Structural Analysis (part 2)

In part 1, I tried to analyze the sundial's structure using a simple analysis and some pessimistic assumptions. And I didn't like the result.

So, now I'm back armed with math and engineering. Woo, hoo!

Take a look at Professor Henri P. Gavin's FRAME page. This program is great. It lets me analyze a structure as complex as the sundial. Now, all I need to do is make an input file and set the parameters correctly.

I'm still figuring it out. My first attempt loaded the sundial with 280,000 pounds. Oops. Pounds, kips (kilopounds): whatever. (I had set the program to use kips.)

I need to play with the program a little more, and then I'll report back.

I completed my first FRAME analysis, with an initial assumption of 2-inch pipe for all members, and the results show that the cross members have between 0 and 254 pounds of stress, depending on their position (with half in compression and half in tension). I probably can save weight and cost by sizing the cross members based on structural requirments.

Here's a plot showing where the most crossmember stress is (red) and where the least stress is (blue).