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On the insurmountable size of truss-like structures

Abstract

Galileo postulated the existence of an insurmountable size for stone columns bearing a useful load as the size for which the structure is only able to resist its self-weight. Herein a method for the determination of the unsurmountable size for truss-like structures is shown, given the form of these structures and the ratio between the allowable stress and the specific weight of the material (the material structural scope). Three types of bars are considered: straight bars, with solid and hollow rectangular cross-section, and catenary bars with circular cross-section —a limit and theoretical case for estimating a meaningful upper bound of the structural scope—. An approximate rule to estimate the structural efficiency —here named GA rule— is shown, and is compared with numerical solutions using the proposed method.

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On the insurmountable size of truss-like structures

Author: Olmedo Rojas, Carlos; Vázquez Espí, Mariano; Cervera Bravo, Jaime
Publisher: Víctor Compán Cardiel [etc.]
Year: 2015
Source: https://idus.us.es/bitstreams/54076d31-d733-4806-8dcc-b223274b5e44/download
On he Insu moun able Size o T uss-like S uc u es
Olmedo Rojas, Ca los
1
; Vázquez Espí, Ma iano
2
; Ce e a B a o, Jaime
3
ABSTRACT
Galileo pos ula ed he exis ence o an insu moun able size o s one columns bea ing a use ul load as
he size o which he s uc u e is only able o esis i s sel -weigh . He ein a me hod o he
de e mina ion o he unsu moun able size o uss-like s uc u es is shown, gi en he o m o hese
s uc u es and he a io be ween he allowable s ess and he speci ic weigh o he ma e ial ( he
ma e ial s uc u al scope). Th ee ypes o ba s a e conside ed: s aigh ba s, wi h solid and hollow
ec angula c oss-sec ion, and ca ena y ba s wi h ci cula c oss-sec ion —a limi and heo e ical case
o es ima ing a meaning ul uppe bound o he s uc u al scope—. An app oxima e ule o es ima e
he s uc u al e iciency —he e named GA ule— is shown, and is compa ed wi h nume ical solu ions
using he p oposed me hod.
Keywo ds: s uc u al design, insu moun able size, s uc u al scope, usses, sel -weigh .
1. THE GALILEO PROBLEM AND THE AROCA RULE
In a i s app oxima ion, we can ep esen he physical cos o a s uc u e by i s sel -weigh , as many
cos du ing he manu ac u ing, bu no all, a e app oxima ely p opo ional o he sel -weigh o he
s uc u e: CO2 emissions, mine al esou ces consump ion, e c. Fo a gi en s uc u al p oblem, we
de ine he s uc u al e iciency as he a io be ween he use ul load and he whole load (i.e., he
use ul load plus he sel -weigh ) equi ed o sol e ha p oblem in a pa icula s uc u e.
Galileo [1] pos ula ed he exis ence o insu moun able sizes o s uc u es, as well as he ela ionship
be ween he size o a s uc u e and i s abili y o esis a use ul load: le us imagine a cylind ical s one
column, a he limi o i s esis ance only as a esul o i s sel -weigh ; we name s uc u al scope o
he column o he heigh (ℒ) o his column, which canno esis any addi ional load, hence being null
i s e iciency. A use ul column wi h he same base mus ha e he e o e a heigh 𝐿 smalle han ℒ.
This new column can esis an addi ional use ul load (𝑄), he alue o which is a mos he weigh
di e ence be ween he wo columns. Acco ding o he p e ious de ini ion o e iciency:
𝑟 ≤ ℒ−𝐿
ℒ=1−𝐿
ℒ=1−𝑡
(1)
1
Depa amen o de Es uc u as y Física de Edi icación. Uni e sidad Poli écnica de Mad id (Spain).
[email protected] (Co esponding au ho )
2
Depa amen o de Es uc u as y Física de Edi icación. Uni e sidad Poli écnica de Mad id (Spain).
ma iano. azq[email p o ec ed]s
3
Depa amen o de Es uc u as y Física de Edi icación. Uni e sidad Poli écnica de Mad id (Spain).
jaime.ce[email p o ec ed]
477
On he Insu moun able Size o T uss-like S uc u es
Thi d In e na ional Con e ence on Mechanical Models in S uc u al Enginee ing
Uni e si y o Se ille. 24-26 june 2015.
We de ine s uc u al (o ela i e) size (𝑡) as he a io be ween he heigh 𝐿 o a column and i s scope
ℒ. This s uc u al size 𝑡 can ha e alues be ween 0 and 1. No e ha Eq.(1), ha we name Galileo’s
ule, is exac in he case o linea pieces wi h no angen ial s ess, bu i is no p o ed ha i would be
a gene al ule. We de ine cos (𝑘) as he in e se o e iciency, hence always highe han uni y. Then,
he sel -weigh o he column is:
𝑃=(𝑘−1)𝑄 wi h 𝑘=1/𝑟
(2)
Le us de ine he ma e ial s uc u al scope (𝒜), a cha ac e is ic leng h, as he a io be ween he
admissible s ess and i s speci ic weigh [2]. This amoun is he only in o ma ion ha we will need o
ob ain he s uc u al scope o he s uc u e i sel , besides i s geome y and he use ul load dis ibu ion
o be suppo ed. In he case o cylind ical columns, he scope o he columns is he scope o he
ma e ial: le 𝑓 be he admissible s ess o he ma e ial, and le 𝐴 be he a ea o he c oss-sec ion,
equa ing he s eng h capaci y o he column base o he weigh o he column o maximum heigh ,
we ob ain 𝑓 𝐴=ℒ 𝐴 𝜌 (whe e 𝜌 is he speci ic weigh o he ma e ial). Then:
ℒ=𝑓
𝜌= 𝒜
(3)
Maxwell [3] ound he way o compa e s uc u al cos s o a gi en s uc u al p oblem. We name [4]
Maxwell p oblem o he p oblem ha consis o de ining a s uc u e capable o suppo ing a
equilib a ed se o ex e nal o ces de ined bo h in posi ion and magni ude, and we name Maxwell
s uc u e o he s uc u e ha esol es a Maxwell p oblem and is buil ou o elemen s ha wo k
uniaxially, in ension o in comp ession. Maxwell showed ha o wo o hose s uc u es sol ing he
same p oblem, he di e ence in cos is p opo ional o he di e ence in he s ess olume 𝒱 o each,
de ined as:
𝒱= ∑|𝑒|ℓ
(4)
whe e 𝑒 is he alue o he in e nal o ce in each elemen o he s uc u e and ℓ i s leng h.
La e Michell [5] showed ha he sel -weigh o a s uc u e is minimal i i s s ess olume 𝒱 is also
minimal. Also he ound a necessa y c i e ion so ha a Maxwell s uc u e would be an absolu e
minimum, om which a e de i ed some op imal layou s o some speci ic p oblems. We ha e
de ined [6] Michell’s numbe (𝜈) o he dimensionless a io be ween he s ess olume o a s uc u e
and he p oduc o he o al use ul load imes he size o he p oblem ( he heigh in he case o
columns, he span o beams, e c.):
𝜈= 𝒱
𝑄𝐿
(5)
478
Ca los Olmedo Rojas1, Ma iano Vázquez Espí2 and Jaime Ce e a B a o3
Then a s uc u al o m is an absolu e minimum when i s Michell numbe is lesse o equal o any
o he s uc u e sol ing he same Maxwell p oblem.
The con ibu ions o Maxwell and Michell on he measu e o s uc u al e iciency do no ake in o
accoun he sel -weigh , as i can be seen in he de ini ion o Maxwell p oblem. Rica do A oca [2], [4],
[6], [7], [8] joined he heo ies o Galileo and he heo ies o Maxwell and Michell: gi en a Maxwell
p oblem and a s uc u e wi h s ess olume 𝒱 ha esol es i , he olume and he sel -weigh o
such s uc u e a e:
𝑉= 𝒱
𝜎 𝒱=𝜈𝑄𝐿 𝑃=𝑉𝜌= 𝒱
𝒜= 𝜈𝑄𝐿
𝒜
(6)
Bu p e ious exp essions a e only accu a e o he null size, since hey do no ake in o accoun ha
he sel -weigh mus also be equilib a ed. So o s uc u es wi h 𝑡>0:
𝒱≠𝜈𝑄𝐿 𝑃≠ 𝜈𝑄𝐿
𝒜
(7)
Usually he dis ibu ion o sel -weigh will be di e en o he use ul load, bu in many cases o
in e es ( o example, in bending s uc u es) bo h dis ibu ions can be ep esen ed by dis ibu ions o
simila o ces. We can hen es ima e he scope o he s uc u al o m as he size 𝐿=ℒ o which he
s uc u e jus esis s i s sel -weigh , wi hou possibili y o adding any addi ional load. I esul s hen
he ollowing app oxima e exp ession, subs i u ing he use ul load 𝑄 by he sel -weigh 𝑃 in he las
side o las exp ession in o Eq. (6):
𝑃≈ 𝜈𝑃ℒ
𝒜⇒ ℒ ≈ 𝒜
𝜈
(8)
These exp essions a e A oca’s ule. Subs i u ing he las exp ession in Eq. (1), we ha e he ollowing
ule o he e iciency (which we name GA ule, hono ing bo h Galileo and A oca):
𝑟≈ 1−𝜈𝐿
𝒜
(9)
This es ima e o he e iciency will be exac o linea s uc u es whose dis ibu ion o sel -weigh is
isomo phic o use ul load dis ibu ion and whose equilib ium equi es no angen ial s ess. In any
o he case i will be only an app oxima ion whose use ulness mus be p o ed.
2. THE GALILEO PROBLEM FOR TRUSS-LIKE STRUCTURES
He e we p opose a simila app oach o ha desc ibed abo e, now o he case o usses wi h use ul
load a anged as o ces applied a he nodes, o ob ain he s uc u al scope o hese s uc u es,
subjec ed o he ollowing limi a ions: (i) ba s a e o cons an c oss-sec ion; (ii) iden ical ension-
comp ession pa e ns on ba s due o bo h use ul load and sel -weigh (i.e., equal sign o he in e nal
o ce in each ba in hese wo independen load condi ions); (iii) he ma e ial has he same absolu e
alue o allowable s ess in ension han in comp ession; and (i ) buckling o comp essed ba s is no
479
On he Insu moun able Size o T uss-like S uc u es
Thi d In e na ional Con e ence on Mechanical Models in S uc u al Enginee ing
Uni e si y o Se ille. 24-26 june 2015.
aken in o conside a ion. The aim is o ob ain a i s es ima e o he s uc u al scope o a gi en
s uc u al o m, and he s uc u al e iciency.
The me hod p oposed he e aim o include he cos o ansmi ing he dis ibu ed sel -weigh along
he leng h o each ba o i s ex emes, because in la ge s uc u e his cos will gene ally be impo an
in ela i e e ms. Roz any [9] p oposed an op imiza ion me hod ha include sel -weigh bu ha
equi e ba s wi h a iable c oss-sec ion —excluded in ou app oach, limi a ion (i)—, in ac adop ing
an exponen ial unc ion. Such o m o ba s (close o he so named ’cons an maximum s ess
design’) equi e a s ess enso ha does no ul il he di e en ial equa ions o equilib ium [17], so
he solu ions ob ained canno be conside ed easible solu ions o he p oblem. O he au ho s [10],
[11], [12], ci cum en he p oblem o ha ing o conside any bending e ec s including only hal o
he ba weigh in each o i s nodes, bu hen sma algo i hms, as Simula ed Annealing, will choose
solu ions wi h e y la ge leng h, as he bending is ee o cos [10]. The di icul ies o ackling wi h
sel -weigh in uss-like s uc u es disappea in con inuous s uc u es using o example FEM [13],
[14]. The selec ed limi a ions a e jus i ied o se e al easons. (i) has a p ac ical meaning. Wi h (ii),
we a oid special cases whe eby he sel -weigh o a s uc u e can be equilib a ed by he ex e nal
loading, as poin ed ou by Bendsoe [15]. Wi h (iii) and (i ), we keep he model simple, bu (iii) i is no
di icul o o e come and (i ) maybe be supp essed in u u e esea ch applying new esul s on his
subjec [16] .
2.1. Equilib ium equa ions wi h use ul loads and sel -weigh
Le be 𝐍𝐐 he in e nal o ces in a Maxwell s uc u e unde he ac ion o he use ul load 𝐐 (he ea e
bold capi al deno e ec o o a ays). Suppose ha we ha e sol ed he p oblem o designing wi h
ba s ha include hei sel -weigh . Such ba s ep esen an addi ional load due o i s sel -weigh ha
we can in oduce using s a ically equi alen o ces a hei ends, P. The local equilib ium o he sel -
weigh a in e io poin s o he ba depends on he ype o ba : o s aigh beams, on i s bending; o
cables o ba s wi hou bending s i ness, on he cu a u e o he ba i sel . The Maxwell s uc u e will
ha e o de elop addi ional in e nal o ces o hese new loads, NP . We can conside ha he design
p oblem is sol ed i i esul s ha o each ba an axil in e nal o ce in he 𝜒 di ec ion de ined by i s
ends is de eloped, 𝑁𝜒= 𝑁𝑄+𝑁𝑃, and he ba is dimensioned o s ic ly esis he esul ing s esses.
The abo e (ii) limi a ion can now be exp essed saying ha sgn(𝑁𝑃)=sgn(𝑁𝑄), and hence
sgn(𝑁𝜒)=sgn(𝑁𝑄).
The equilib ium equa ions a e he same o bo h se o loads:
Q= HNQ P=HNP Q + P= HN𝜒
((10)
Le 𝜔𝑖 be he a io be ween he equi alen weigh due o sel -weigh in he e ex 𝑖 o he ba and
he in e nal o ce, i.e., 𝜔𝑖= 𝑃𝑖𝑁𝜒
⁄. Then:
P= 𝛀𝐿N𝜒
(11)
480
Ca los Olmedo Rojas1, Ma iano Vázquez Espí2 and Jaime Ce e a B a o3
In his exp ession 𝛀𝐿 is he ma ix o coe icien s 𝜔𝑖𝑗 o each ba 𝑗 o each componen 𝑖 o P,
depending on
L
, he size o he s uc u e. O cou se, each column o 𝛀𝐿 has only wo non-null
componen s. The e o e,
Q+ 𝛀𝐿N𝜒 = HN𝜒 Q = (H − 𝛀𝐿)N𝜒
(12)
No e ha hese equa ions a e nonlinea , as 𝛀𝐿 depends on he size 𝐿 o he s uc u e and on he
sign pa e n o N𝐐, which is gi en.
When Q →0, i.e., when he s uc u e canno esis mo e han i s sel -weigh (and i s size 𝐿 is hen
equal o he scope ℒ o i s o m), esul s:
(H − 𝛀ℒ)N𝜒 =𝟎
(13)
And he alue o ℒ is de e mined as he lowes alue o 𝐿 o which (H− 𝛀𝐿) is singula , excluding
𝐿=0.
2.2. Beams (s aigh ba s)
Le ℓ be he leng h o he ba , and 𝛽 he angle o med by he ba and he ho izon al, see Fig. 1. The
exp essions o he in e nal o ces along he ba ( ension is posi i e, comp ession is nega i e) a e:
𝑁(𝑠)=𝑁𝜒+ 𝜌𝐴sin𝛽(𝑠−1
2ℓ); 𝑀(𝑠)=1
2𝜌𝐴cos𝛽·𝑠(ℓ− 𝑠 )
(14)
Figu e 1. Beam.
We will use he ollowing design condi ions: he ba s ha e de ined he dep h ℎ and he adius o
gy a ion 𝑖 as ac ions o he leng h ℓ o he ba : ℎ=𝑘1·ℓ 𝑖=𝑘2·ℎ=𝑘3·ℓ
The maximum no mal s esses depending on 𝑠 (posi ion on he 𝜒 axis o he ba ) a e:
481

On he Insu moun able Size o T uss-like S uc u es
Thi d In e na ional Con e ence on Mechanical Models in S uc u al Enginee ing
Uni e si y o Se ille. 24-26 june 2015.
𝜎(𝑠)=𝑁(𝑠)
𝐴±𝑀(𝑠)
𝑊
(15)
𝜎(𝑠)=𝑁(𝑠)
𝐴±ℎ𝑀(𝑠)
2𝐴𝑖2=𝑁(𝑠)
𝐴±𝑘1𝑀(𝑠)
2𝐴𝑘3
2ℓ
(16)
𝐴𝜎(𝑠)=𝑁(𝑠)±2𝑘4𝑀(𝑠)
ℓ; 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑘4=1
4𝑘1
𝑘3
2=1
4𝑘1𝑘2
2
(17)
𝐴𝜎(𝑠)=𝑁𝜒+𝜌𝐴𝑠((1−ℓ
2𝑠)sin𝛽±𝑘4(1−𝑠ℓ)cos 𝛽)
(18)
The s ess is maximum o 𝑠=𝑘5𝑖ℓ, wi h
𝑘5𝑖= 𝑘4𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛽±sin𝛽
2𝑘4cos𝛽
(19)
𝑘5𝑇=1
2 (1+1
𝑘4 an𝛽 ) , in he si ua ion wi h lowe comp ession o wi h highe ension
(20)
𝑘5𝐶= 1
2 (1−1
𝑘4 an𝛽 ) , in he si ua ion wi h lowe ension o wi h highe comp ession
(21)
which means ha o 𝛽 such ha an𝛽≥𝑘4, he s ess is maximum a he ends o he ba .
Taking 𝑘6𝑇=min{1,𝑘5𝑇}:
𝐴𝜎𝑇=𝑁𝜒+𝜌𝐴 𝑘6𝑇(sin𝛽 (1− 1
2𝑘6𝑇)+𝑘4cos𝛽(1−𝑘6𝑇)) ℓ
(22)
By g ouping he pa ame e s co esponding o he ba , wi h he ollowing de ini ion o a new cons an
𝑘𝑖:
𝑘𝑖= 𝑘6𝑇(sin𝛽 (1− 1
2𝑘6𝑇)+𝑘4cos𝛽(1−𝑘6𝑇))
(23)
we can w i e:
𝐴𝜎𝑇=𝑁𝜒+𝜌𝐴𝑘𝑖ℓ
(24)
and simila ly:
𝐴𝜎𝐶=𝑁𝜒−𝜌𝐴𝑘𝑖ℓ
(25)
482
Ca los Olmedo Rojas1, Ma iano Vázquez Espí2 and Jaime Ce e a B a o3
Being 𝑓 he allowable s ess o he ma e ial; making 𝜎𝑇= −𝜎𝐶= 𝑓 o selec he app op ia e
cons an c oss-sec ional a ea 𝐴, i esul s, depending on he sign o 𝑁𝜒:
𝐴
𝑁𝜒= ± 1
𝑓−𝜌𝑘𝑖ℓ
(26)
The coe icien s 𝜔𝑖 o he ma ix 𝛀 a e:
𝜔𝑖= ±𝜌ℓ
2𝐴
𝑁𝜒=sgn(𝑁𝑄)1
2(𝒜
ℓ−𝑘𝑖)
(27)
As he Eq. (18) only conside s he componen 𝜎𝜒 o he s ess enso wi h he model based on he
hypo hesis o Na ie only app op ia e o e y slende beams, o which he e ec s o Sain Venan ’s
p inciple can be neglec ed, he exp ession in Eq. (27) is a good app oxima ion o he sel -weigh o
e y slende beams. We keep us on his simple model in his ini ial wo k o he sake o simplici y.
Mo e accu a e models will be used in u u e esea ch.
2.2.1. Ba s wi h ec angula sec ion
Wi h ec angula sec ion, 𝑘2=1/√12, being he wid h 𝑏 he ee design pa ame e . The c oss-
sec ional a ea is =ℎ·𝑏=𝑘1𝑏·ℓ . Using his alue o 𝑘2 o calcula e 𝑘𝑖, om Eq.(27) we can
calcula e he alues o 𝜔𝑖 o gi en alues o 𝑘1.
2.2.2. Ba s wi h hollow ec angula sec ion
The adius o gy a ion o a hollow ec angula sec ion wi h dep h ℎ, wid h 𝑏 and hickness 𝑡 is:
𝑖= √12ℎ𝑡3−6ℎ2𝑡2−6𝑏ℎ𝑡2+3𝑏ℎ2𝑡−8𝑡4+4𝑏𝑡3+ℎ3𝑡
−24𝑡2+12ℎ𝑡+6𝑏𝑡
(28)
Elimina ing e ms wi h powe s o 𝑡, we ob ain he alue o 𝑖 when 𝑡→0:
𝑖= √3𝑏ℎ2+ℎ3
12(ℎ+𝑏)
(29)
Taking o his case as an addi ional design decision ha he wid h 𝑏 is p opo ional o he dep h
(𝑏=𝑘𝑏ℎ), esul ing he alue o 𝑘2:
𝑘2=1
√12√3𝑘𝑏+1
𝑘𝑏+1
(30)
being he hickness 𝑡 he ee design pa ame e . Now o gi en alues o 𝑘1 and 𝑘𝑏 , we can ake he
a ea o he sec ion as 𝐴=2(ℎ+𝑏)𝑡=2(1+𝑘𝑏)𝑘1𝑡·ℓ, and using his alue o 𝑘2 we can calcula e
he alues o 𝜔𝑖.
483
On he Insu moun able Size o T uss-like S uc u es
Thi d In e na ional Con e ence on Mechanical Models in S uc u al Enginee ing
Uni e si y o Se ille. 24-26 june 2015.
2.3. Ca ena y ba s o cons an c oss-sec ion
Among all he al e na i es o design wi h cons an c oss-sec ion and sel -weigh , he ca ena y a c,
see Figu e 2(a), is he be e known in espec o e iciency, because he e is no angen ial s ess
in ol ed [17].
Figu e 2. Ca ena y a c.
O cou se his is a heo e ical solu ion, e y di icul o build in p ac ice. Bu as he op imal solu ions
om Michell’s heo y –in ac , unicula s uc u es and hence in insic ins able ones– hei s udy lead
o heo e ical limi s ha no o he solu ion wi h cons an c oss-sec ion can exceed.
Le 𝑝,𝑛 be axes such ha axis 𝑝 ollows di ec ion 𝜒, see Figu e 2(b). The g a i y axis is 𝑔, so 𝛽 is he
angle o med by ho izon al axis and 𝑝. The cho d o he ca ena y a c is 𝑐, i s heigh is 𝑣, and i s base
is ℎ (ℎ=𝑐cos𝛽; 𝑣=𝑐sin𝛽).
The basic equa ion esul om he equilib ium o a di e en ial a c d𝑠: he a ia ion o he in e nal
o ce plus he weigh mus be null:
d 𝑁
󰇍
󰇍
+𝜌𝐴(−sin𝛽,−cos𝛽)d𝑠=0
󰇍
(31)
and i can be in eg a ed as:
𝑁
󰇍
󰇍
=𝜌𝐴(𝑠sin𝛽+ 𝐾1,𝑠cos𝛽+𝐾2)
(32)
Le 𝑠0 be he poin o he cu e wi h pa allel angen o 𝑝 axis:
𝑁
󰇍
󰇍
(𝑠0)=𝑁(𝑠0)·(1,0)=𝜌𝐴(𝑠0sin𝛽+𝐾1,𝑠0cos𝛽+𝐾2)
(33)
484
Ca los Olmedo Rojas1, Ma iano Vázquez Espí2 and Jaime Ce e a B a o3
Fu he mo e, 𝑁(𝑠0) is he oblique componen o he in e nal o ce, 𝑂 he ea e , i.e., he componen
in he cho d di ec ion o he oblique 𝑝,𝑔 axes, i.e. 𝑁𝜒. Hence:
𝑁
󰇍
󰇍
(𝑠)=(𝑁𝑝,𝑁𝑛)=𝜌𝐴((𝑠−𝑠0)sin𝛽+𝑘,(𝑠−𝑠0)cos𝛽), wi h 𝑘= 𝑂
𝜌𝐴
(34)
Now, changing o he 𝑙,𝑡 axes o he igu e, 𝑠0=0, 𝑙(0)=0, y 𝑡(0)=0:
𝑁
󰇍
󰇍
(𝑠)=(𝑁𝑙,𝑁𝑡)=𝜌𝐴(𝑠sin𝛽+𝑘,𝑠cos𝛽), wi h 𝑘= 𝑂
𝜌𝐴
(35)
No e he de ini ion o he 𝑠 coo dina e: 𝑠 g ows wi h he conca i y on he le , i.e., in he g owing
di ec ion o d𝑡/d𝑙. In he igu e, 𝑠 g ows o he igh and he conca i y poin s up. As a esul , 𝑐 will be
nega i e o a comp ession a ch, acco dingly wi h he de ini ion o ℎ and 𝑣 as unc ion o 𝑐 and 𝛽
abo e.
De ining an𝛼 as he slope o he angen o he cu e,
an𝛼=𝑁𝑡
𝑁𝑙 cos𝛼= 𝑁𝑙
√𝑁𝑙2+𝑁𝑡2 sin𝛼= 𝑁𝑡
√𝑁𝑙2+𝑁𝑡2
(36)
and he pa ame ic equa ions o his cu e can be ob ained by in eg a ion :
𝑙(𝑠)=∫cos𝛼 d𝑠 𝑡(𝑠)= ∫sin𝛼 d𝑠
(37)
De ining
𝜙1(𝑠)=𝑘sinh−1 (𝑠+𝑘sin𝛽
𝑘cos𝛽 ) 𝜙2(𝑠)=√𝑘2+𝑠2+2𝑘𝑠sin𝛽)
(38)
The pa ame ic equa ions a e
𝑙(𝑠) =(𝜙1(𝑠)− 𝜙1(0))cos2𝛽+(𝜙2(𝑠)− 𝜙2(0))sin𝛽
(39)
𝑡(𝑠) =−(𝜙1(𝑠)− 𝜙1(0))sin𝛽cos𝛽+ (𝜙2(𝑠)− 𝜙2(0))cos𝛽
(40)
No e ha he limi o 𝑙(𝑠) o ±𝜋/2 is ±(𝑠−|𝑘|)+𝑘, and he limi o 𝑡(𝑠) is null (a e ical line).
The modulus o he axial o ce is:
|𝑁
󰇍
󰇍
(𝑠)|=𝜌𝐴 √𝑘2+𝑠2+2𝑘𝑠sin𝛽 =|𝑂
𝑘|𝜙2(𝑠)
(41)
The coo dina es 𝑠1 and 𝑠2 a e de e mined by he ac ha he ends o he a c mus be he poin s
(𝑙1,𝑡1) and (𝑙2,𝑡2) wi h he condi ions 𝑙2−𝑙1=𝑐 and 𝑡1=𝑡2, i.e.:
𝑙(𝑠1)=𝑙1, 𝑡(𝑠1)=𝑡1; 𝑙(𝑠2)=𝑙1+𝑐, 𝑡(𝑠2)=𝑡2;
(42)
485
On he Insu moun able Size o T uss-like S uc u es
Thi d In e na ional Con e ence on Mechanical Models in S uc u al Enginee ing
Uni e si y o Se ille. 24-26 june 2015.
Le us ou line ha he abo e p ocedu e consis in a ew and e y simple calcula ions a he i s s ep
o he design p ocedu e, p o iding we ha e a ou disposal he kind o da a o he Table 1 o he
Maxwell p oblem unde conside a ion. The eaching o his p ac ice and he associa ed design heo y
a e included in o he cu iculum o g adua e s uden s o he School o A chi ec u e o Mad id since
h ee decades ago.
5. CONCLUSIONS
In his pape we ha e p esen ed a nume ical me hod o deal wi h he sel -weigh load be o e he
c oss-sec ions o i s ba s a e known. When applied o well de ini e Maxwell p oblems he me hod can
be used o esol e conc e e s uc u al o m de e mining he hickness o i s ba s, i s o al sel -weigh
and i s s uc u al e iciency. Besides, he me hod can be used o explo e he space o solu ions
associa ed o he Maxwell p oblem and o a de ini e s uc u al schema, de e mining he ela ionships
be ween size, slende ness, insu moun able size, and e iciency o each solu ion in he sea ch space.
Wi h his me hod we ha e checked he GA ule (i.e., Galileo-A oca ule), an app oxima ed bu simple
o mula ion o de e mine he insu moun able size and e iciency o s uc u al o ms o schema a,
ou lining i s ad an ages and d awbacks, and sugges ing u he esea ch o esol e he la e ones.
The p oposed me hod could be imp o ed in se e al ways: (i) inco po a ing a mo e ealis ic model o
he s ess dis ibu ion o beams (s aigh ba s wi h bending); (ii) managing di e en alues o
ension and comp ession allowable s ess; (iii) conside ing he local buckling o beams and
comp essed ca ena y a cs. In his way, his wo k can be conside ed as a econside a ion o he
seminal p oblem o a heo y o s uc u al design, o mula ed by Galileo in 1638, and he app oxima e
solu ion en isaged by Rica do A oca o i s ime in he eigh ies o he las cen u y. We hope ha his
wo k can con ibu e o new and p omising esea ches in he u u e.
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