How Is Cylinder Force Calculated to Rotate a Beam with a Horizontal Load?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the force required by a cylinder to lift and rotate a beam with a horizontal load. The context includes considerations of mechanical design and the dynamics involved in moving a load across a frame.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks to determine the force required by the cylinder (Fcyl) to lift and rotate a beam with a 5,000 lb load acting horizontally at the end of the beam.
  • Another participant requests clarification on the application to better understand the context of the problem.
  • A third participant expresses concern about the potential dangers associated with the specified load and requests more information about the application before proceeding with the discussion.
  • One participant questions the assumption that a 5,000 lb load is acting horizontally, suggesting that moving such a load may involve additional factors like friction and acceleration that need to be considered.
  • There is a reference to the importance of free body diagrams and the principle that the sum of moments equals zero in analyzing the forces at play.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants have not reached a consensus, as there are multiple competing views regarding the nature of the load and the calculations required. Concerns about safety and the specifics of the application remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of understanding the conditions under which the load is being moved, including potential friction and resistance factors that could affect the calculations.

Tmuell
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TL;DR
Looking to calculate required force output from the cylinder the lift the beam with the acting load at different positions.
1661799090145.png


I am trying to calculate the force required to lift/move the beam clockwise from the shown position. I have a force (F1) acting at the end of the beam, 5,000lbs pushing to the left, as shown. What is "Fcyl", or the force required by the cylinder to life the beam with the acting load, and rotate about the beams fixed point, point A.
 
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Welcome to PF. What is the application?
 
berkeman said:
Welcome to PF. What is the application?
Thanks. Designing an arm to move a material (load "F1") back and forth across a frame - I need to size a cylinder capable of moving the load to each side about the arm/beams axis.
 
One of the rules at PF is that we do not allow discussions of dangerous things. A 5000 lb force at the end of a 60" beam creates suspicion that something dangerous is involved. We need more information about the total application in order to decide if we should answer you.

Your profile states that you have a degree in Ag Engineering. Review free body diagrams, especially the part about sum of moments equals zero.
 
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Another thing. Are you sure you have a 5000 lb load acting horizontally? You state that you are "moving a load" left and right. If you are moving a load that weighs 5000 lbf, is not necessarily the same thing as having a load of 5000 lbf horizontally. You will have some resistance to from motion from whatever that load is resting on, maybe its sliding on something smooth, maybe it's on rollers. In order to get a 5000 lbf load horizontally, you are going to have a lot of friction, and/or relatively high acceleration in the horizontal direction.

You have to consider in the horizontal direction:

##\sum \mathbf F = m \mathbf a##
 

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