Mechanical Engineering Methods

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING METHODS

 

Mini Project V

ME373

Due: August 31

Instructions

1. You are required to solve all problems for credit; however, not all problems will be graded. A random sample of problems will be selected for grading.

2. You will submit one report per group. Clearly print names of all group members. Attach your computer programs to the pdf file.

3. You must show all detailed steps to get full credit. Please write legibly.

4. For ease in grading, please do NOT write on the backside of the paper.

5. If you are asked to plot graphs, all graphs should be clearly labeled; i.e. the x and y axes of the plots should be labeled. If there are multiple curves on the same graph, indicate what each curve corresponds to using a legible legend. Clearly show the range of the axes. The plots should be clearly readable. Provide legends. Give caption to each plot.

6. If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Good Luck!

1All assignments are due before the start of the lecture, unless otherwise stated.

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1. A football has a mass of mp = 0.413 kg. It can be approximated as an ellipsoid 6 in diameter and 12 in long. A ‘Hail Mary’ pass is thrown upward at a 45? angle with an initial velocity of 55 mph. Air density at sea level is ρ = 1.22 kg/m3. Neglect any spin on the ball and any lift force. Assume turbulent flow and a constant air-drag coefficient of CD = 0.13.

The equation of motion of the ball is given as,

dxp dt

= up (1)

dyp dt

= vp (2)

mp dup dt

= −F cos(θ) (3)

mp dvp dt

= −F sin(θ) −W ; (4)

where xp and yp are the x and y co-ordinates of the centroid of the ball (x is positive to right and y is positive upwards), up and vp are the horizontal and vertical velocities of the ball, respectively, W = mpg is the weight of the ball and g = 9.81 m/s

2 is the gravitational acceleration. The drag force is given as

F = CD ρ

2 (u2p + v

2 p) π

4 D2; θ = tan−1

( vp up

) . (5)

The diameter D = 6 inch. Assuming that the quarterback is about 6 ft tall, The initial location of the centroid of the ball can be taken as xp = 0 and yp = 6 ft.

(a) Using a Forward Euler numerical scheme with general step size ?t, obtain the finite difference approximation to the system of equations. Clearly write down the initial conditions for all variables.

(b) Write a program to solve the system of equations using the above equations that will provide solutions to xp, vp, up and vp as a function of t. Make sure you input different parameters in consistent units. Use SI units.

(c) Solve the system of equations (with appropriate step size) until the ball hits the ground again; i.e when yp = 3 inch (half of the maximum diameter of the ball). Plot xp versus t, yp versus t, up versus t, and vp versus t over the duration of the air travel of the ball.

i. What is the horizontal distance traveled? If the ball is thrown from the 40 yard line of the offense, do the offense have a chance of a touchdown (for a touchdown from this position, the ball would have to travel at least 60 yard or more)?

ii. What is the maximum vertical distance traveled?

iii. How long does it take for the ball to hit the ground?

iv. How do you know all your plots and answers are correct?

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2. Buckling of Column: Under a uniform load, small deflections y of a simply supported beam are given by

EI d2y

dx2 = qx(x− L)/2; y(0) = y(L) = 0 (6)

where L = 10 feet is the length of the beam, EI = 1900 is modulus of elasticity times moment of inertia, and q = −0.6 is load distribution. The beam extends from x = 0 to x = L. The goal is to find y at every 0.1 foot using the Direct Method and plot y(x) versus x.

(a) Using centered-differencing, formulate the finite difference approximation. To illustrate your work, use 5 grid points (2 of them are on the boundaries, y = 0 and y = L). Write down finite-difference approximations for the interior points, for a general uniform grid spacing of ?x. Then write your algebraic equations in the matrix-vector form with unknown vector on the left hand side and all known quantities on the right hand side.

(b) Using a computer program for N + 1 total points, solve the above equation using the direct method with the grid spacing of 0.1 foot. Plot y(x) versus x. Compare your solution with the Exact Solution (clearly label your graphs).

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