Hinge

Stress Calculations

Variable
A
rn
ci
co
ce
F

Formula
ht
d/ln(ro/ri)
rn-ri
ro-rn
rc-rn
Prc/t

A cross section of a hinge. In this case, t is the metal thickness and h is the hinge height.


!! !
!
!! !
!


! = !!! !! + ! = 56 ! = !!! !! + ! = 57

(1,2
! !

! !

The yield stress of aluminum is approximately 145MPa, giving a safety factor of about 3.


Wind Load Calculations
Assumptions:
Wind speed in a tropical storm V = 32m/sec
Drag coefficient C = 1.2
Panels 45 per side, A = 2.61m2

!"#$%

!"#$% =

!"! !
!.!

= 2

= 0.5 cos +
= sin +

!!
= arctan !

Condition for tipping:
!"
tan + = !!
!"# ! !!"# !

!!!"# ! !"# (!)

!"
!!

(3

(4
(5
(6
(7
(8

(9

Tipping angle as a function of n, the number of stacked units:

!"#!!!"!





tan = !!"!!"#!

(10

This graph shows the number of stacked units on the x-axis and the tipping angle on the y-
axis. This is calculated with 32m/sec (tropical storm force) winds blowing against the side
of the stack. An approximation was made to apply this total force only at the very top of the
stack as a worst-case scenario, even though the force will actually be distributed across the
entire height of the stack.

Number of
Tipping
Number of
Tipping
Stacked
Angle in
Stacked
Angle in
Units (n)
Degrees
Units (n)
Degrees
1
29.1
6
7.0
2
19.7
7
5.9
3
14.2
8
5.0
4
10.8
9
4.3
5
8.9
10
3.8