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Drawbridge - Force and Moment vs. Elevation

Calculate the acting forces and moments when elevating drawbridges or beams.

Drawbridge

Horizontal Beam/Drawbridge

For a beam supported at one end - like a typical drawbridge - the resultant force acting on the bridge can be calculated as

F = q L

= m g L                       (1)

where

F = resultant force or weight (N)

q = uniform distributed load or weight (N/m)

L = length of beam or bridge (m)

m = continuous distributed mass (kg/m)

g = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2)

For an uniform distributed load the resultant force F will act in distance

a = L / 2                (2)

The moment acting in A can be calculated as

M = F a                       (3)

= F L / 2                    (3b)

Note! The generic eq. 3 can be used for any combination of distributed or point loads. 

Example - Moment with Horizontal Beam/Drawbridge

The total weight - or resultant force - of a 10 m HE-B 340B steel beam with continuous mass 134 kg/m can be calculated as

F = (134 kg/m) (9.81 m/s2) (10 m)

= 13145 N

The acting distance a for the resultant force or weight can be calculated as

a = (10 m) / 2

= 5 m

The moment acting in A can be calculated as

M = (13145 N) (5 m)

= 65725 Nm

Elevated Beam/Drawbridge

Elevation of beam or drawbridge

For and elevated beam or drawbridge the distance between the action force F and the moment in A varies. For a lifting angle the distance can be calculated as

a = cos(α) L / 2                    (4)

where

α = lifting angle (degrees)

Eq. 3 for the moment can be modified to

M = F cos(α) L / 2                    (5)

Example - Moment for Elevated Beam/Drawbridge

The beam from the example above is lifted 30 degrees. The moment in A can be calculated

M = (13145 N) cos(30 degrees) (10 m) / 2

= 56920 Nm

Elevation Beam/Drawbridge Calculator

Default values are from the examples above where a = L / 2 in horizontal position. The calculator is generic and can be used for any uniform or point load combination as long as the resultant force F and point of action a can be calculated.

Drawbridge Lifting Moment

Lifting moment (%) related to maximum start moment at elevation 0 degrees.

Drawbridge lifting moment

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