Re: I can do tube bending analysis.

Bob Madden (madden@netcom.com)
Fri, 21 Apr 1995 20:44:34 -0700 (PDT)

Well Richard, you just want emperical data. Lets do both and I'll bet the two don't match. It has been that way in my years of experience. Your data for your tube may not be the same as my data. Describe your test specimen to Alan so he can compare the results to his calculations and maybe refine his calculations. Then we all might have a nice design tool.

):-{])) <---- madden@netcom.com madden@svpal.org Remember amateur astronomers: "keep looking for the next Universe"

On Fri, 21 Apr 1995 HOFFMAN@wmich.edu wrote:

> IMHO -- Since an index of refraction is specified, that sounds like
> the properties are for the pure resin, which must be transparent.
> However, the PVC compound used for making pipe is full of fillers
> to extend the resin and much modify the mechanical properties.
> Maybe a way to find out is to "run it backwards". Take a 10' length
> of 4" pipe, put a short piece of steel pipe crossways under each end
> on a concrete floor. Rig up a dial indicator on a stand so as to measure
> the height above the floor of the top (or better, the bottom) of the
> center of the PVC pipe. Then apply a "concentrated load" (a bag of
> sand or concrete mix, etc.) of known weight to the middle of the PVC
> pipe, and measure the deflection with the dial indicator. Knowing the
> span of the PVC pipe between the steel pipe supports, the ID and OD of
> the PVC pipe, the weight of the load, and the deflection, the program
> can be run so as to figure out Young's modulus for the PVC. Maybe an
> easy experiment for someone with a dial indicator on an adjustable
> stand. Any volunteers?
> Richard Hoffman
>
>