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- Newsgroups: sci.math
- Path: sparky!uunet!comp.vuw.ac.nz!cc-server4.massey.ac.nz!TMoore@massey.ac.nz
- From: news@massey.ac.nz (USENET News System)
- Subject: Re: Arch algorithm
- Message-ID: <1992Nov17.023951.11624@massey.ac.nz>
- Organization: Massey University
- References: <1992Nov15.023738.29429@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu> <1992Nov16.045332.15669@infodev.cam.ac.uk> <1992Nov16.210719.16933@massey.ac.nz>
- Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 02:39:51 GMT
- Lines: 21
-
- In article <1992Nov16.210719.16933@massey.ac.nz>, news@massey.ac.nz (USENET News System) writes:
- >
- > > > I doing some design work of hyper parabolic (saddle shaped) structures
- > > > it occurred to me that cantary (absolutely unsure of the spelling) arch, .
- > > > if a chain is hung by its ends it forms the arch I am interested in, would
- > > > give much better use of the floor space near the walls.
- > > >
- > Of course, the structure with maximal strength to weight ratio will have
- > tapering arches and will not be a catenary. My calculus of variations is a
- > bit rusty so I won't try to solve this :-)
-
- The strength depends on the sort of loads likely to be experienced
- (e.g. earthquake and wind). I won't attempt a realistic solution, or
- any kind of optimisation, but if anyone is interested, here is a
- reasonable kind of arch. The arch which has cross sectional area
- proportional to load, and pure compressive loads (no bending moment)
- has the formula -y = ln(sec(x)), the thickness of the arch being
- proportional to sec(x) = exp(-y). [ The top of the arch is the point
- x=0, y=0].
-
- Proof: an exercise.
-