m, while my homework problem had w=4 kN/m. It should be 9 kN in my FBD. Ve is meant to be the internal shear force at E.
 
No apologies needed.
Force at C is incomplete.
If the structure is in equilibrium, the summation of forces and moment acting on each of its elements must be zero.
 
Draw the ENTIRE FBD all at one time with ALL of the forces. Always do that when solving this kind of problem
 
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https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/313781Are these all the forces? I did not think that C had any reaction forces because it is smooth.
 
  • #10
First, your link is broken and second PUT IT RIGHT HERE. This is like pulling teeth.
 
  • #11
phinds said:
First, your link is broken and second PUT IT RIGHT HERE. This is like pulling teeth.
I was editing my post since I was unsure about my diagram, which was probably why the link was broken (might have accidentally deleted it). I believe I forgot some basic concepts from Statics since it has been a while, so I am having trouble understanding what forces I am missing. I do not mean to make you feel like you are "pulling teeth." Would like to ask you to be patient with me. Here is the reupload.
1662325898075.png
 
  • #12
xxxyzzz said:
I was editing my post since I was unsure about my diagram, which was probably why the link was broken (might have accidentally deleted it). I believe I forgot some basic concepts from Statics since it has been a while, so I am having trouble understanding what forces I am missing. I do not mean to make you feel like you are "pulling teeth." Would like to ask you to be patient with me. Here is the reupload.
View attachment 313784
Check your math on the distributed load. The reaction force at C, doesn’t exist.
 
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  • #13
xxxyzzz said:
Here is the reupload.
View attachment 313784
This diagram is much better.
Time to compare forces and moments to determine the value of the cable tension Fbc.
With that value on hand, a vectorial addition of the tensions (same value, different directions) acting on C should let you know what types and what magnitudes of loads the cross-section E of the vertical element is withstanding.
 
  • #14
@xxxyzzz, Did you have time to solve this problem?
 

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