simulation of fprces on abeam

[dieselguy65]

i am getting ready to try my hand in the simulation environment

first project is calculating the forces on a beam with a pivot point somewhere along the length, between the two ends.

i would like to be able to calculate easily the downward force on the longer end of the beam, and the upward force on the short end of the beam. if that makes any sense. i want to be able to move the beams pivot point along its length, and see the changes in the opposing forces.

is this something easily doable in fusion/

i have never played with the simulation environment. but i am trying to get my head wrapped around it for a future project.

i have attached a very simple model of what i am thinking about.

[John_Holtz]

Hi @dieselguy65

The simulation that you described is easy to do in Fusion. What you will do is:

• If you are really just after the forces, you will want to suppress the pivot parts.
• Apply a pin constraint to the beam at the pivot.
• Apply the load on one end.
• Apply a vertical constraint on the other end so that you can "measure" the force required to balance the load.

In general, you will find that (Force on long end)*(length of long end) = (force on short end)*(length of short end).

Let us know what the simulation finds.

[dieselguy65]

i am kind of following what you say. but i think i missed the explanantion.

i am wanting to know, if i apply a downward force of say 500 pounds at the long end, what is the upward force generated on the short end.

i think (dangerous) the upward force would be the same as the force required to push down and make the beam balance.

i am doing this to show, the effect of moving the pivot point.

i feel there will be a relationship, moving the pivot point one inch, results in 100 pounds extra on the long end, and an opposing upward force on the short end.

there wont actually be any outside weight or force applied. just simply the weight of the materials themselves

thanks brian

[John_Holtz · Accepted solution]

Hi Brian (@dieselguy65)

Whether the load is from an outside weight or force, or just from the weight of the beam itself, the answer is still the same.

• For outside forces, F*L = Fs*Ls
• For the weight of the beam itself, W*Lw = Fs*Ls. (In other words, the weight of the beam can be considered as a force located at the center of the beam's length. In a more complex beam shape, the weight can be considered to act at the center of gravity of the beam.)

From knowing the position of the pivot, the weight of the beam, and the position of the balancing force Ls, you can calculate the balancing force Fs from the equation.

As the design becomes more complex, there will be some variation because of the 3D nature of the design, but it does eventually simplify to that one equation.