Improving the Understanding of Structural Concepts
The Applied Free Vibrations and Dynamic Equilibriums in the real
life of Vendor Merchants (Peddler or Hawker)
Mr. Tom Chlayon
Figure 1 Ancient vendor merchant
Pictured by T. Chlayon, Siam museum,
Bangkok, Thailand, 14 Aug 2008
Introduction
The hawkers always carry selling items
wandering around the town. For reducing the
transportation cost generated by vehicles, the
merchants develop brilliant carry techniques to
save their energy while hawking and selling
their goods. Surprisingly, they can develop
these techniques and making use in their life
without knowing or understanding in
structural concepts.
General Concept
When the merchant walks, there will be a
little bit of bouncing up and down in vertical
direction. If the merchant carries some goods
during walking, there will be a time that his
reaction force to the goods is more or less than
the self weight of the goods (Reader may do a
little experiment for better understanding by
holding something firmly and lift it up and
down, then feels the weight at the hand). It is
obvious that moving body while carrying low
load is better than carrying the overburden
one. The idea is that the merchant will make a
move when he/she feels the reaction force to
the goods is lower than the load from goods.
And the merchant will standstill when he/she
feels the reaction to the load is higher than the
load from goods.
Structural Theory in the Concept
The idea is to minimize the work done by
merchants during walking. It is obvious that
Energy method is the one of the best way
to describe this problem.
Workinternal = Work external
Work merchant = Work frictional force to the ground
F orce walking x Stepdistance = F orce friction x S tepdistance
F orce walking = F orce friction → I
Considering the frictional force in the
static equilibrium, the relation
F rictional force  Normal F orce
F rictional force = s x Normal force → II
From equations I and II, we obtain
Force walking = s x Normal force → III
In this case, the normal force is the
summation of the merchant self weight and the
weight of the goods (in free vibration)
Structural Analysis and Calculation
State assumption:
1. the hawker must wear firm shoes
for avoiding frictionless effects
(only static friction occur)
2. the maximum load (including
dynamic loads) must not exceed
the maximum holding capacity of
the merchant
3. the damping effect is neglected
This problem can be simplified to the
model as shown in figure 2
M M
L L
Figure 2 the simplified model
From figure 2, assuming beam has
Young’s modulus (E) and Second moment of
area (I). This model is symmetry, so we can
treat this as two cantilever beam attached
together in the middle.
mg mg
RL RR
R = RL + RR → IV
Figure 3 making use of symmetry
From the bouncing up and down of the
body during walking, we can treat as a vertical
movement of the support in simplified model
y( t ) = y max sin( t )
 Improving the Understanding of Structural Concepts

y = displacement of the support F orce walking = s x Normal force

y max = maximum amplitude F orce walking = s x R ( t)
 = natural frequency
(F orce )
walking min (
when R ( t ) ) min
t = time
(F orce )
walking min
= s x 2mg-2F
This vertical displacement at the support
will act as a displacement load at the load (m). (F orce )
walking min
= s x 2mg-2ky m

During the movement, the beam is flexible Thus, this can prove that the stiffness term can
enough to create a significant displacement. help reducing the force during walking.
So, the force by stiffness is involved in the From (F orce ) =  x 2mg to
walking min s

motions. 3EI
F = ky
(Force )
walking min
= s x 2mg-2 y ,
L3 m
the reduced force
3EI 6EI
F = 3 y→V is y  . Then the work reduction per
L L3 m s
F = force caused by stiffness of the beam  6EI 
walking step is equal to  3 y ms  ( walking step )
From the movement of the support in free,  L 

ymax and ymin are important in analysis. So, The finale of all is that the merchant must
there are three motion cases we need to maintain all these conditions below for
consider as shown below. gaining the highest efficiency in the work
Case I reduction.
y (t ) = y sin (t )
shoulder max

δst y (t ) = y sin (t +  )

load max

Thus, ωload= ωwalking, but only different in

RR mg phase.
RR=mg → VI
Figure 4 no load apply to the beam
Case II

δst
ym

RR mg+F
RR=mg+F → VII
Figure 5 apply the maximum
displacement load (ymax) at ωt =π/2, at support
Case III
ym δst
mg-F
RR
RR=mg-F → VIII
Figure 6 apply the minimum
displacement load (-ymax) at ωt =3π/2, at support
Substitute value RR from eq.VIII in figure
6 into eq. IV in figure 3, and RL=RR, thus we
obtain R=2mg-2F which give the lowest
reaction at ωt =3π/2.
In the same way, substitute RR value from
eq. VII in figure 5 into eq. IV in figure 3, and
RL=RR, we obtain R=2mg+2F which give the
highest reaction at ωt =π/2.
For static equilibrium, Reaction (R) is
equal to the normal force.
Figure 7 using specific bamboo for better beam
[http:// dek-d.com/board/view.php?id=1007779]
Conclusion
The concept of all these proves is actually
short and easy. Merchant should make a move
when the reaction is min. And merchant
should standstill when the reaction is max.
Maximize the stiffness forces by selecting
proper beam materials neither too stiff nor too
flexible, then the work energy will be
maximum safe.
References
BELL, A. (2009) Structural Dynamics. Advance theory
of structures, MSc structural engineering, The
University of Manchester, 24 NOV 2009
BELL, A. and JI, T. (2008) Seeing and Touching
Structural Concepts, Manchester, Taylor and
Francis, ISBN 0-203-976079-3
CHOPRA, A. K. (2007) DYNAMICS OF
STRUCTURES Theory and Applications to
Earthquake Engineering, New Jersey, Pearson
Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-156174-X