MANE-4030: Elements of Mechanical Design: Worksheet #13

3/24/11: Impact A 10,000 lb elevator is supported by a stranded steel cable having a 2.5 in2 cross-section 6 and an effective modulus of elasticity of 12 10 psi. As the elevator is descending at a constant velocity of 400 ft/min, an accident causes the cable, 60 ft above the elevator, to suddenly stop. In this problem, you are to determine the static elongation of the cable, the impact factor, the maximum elongation, and the maximum tensile stress developed in the cable. (a) Determine the spring constant for the cable, k = F . (b) Solve for the static elongation. (c) Write the equation for the energy of the system just before impact (kinetic energy + potential energy + strain energy). Note, for the potential energy, you must set a reference baseline for your calculation (recommended baseline is when cable is stretched to its maximum elongation, i.e. lowest point elevator reaches in this problem will be zero potential energy state). (d) Write the equation for the energy of the system just after impact when the cable is at its maximum elongation. (e) Equate the energy equations found in parts (b) and (c) and solve for the maximum elongation of the cable. (f) The impact factor is the ratio of the maximum elongation to the static elongation. Find the impact factor. (g) From the maximum elongation, find the maximum strain and the maximum tensile stress.

EMD worksheet solutions #13

March 24, 2011

(a).
k= F A EA (12 106 psi)(2.5 in2 ) = = = = 41, 667 lb/in L L (60)(12) in (1)

(b).
0 = W 10, 000 lb = = 0.24 in k 41, 667 lb/in (2)

(c). The energy of system before impact E0 contains kinetic energy Ek , potential energy Ep , and
elastic strain energy Ee : 1 Ek = mv 2 2 Ep = mg1 1 2 Ee = k0 2 E0 = Ek + Ep + Ee 1 1 2 = mv 2 + mg1 + k0 2 2 10, 000lb lb W = = 25.9 where m = 2 g 386in/s in/s2 (400f t)(12in/f t) v= = 80in/s 60s/min E0 = (0.5)(25.9)(80)2 + 10, 0001 + (0.5)(41, 667)(0.242 ) = 82, 901.6(lb in) + 10, 000(lb) 1 + 1, 200(lb in)

(3)

(d). The system energy at maximum cable elongation has only elastic energy (we set the maximum
elongation position as the baseline for potential energy, and we know the velocity at maximum elongation is zero so there is no kinetic energy), and the elongation of the cable is the static elongation (0 ) plus the additional elongation due to the impact (1 ). Thus: 1 E1 = k (0 + 1 )2 2 = (20, 833.5) 0.242 + (2)(0.24)1 + 1 2 = 1, 200(lb in) + 10, 000(lb) 1 + 20, 833.51 2

(4)

(e). Comparing the energies found in (c) and (d), and equating them, we nd that
E0 = E1
2 82, 901.6(lb in) = 20, 833.51

(5)

or 1 2 1 2 mv = k1 2 2 resulting in 1 = 2 in So the overall maximum elongation of the cable is = 0 + 1 = 2.24 in (8) (7) (6)

(f ).
IF = 0 + 1 0 (9)

= 2.24/0.24 = 9.3

(g).
max

max L 2.24 = 60 12 = 0.0031

max

(10)

max = E

= (12 106 psi)0.0031 = 37.3 ksi