Applied Mechanics of Materials & Structures

2017/2018
1st Assignment: Highway Sign Analysis

Group 3
Elena lvarez Dez
Jordi Rib Rovira
ngel Salesa Bordanaba
Roger Siol Prez
Introduction
There is a signpost to be analysed / checked.
The signpost withstands a wind and self-weight loads over the signboard

The aims of this work are:-

To calculate the reactions at the bottom section of the sign post
To determine the Von Mises Stress at the same section
To determine the Safety Factor (SF)
To work out its maximum deflections
To analyse the above results for a wind velocity range: 60 160 km/h
Fwind
Fweight

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
Data
The signpost has a HSS of 14 x 3/8 thick
It is made of steel ASTM A572
( = 290 MPa and E=210 Gpa)

For the a safe design analysis:

Partial Safety Factors have been considered:
On the material strength M=1,15
On the loads F=1,2 / F=1,4
Fwind
These partial safety factor aim at providing a safer design Fweight

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
Forces

Wind forces
F = v2 cd A
v (m/s) = v (km/h) / 3,6
Cd = 1,2
A = 2 x 4 = 8 m2
= 1,225 kg/m3 Fwind
Therefore the wind force: F(v=160 km/h) = 11615 N
Fweight

Death Loads
3000 N from the panel

Assumptions
No other death load apart from signboard panel has been considered

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
Reactions at bottom signpost section (cantilever vertical beam)
Pristine loads
Wind force: F(v=160 km/h) = 11615 N
Death Load: 3000 N from the panel

Bending and torque moments are determined as:

Moment = Fwind
Z Fweight
Reaction Value at 160km/h wind speed
= 1 11880 Nm
X Y
= 2 91060 Nm
= 2 53660 Nm
= 1 3600 N
= 2 16261N

Where Height=6.6-1 m ; Hdistance=1.3+2 m; YF1=1.2; YF2=1.4

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
Stress at the bottom cross section
Assumptions
We only take into account the stress due to bending moments and
torque
We understand that the stress due to shear forces and axial forces
are negligible

Von Mises stress

Quarters where
= 2 + 3 2
maximum normal
Normal Stress due to bending moments stress should be found
Tangential Stress due to torque

2 2
+
=

125,5N/mm2

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
Safety Factor of failure criteria
/
=

VM stress = 125,5 N/mm2

Material yield strength = 290 MPa

Therefore:
SF = 2 >1 safe design

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
Deflections
Assumptions
The deflection along the axis X is a result of the Wind Force. This
wind force is applied at a height of 5,6m.
The deflection along the axis Y is a results of the self-weight load. A
conservative design has been taken considering the bending
moment on the post is applied at the tip of this (6.6m instead of
at 5,6m height)
The torque has not been considered in the calculation of the
deflection.

Calculations Z
X Y

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
Deflections
For 160 km/h
X = 28,116 mm
Y = 7,03 mm
Therefore total: 28,98 mm

Z
Plan view
28,116 X Y

28,12 < H/100 (=66 mm)

7,03 Therefore OK

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
Trend of SF and deflection for vw (from 60 to 120 km/h)

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
 Conclusions

The results showed that the most critical section of the sign structure still has a safety factor above 2.009 what
means the structure will not fail for the expected maximum wind speed of 160 km/h
That for decreasing wind speeds the contribution of the Von Mises stress is lower, increasing greatly the
safety factor of the structure.

The maximum deflection of 28.98 mm for the highest expected wind speed shows the high stiffness of the sign
post, considering this has a total length of 6.6 m. This needed high stiffness with the existence of torsional loads
may explain the selection of a circular hollow section for the sign post.

This work has showed the great importance of stress analysis the design of a sign post.

The analysis has provided understanding of how material properties and the geometry of a section can affect
both safety factors and the maximum deflections reached. In addition, the importance of considering always
the worst loading scenario and the combined effects of loads for safe design has been also probed.

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018
 Thanks for your attention

Questions?

Applied mechanics of materials and structures Universitat de

Group 3 / September 2017
Girona - 3501MO2062 Academic year 2017-2018