Floating Granite Sphere Fountain

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Sandeep Chauhan
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    Floating Sphere
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of the water pump required to lift a 1.5-meter diameter granite sphere on a 3mm water sheet for a fountain project. Participants explore various aspects of the design and engineering considerations involved in creating such a feature, including safety and structural integrity.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks assistance in calculating the necessary water pump for a granite sphere fountain project.
  • Another participant questions the application and suggests that the inquiry may be related to a school assignment.
  • A participant clarifies that the project is for a client and not a school assignment, indicating a professional context.
  • Concerns are raised about the professionalism of seeking design advice online, especially for heavy objects like the granite sphere.
  • A participant mentions their background as an estimation and design engineer, emphasizing their experience in the water fountain industry.
  • There are suggestions regarding safety measures, including the potential for the ball to crash down if power fails and considerations for preventing damage.
  • Alternative design solutions are proposed, such as using a hemispherical cup to support the ball and conceal the structural elements.
  • One participant references a paper discussing the physics involved in such designs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the appropriateness of seeking design advice online and the safety considerations for the fountain. Multiple design solutions are proposed, indicating that there is no consensus on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the calculations needed for the pump and the structural design, highlighting the complexity of the project and the need for professional input.

Sandeep Chauhan
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Dear All,

I want to calculate water pump required for lifting the 1.5m dia. Granite ball on 3mm water sheet.
kindly help ma as the earliest.
Thanks
Snadeep
 
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Thanks for your reply, but this I'am already having but not getting how to calculate. kindly post something in easy method if you have thanks
 
Sandeep Chauhan said:
Dear All,

I want to calculate water pump required for lifting the 1.5m dia. Granite ball on 3mm water sheet.
kindly help ma as the earliest.
Thanks
Snadeep
Sandeep Chauhan said:
Thanks for your reply, but this I'am already having but not getting how to calculate. kindly post something in easy method if you have thanks
What is the application? Why are you trying to do this? Is this for a schoolwork assignment?
 
No Sir, It's not school assignment, I'm having one client he want this type of water fountain in his upcoming mall project. I've to provide him calculations for this granite Sphere water fountain.
 
Sandeep Chauhan said:
No Sir, It's not school assignment, I'm having one client he want this type of water fountain in his upcoming mall project. I've to provide him calculations for this granite Sphere water fountain.
What is your background? If you don't have the mechanical engineering background for this assignment, it may be best for you to hire a local professional engineer to design the system. Asking for this kind of design advice on the Internet is not very professional, especially when it involves such heavy objects...
 
Sir,
I'm a estimation and design engineer and working for water fountain company from last four year, but this is my first time I'm facing such kind of water feature that's why I'm looking for some basic information so that i can work on it and Sir, I'm a mechanical engineer. Thanks
 
berkeman said:
Asking for this kind of design advice on the Internet is not very professional, especially when it involves such heavy objects...
Especially spherical ones...

indiana-jones-boulder-o.gif
 
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When the power fails, the ball will crash down. Calculating how to design to resist damage from that might be even harder. Also design for pranks where kids will try to push the rock to the side. A fake ball made of foam might be a solution.
 
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  • #10
Another solution could be a hemispherical cup on a supporting pillar. The cup could have small holes for water under pressure. If it lifted the back only one mn, the ball would still move and spin slowly. But if anything goes wrong, the cup catches the ball. A surrounding water column would conceal the cup and the pillar, thus creating this illusion that it is holding the ball up.
 

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