3.8 EXAMPLES OF MATLAB APPLICATIONS Sample Problem 3-2: Equivalent force system (addition of vectors) ‘Three forces are applied to a bracket as > shown, Determine the total (equivalent) force applied to the bracket Fj=700N Solution A force is a vector (a physical quantity ‘that has a magnitude and direction). Ina Shs Cartesian coordinate system a two- 7 dimensional vector F can be written as: Fo= FitF,j = Feos6i+ Fain8j= F(co:6i + zin6j) where F is the magnitude of the force and 6 is its angle relative to the x axis, F, and F, are the components of F in the directions of the x and y axes, respectively. and i and j are unit vectors in these directions. If F, and F, are known, then F and can be determined by: +Fi and ne = 2 F, ‘The total (equivalent) force applied on the bracket is obtained by adding the forces ‘that are acting om the bracket. The MATLAB solution below follows three steps: + Write each force as a vector with two elements, where the first element is the x component of the vector and the second element is the y component. + Determine the vector form of the equivalent force by adding the vectors. + Determine the magnitude and direction of the equivalent force. ‘The problem is solved in the following script file.© Sample Problem 3-2 solution (script file) eo Fime400; F2Me500; 7340700; ater magnitude of each vector. ‘Th1=-20; Th2=30; Th3=143; Define variables with the angle of each vector. FI=FIM*[cosd(Th1) sind (Thi)] F2-F2M*[cosd(Th2) sind(Th2)] Define the three vectors. F3sF3M*[cosd(Th3) sind (Th3)] Beot=F1+E2+F3 Calculate the total force vector. | FeotM-sgrt (Ftot (1) *2+Ftot (2)*2) -¢——" Caleulate the magnitude of | ‘Theatand(Ftot (2) /Ftot (1) } the total force vector. “| Caloulate the angle of the total force vector] ‘When the program is executed, the following is displayed in the Command Win- dow: Fl= 375.8770 -136.8081 “The components of Fy. F2= 433.0127 250.0000 “The components of F>. Fa 559.0449 421.2705 “The components of F. Feot 249.8449 534.4625 The components of the total force. FtotM = 589.9768 ( The magnitude of the total force a= ———E 64.9453 The direction of the total force in degrees. The equivalent force has a magnitude of 589.98 N, and is directed 64.95° (cow) relative to the x axis. In vector notation the force is F = 249.841 + 534.46) N.