Group 3E

Design Calculations
Climber Main part

Max weight that one part will bear is in the case when the person is climbing and has engaged only one
leg. Hence

Max. weight=weight of person=W

Average Coefficient of friction for Steel-Tree contact= µ1

Average Coefficient of friction for Rubber-Tree contact=µ2

According to figure: To Balance forces in y direction:

𝑊 ≤ 𝑓1 + 𝑓2 + 𝑓3
𝜇1 (𝑁1 + 𝑁2 ) + 𝜇2 𝑁3 ≥ 𝑊
To Balance forces in x direction:

𝑁1 = 𝑁2 + 𝑁3
On inspection we find that there is no contact there, because the spring
steel will pass through the hinge of climber will not touch tree at O

𝑁2 = 0
So,

𝑁1 = 𝑁3 = 𝑁
(𝜇1 + 𝜇2 )𝑁 ≥ 𝑊

Now, about the point of contact of climber with tree (N3), to balance moment:

𝑊𝑠 = 𝑁1 ℎ

So,

(𝜇1 + 𝜇2 )𝑊𝑠/ℎ ≥ 𝑊

Or
(𝜇1 + 𝜇2 ) ≥ ℎ/𝑠

Here supposedly s and h, which are design parameters, only affect the values of µ1 and µ2 and W has no
part to play. But, consider the climber:
Group 3E

As W is applied, the beam AB deflects, causing value of s to decrease. More the weight, lesser the value
of s, and therefore higher the minimum value of µ1 + µ2 required. s is a function of W.

From bent climber figure, Applying Euler-Bernoulli Beam deflection theory:

𝛿𝑦 = 𝑊𝐿3 /3𝐸𝐼

𝐿𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃1 = 𝛿𝑦

𝐿𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃2 = 𝛿𝑥
𝑠 − 𝑠𝑜 = 𝑙𝑠𝑖𝑛(90 − 𝜃1 ) = 𝑙𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃1
𝑠 − 𝑠𝑜 = −𝑙𝛿𝑦 /𝐿

𝑠 = 𝑠𝑜 − 𝑊𝐿2 𝑙/3𝐸𝐼
Where so is the initial no load value of s, which is a design parameter. Also assume L is approximately
equal to so (see figure). Therefore:
𝑊𝑠𝑜 𝑙
𝑠 = 𝑠𝑜 (1 − )
3𝐸𝐼

Now as mentioned before:

(𝜇1 + 𝜇2 ) ≥ ℎ/𝑠

Also consider the max weight that can be applied on climber is Wmax
ℎ
(𝜇1 + 𝜇2 ) ≥
𝑊 𝑠 𝑙
𝑠𝑜 (1 − 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑜 )
3𝐸𝐼
This is the minimum value of sum of two coefficient of friction taken in consideration.

Now roughly the value of µ1 is taken as 0.4 and µ2 as 0.6 (After researching on internet and for
simplicity).And we have taken the maximum weight applied to be 100kgf or 980N.

E for Mild steel is known (=205 GPa) and I is directly taken from Measure feature of Solidworks on which
we have built our CAD.

Using these we calculate the pemissible values of design parameters h, so and l.

After doing few iterations we get at keeping l=200mm and calculating I for the I section beam using the
following formula:

𝑎𝑡 3 𝑏(𝑇 3 − 𝑡 3 )
𝐼= +
12 12
Group 3E

With a=4mm, T=40mm, t=25mm b=40mm we get

𝐼 = 8.478 × 10−9 𝑚𝑚4

𝑊𝑠𝑜 𝑙
Under practical situation ≪ 1, hence we get:
3𝐸𝐼

ℎ ≤ 𝑠0 (𝜇1 + 𝜇2 )

Keeping practicality in mind we get h=150mm s0 =150mm and l=200mm

Spring Steel Strip:

Consider the steel strip which is used for engaging the lock between climber and
tree.

Design parameters: Material and dimensions.

From figure:

𝑇1 + 𝑇2 = 𝑁 = √𝑁1 2 + 𝑓1 2

Simplifying:
𝑁1 𝑊ℎ 𝑊ℎ
𝑇= √1 + 𝜇1 2 = √1 + 𝜇1 2 = √1 + 𝜇1 2
2 2𝑠 𝑊𝑠𝑜 𝑙
2𝑠𝑜 (1 − )
3𝐸𝐼
Where T1=T2=T

Differentiating T w.r.t. W:
ℎ
𝑑𝑇 𝑠𝑜
= √1 + 𝜇1 2
𝑑𝑊 𝑊𝑠𝑜 𝑙 2
2 (1 − )
3𝐸𝐼
This is always positive for any value of W. Therefore, T(W) is a continuously increasing function. Max
value of T is at Wmax:
𝑊𝑚𝑎𝑥 ℎ
𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = √1 + 𝜇1 2
𝑊𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑠𝑜 𝑙
2𝑠𝑜 (1 − )
3𝐸𝐼
Consider the Steel strip cross section. It is rectangular with Area=A.
Group 3E

The strip should be able to withstand the maximum tension with factor of safety=fs=5 (say)

𝜎𝑡 ≥ 𝑇/𝐴
Where 𝜎𝑡 is tensile strength of material to be selected.

𝐴 ≥ 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 /𝜎𝑡
Hence:
𝑊𝑚𝑎𝑥 ℎ
𝐴≥ √1 + 𝜇1 2
𝑊𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑠𝑜 𝑙
2𝑠𝑜 𝜎𝑡 (1 − )
3𝐸𝐼
This should be the area of strip while selection. 𝐴 ≥ 0.9 𝑚𝑚2 for keeping factor of safety =5 we will take
𝐴 ≥ 4.5 𝑚𝑚2
The length of the strip can be calculated as follows: (𝑡𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒 ) is thickness of tree

𝐿𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 ≥ 𝑡𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒
The angle can be calculated as:
𝑓1
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 = = 𝜇1
𝑁1
Hence:
𝑡𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒
ttree 𝐿≥
cos(tan−1 𝜇1 )

Taking average thickness of tree = 50 cm and 𝜇1 =0.6, L is approximately 60 cm.