Inertia of pully system with wire that has a mass

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a pulley system connected to a winch, where the objective is to determine the acceleration of a hanging mass based on a given motor torque. The system includes a wire with mass and pulleys with defined inertia, raising questions about how to calculate the total inertia of the system.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the inertia of the wire within the pulley system and questions whether the inertias of multiple pulleys can be simply summed despite differing speeds and accelerations. Other participants clarify terminology and suggest that separate equations of motion should be applied to each component of the system.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring various aspects of the problem, including the definitions of inertia and the implications of having multiple rotating bodies. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need for separate equations for different components, but no consensus has been reached on a specific approach to the overall problem.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity introduced by the mass of the wire and the moment of inertia of the pulleys, as well as the need to consider the system's behavior at standstill versus in motion.

Umbrako
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Homework Statement


A pully system with a hanging mass is connected to a winch. The goal is to find acceleration of the mass for a given motor torque. The pully sheaves is considered with no friction, but has a given inertia. I have found the inertia of the winch, but I have trouble calculating the inertia for the wire on the pully.
The given information is:
n: number of lines in the pully
m1: Mass of wire per length
dh: difference in height between the lower and upper pully
r: radius of the sheaves
Is: Inertia of a singel pully wheel

Homework Equations


How do I calculate the inertia of the wire in the pully system?

If I have n lines, I have n+1 number of pully wheels. (As each end of the wire is either connected to the winch or to a fixed point on the ground). Can I just add the constant inertia of each wheel to a total inertia, even if they will move at different speeds (and accelerations)?


The Attempt at a Solution


I have solved the problem with the hanging mass related to the motor toque on the winch. I have found the Inertia of the winch drum, which was just cylinder.

But the total inertia should be the sum of the inertias of the winch, the wire and the pullys. And I don't know where to start.
 
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Welcome to PF!

Hi Umbrako! Welcome to PF! :smile:
Umbrako said:
A pully system with a hanging mass is connected to a winch. The goal is to find acceleration of the mass for a given motor torque.

The given information is:

Is: Inertia of a singel pully wheel

How do I calculate the inertia of the wire in the pully system?

If I have n lines, I have n+1 number of pully wheels. (As each end of the wire is either connected to the winch or to a fixed point on the ground). Can I just add the constant inertia of each wheel to a total inertia, even if they will move at different speeds (and accelerations)?

The Attempt at a Solution


I have solved the problem with the hanging mass related to the motor toque on the winch. I have found the Inertia of the winch drum, which was just cylinder.

But the total inertia should be the sum of the inertias of the winch, the wire and the pullys. And I don't know where to start.

first, when you say that you are given "Inertia of a single pulley wheel",

do you mean the moment of inertia?

if so, you must say so … "inertia" (on its own) means something completely different :frown:

you cannot add moments of inertia of different bodies unless they share the same rotation

if (as in this case), they don't, then you will need a separate F=ma or τ=Iα equation for each body :smile:
 
Sorry, moment of inertia I mean! (translated problem from my nativ language...)

After working some more on this I see that I'm on the wrong track.

To help me along on how to attack the problem, I can tell you what else I know:

Jd : Moment of inertia of the Winch drum
Tm : Motor torque
ng : Gear ratio from motor to drum
rd : Drum radius (to where the wire is attached)
dH : Difference in height between uper and lower pulley

So a few equations I have set ut
Td = Tm*ng Torque on drum
Fw = Td/rd Wire tension (at standstill, motor toque holds the weight)
Fb = Fw*n Force on hanging mass from pully (wiretension times number of strings)
Ftot= Fb-M*g Total forces on hanging mass. (Equals zero for standstill)

This equations are based on that the system is at standstill.

I have the moment of inertia of the drum, but I'm unsure how to set up the problem when the wire also has a mass, and the pully sheaves have a moment of inertia.

Do you have any sugestions on how to attack the problem?
 
Hi Umbrako! :smile:

Umbrako said:
I have the moment of inertia of the drum, but I'm unsure how to set up the problem when the wire also has a mass, and the pully sheaves have a moment of inertia.

Do you have any sugestions on how to attack the problem?

yes

call the tension "T" and write a separate F=ma or τ=Iα equation for each body :smile:
 

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