# Mechanical-Structural Engineering: Forces/Moments on Complex Beam

1. Aug 26, 2016

### Graham1874

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

To give a bit of context, I am doing my final year university project on micro-mechanical interactions between an AFM probe and a sample surface. I do not have notes for a system this complicated, as we always considered our systems to be rigid bodies. I was always relatively clueless at mechanics so this particular small part of my project is a nightmare for me!

I have labelled the Free Body Diagram attached, but the following information should help to explain further:

Section A has a downwards-vertical displacement being applied, and can be considered a rigid body, fixed in all other DOFs.
A key feature of this system is the bending cantilever beam (Section B as marked in FBD).
It begins with an angle of 13 degrees from the horizontal axis, the inclined beam can be seen on the image FBD.
Section C (probe tip) can also be assumed to be a rigid body.
Section D is the sample surface which can be assumed rigid and fixed in all DOFs.

How do I get to the solution for finding Fz/Fy components and moments on the sample surface from the probe tip?

I have not given values for the system because I want to use the help provided to work through it myself.

2. Relevant equations

I know there are moments relating to a bending with a stiffness. Not used to a system where a displacement is producing the force vector on the other end of the system.

3. The attempt at a solution

As I say, this is a relative nightmare for me and I don't really know where to start, so all help will be greatly appreciated.

I'm sure I'll need to provide more information to helpers, so these will be answered in EDITS below.

#### Attached Files:

• ###### FBD.jpg
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Last edited: Aug 26, 2016
2. Aug 26, 2016

### Nidum

Doesn't seem too difficult .

Just to clarify :

The components are very small .

You want to estimate the varying load on the probe tip caused by the varying displacement of the tip as it traverses the undulations of the sample .

There is some preload on the tip .

Question : The beam you show is steeply inclined relative to the sample surface . Shouldn't it be more nearly parallel ?

Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2017
3. Aug 26, 2016

### Graham1874

Yes, the AFM probe is being used in that manner. For this stage of the project, I am wanting to assume initial contact between probe/surface on an assumed-flat surface to see the force components and moments which are acting at the point of contact.

To answer your question simply: the beam is inclined at 13 degrees from the hoizontal for the inspection process.

Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2017
4. Aug 26, 2016

### Graham1874

I think I may have to consider the support at the probe tip as Pinned, and I'm not sure what, if any, to consider as the support for Section A? It is fixed in all DOFs apart from the z-direction.

Any further help with this? I haven't managed to get very far, but this attached file shows the way I'm trying to go with this. Let me know if I'm identifying this problem wrongly please!

#### Attached Files:

• ###### Initial Working.jpg
File size:
42.9 KB
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5. Aug 27, 2016

### Nidum

The beam itself can be analysed by standard methods .

Problem is deciding what the conditions of loading and possible fixation at the probe tip are .

There are at least two different basic cases - static and dynamic .

For the static case I think that you could reasonably assume a simple vertical reaction load and no fixation .

To make a more informed decision you need to look at the physics and decide whether the tip digs into the sample surface enough to stop it sliding .

For the dynamic case the situation is more difficult to define but basically comes down to getting answers to questions :

(a) Is there any significant drag force as the tip is traversed across the sample ?
(b) Is the motion stable ?

Last edited: Aug 27, 2016
6. Aug 27, 2016

### Graham1874

For my study, I am primarily looking at the force vectors in a static state - although the full scenario is actually quasi-static I believe, as time does pass but none of the parameters I'm measuring are time-dependent.

With this I am trying to decipher whether the common assumption that the resultant force at the tip is not in fact normal to the surface at the instance of initial contact i.e. even before applying any 'lateral' displacement there is a non-normal force vector applied at the tip from the vertical displacement.

Basically my issue with this calculation comes down to the fact that the beam is inclined and has both rigid and deformable (elastic) elements.

When reading textbooks about static mechanics of beams, I just get the sense that the examples are too simplified to apply to my scenario.

Any further thoughts to help me progress? I really appreciate your help so far.

7. Aug 28, 2016

### Nidum

I'll come back on this subject in a day or two .

8. Aug 29, 2016

### Nidum

Easiest way to tackle this problem is just to derive an expression relating force to displacement at the probe tip . We should be able to do this by standard means .

Before starting though we need to have a clearer idea of what that beam looks like . Is it a plain rectangular strip or something more complicated ?

9. Aug 29, 2016

### Graham1874

Thanks Nidum, yes it's a plain rectangular strip.

10. Aug 29, 2016

### Graham1874

Also, I have realised that friction will need to be considered because it will be opposing the horizontal movement of the tip caused by the horizontal component of the force vector at the tip. Hence this will create the static equilibrium condition.

Let me know if you need any further information about the system. I appreciate your time with this

11. Aug 29, 2016

### Nidum

12. Aug 29, 2016

### Nidum

Deleted

13. Aug 29, 2016

### Nidum

Deleted

14. Aug 29, 2016

### haruspex

Is that important in itself, or is the important question the consequence of such a force for the beam shape? Or, perhaps, the resulting additional resistance to the movement of the beam support?
For the moment, think of the beam as rigid but with a hinge at the support, and ignore friction at the probe. If the support gets a small distance $\delta x$ closer to the substrate, how far along it would the probe slide? You say the beam angle is 13o, so it would be $\delta x \tan(13^o)$, right? Now consider the beam as being end-loaded enough so that its buckling shortens it by that amount. What end load is required? Could the frictional force be that great? If it could be, what would be the component of that force on the vertical direction?

15. Aug 30, 2016

### Graham1874

First of all, the important question for me - at this stage - is 'What are the y and z components of the force vector at the position of probe-substrate contact?'. I understand that this can be taken further but I purely want to analyse whether there is a y (horizontal) component acting on the surface.

Secondly, can you explain how it is δxtan(13deg)? When Section A displaces downwards, would the 13 degrees not reduce too? Are you proposing this as a consideration to find out how to bring the shortening of the beam into static equilibrium with the 'lengthening' of the beam caused by the positive y-component of the force vector at probe-substrate contact?

My feeling is that I need to consider the probe tip to be in contact with the sample surface 'freely' - i.e. without a support, have the Section A being fixed like a cantilever, but allowing vertical displacement and derive an expression in a state of equilibrium where the negative y-displacement due to buckling cancels out the lengthening due to horizontal component of the force vector at contact. This is why I think friction will come into play because, without a support at the contact position, there should be free movement along the surface leading to an expression including friction which would help to bring the system to static equilibrium.

I appreciate you giving me these thoughts but, in all honesty and with total respect, I feel more confused than I did before!

If you think my statements above are indicating some confusion of the system then let me know because I don't feel I fully understand some of your questions.

Thanks again for your time and I look forward to any further thoughts.

16. Aug 30, 2016

### Nidum

All we actually have to analyse is a simple mechanism the same as an old type gramophone pickup .

Back soon .

17. Aug 30, 2016

### Nidum

18. Aug 30, 2016

### Nidum

Whoever chose that 13 deg angle either knew what they were doing or they got lucky - with that angle the deflected shape is almost the same for both pinned and sliding cases at the probe tip .

19. Aug 30, 2016

### Nidum

Is seeing the deflected shape enough for now or do you want to start exploring deflection v load calculations ?

20. Aug 30, 2016

### Graham1874

Hi Nidum,

That's very interesting! I am modelling the AFM in Abaqus FEA software but I'm a complete beginner so it's taken me 3 weeks to create the model! Can I ask:
1. Did you apply the displacement to the whole of Section A?
2. Did you make the Section A as a rigid body?
3. What material property in your model defines the stiffness of the beam? (I believe the answer to this would be Young's modulus, but let me know)

I want this thread to discuss the mathematical side of this problem but I'm interested in those ^ question for the FEA. See my next reply regarding your question in your follow-up post.

Last edited: Aug 30, 2016