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Impact Loading: 5.1 Example 1: Weight Falling On The Flange of A Rod
Impact Loading: 5.1 Example 1: Weight Falling On The Flange of A Rod
Impact Loading
So far we have considered only static loading of beams. However, in many applications,
loads are dynamically applied. This brings us to the topic of impact loading. Dealing
with impact is not overly complicated. Essentially, there are two steps:
i. Determine an equivalent mass of the structure being hit (e.g. beam) by calculating
the total kinetic energy of that structure and object causing the impact load;
ii. Perform an energy balance assuming all kinetic and potential energy of the structure
and impacting object is transferred to strain energy in the structure being hit.
Note that the first step (determining an equivalent mass) is difficult and rather tedious.
In many cases it is acceptable to ignore the mass of the structure being hit. That is,
assume the structure being hit is massless. In this case, only an energy balance between
kinetic/potential energy and strain energy in the massless structure is required.
As in previous chapters, the best (only?) way to explain how to solve impact load problems
is through examples.
5.1
Consider the annular disc of mass, m, falling from height h above a flange at the end of
a rod shown in the figure below. The flange and rod will be considered massless.
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m
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Figure 5.1: Mass hitting flange at the end of a rod. Flange and rod are massless.
When the disc falls and hits the flange, the system will oscillate (it is elastic) and come
to rest. The oscillation is a dynamics problem. We are interested in the maximum load
on the flange. It is this maximum load that will determine failure of the rod and flange.
Firstly, we must recognise the energy transfer taking place. Initially, the disc has only
potential energy, mg (distance the disc will fall), and there is no other energy stored in
the system. At the point of impact, the kinetic energy of the disc is simply the potential
energy lost by the disc,
1
mV 2
2
p
=
2gh
mgh =
V
where V is the velocity of the disc at impact. This is interesting, but not useful in this
example (!). After impact, the rod will undergo strain due to the impact load. The
associated stress is determined by Youngs modulus or the rod.
*** Assumptions ***
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This gives the deflection due to the impact load. The impact load itself is easily determined
once the extension is known:
EA
P = A =
L s
mgEA
= mg +
(mg)2 + 2h
L
s
!
EA
= mg 1 +
1 + 2h
mgL
5.2
Consider the mass falling a height, h, onto the CENTRE of a beam of length, L. At
impact, there will be a maximum deflection, .
As in the previous example, we equation potential energy and Strain energy. You can
show that the Strain energy is given by, U = 0.5P , where P is the impact load. Then,
1
U =
P = mg(h + )
2
Now, we know as a function of the load:
=
P L3
48EI
28
(5.1)
96EIh
1+
mgL3
5.3
Consider again figure 5.2. If we do not ignore the mass of the beam, we need to determine
an equivalent mass of the beam at the point of impact in order to simplify the problem
to a level we can solve relatively easily. That is, we want to consider figure 5.3.
11
00
00
11
00
11
00
11
Me
29
(5.2)
so
m 2gh
V (L/2) =
22
mb
m + 35
30
22
m + mb
35
2
m gh
=
m
m + 22
35 b
1
K.E. =
2
2
m 2gh
.
m
m + 22
35 b
The energy balance is then easy to complete in the same manner as in the previous
example, except we now have kinetic energy and potential energy:
1
P = K.E + P.E
2
1
mh
+
P = mg
2
m + 22
m
35 b
.
.
.
s
"
#
96EIh
1
P = mg 1 + 1 +
gL3
m
m + 22
35 b
Again, is found from equation 5.1.
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