Engineering Mechanics

Learning Outcome 1: Understand the basic principles of statics, mechanics and dynamics in relation to particles and rigid bodies
Learning Outcome 2: Solve engineering problems by isolating out its separate parts and subjecting them to logical scientific analysis
Learning Outcome 3: Manage their time effectively and work independently

Description of Assessment Task and Purpose:

A warehouse has a delivery hatch 12m above the warehouse floor. A conveyer belt system is to be installed to transport the good from the hatch to the floor level of the warehouse. The heaviest crates to descend the conveyer are 2m long, 1m tall and have a mass of 500 kg.

Your task is to design a planar truss that will support the conveyer belt and analyse this truss under various conditions, to pitch to the warehouse manager.

The analysis should include:
• A clear design of the planar truss.
• Analysis of forces in each member(s) when the largest crate is at the top of the conveyer.
• The maximum stresses in each member and the angle at which these occur.
• The minimum co-efficient of static friction required for the conveyer belt-crate interaction to ensure crates do not slide down the belt.
• Materials chosen for construction and the dimensions of these members working with a safety factor chosen and justified.
• Identify any assumptions made and why they are important

The final 10% is awarded for the clarity, conciseness and cohesion of the pitch.

For the purpose of analysis, the system is considered at rest, the conveyer to be modelled as a uniformly distributed load of 35 kg m^-1. Members of the truss can have a maximum length of 3.5m.

The warehouse is displayed in Figure 1 and crate in Figure 2.

Attachment:- Engineering Mechanics.rar