Strongest Pole Shape?
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Fred Kaluza~MI
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- Location: Port Huron, Michigan
- Martin Colony History: Tried and tried and had some visitors but...not enough good insects around here to keep them interested.
I know a lot of us have thought about this but darned if I know the answer. Assuming you never know the direction of the oncoming wind, what geometric shape most resists bending? Oval, Rectangular, Square, Triangular, Hex, Oct, round or what? It's probably some basic physics problem about the stresses building up around corners or bending points or material compression on the inner walls and material stretching on the outer walls. I would tend to think that all other things being equal that round is best. I'm not sure though.....Also, what's better, hollow or solid?
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Adam Romain
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- Location: Texas, Fulshear
Hello Fred!!!
I believe you will find what you are looking for at Chuck Abare's site. He's posted his analysis of different materials and pole shapes. Hope you find it useful !!!..............Adam.
http://home.earthlink.net/~chuckabare/structrl.htm
I believe you will find what you are looking for at Chuck Abare's site. He's posted his analysis of different materials and pole shapes. Hope you find it useful !!!..............Adam.
http://home.earthlink.net/~chuckabare/structrl.htm
Last edited by Adam Romain on Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Adam
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Adam Romain
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- Location: Texas, Fulshear
Trying to clear my double post. Seems I can't...
Adam
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Guest
If you are comparing equal wall thickness and asumming you are discussing equal outside dimensions (OD of circle equals outside measurement of square etc.) then the square is the strongest of all of them in every direction.
"What is better hollow or solid?" Well, depending on what your definition of "better" is, a solid pole will be stronger than a hollow pole if you are comparing equal diameter. However, a solid pole will be much heavier so more difficult to work with. Also keep in mind that the strength doesn't go up proportionatly with the weight when comparing hollow to solid. For example, comparing equal diameter poles, the solid pole might weigh 4 times the weight of a hollow pole.......but be only 2 times as strong. This is because material near the center of the pole adds very little to the bending resistance yet weighs just as much as material located on the outside of the pole which resists bending the most.
"What is better hollow or solid?" Well, depending on what your definition of "better" is, a solid pole will be stronger than a hollow pole if you are comparing equal diameter. However, a solid pole will be much heavier so more difficult to work with. Also keep in mind that the strength doesn't go up proportionatly with the weight when comparing hollow to solid. For example, comparing equal diameter poles, the solid pole might weigh 4 times the weight of a hollow pole.......but be only 2 times as strong. This is because material near the center of the pole adds very little to the bending resistance yet weighs just as much as material located on the outside of the pole which resists bending the most.
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Fred Kaluza~MI
- Posts: 606
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2003 10:40 pm
- Location: Port Huron, Michigan
- Martin Colony History: Tried and tried and had some visitors but...not enough good insects around here to keep them interested.
I figured that many have thought about this in the past. Leave it to the mighty "Chuckster" to have "done the math". Thanks for the link. Fred