RC&S question in general

[pianoguru at cox.net]

---- Richard Brekne <ricb at pianostemmer.no> wrote: 

> The only unpredictability I see in any of this is the lack of anyone to 
> be able to describe in math mechanics terms the functioning of the rib 
> restraining against a glued panel wanting to expand due to a given 
> downwards force on the panel. If this was calculated... all the guess 
> work goes out of the compression reliant picture as it is the only 
> <<unknown>> factor.  

I recently received the 2008 version of SolidWork, and am just getting into some of its newest features.  So far, I know that I can create a grand rim assembly, assigning the material properties from an internal database for each part.  I can define a motion study to analyze the movement, stress and strain exerted on the various parts when a variety of forces are applied.  In the end, this can quantify and predicted the movement of each component in the system.  Unfortunately, orthotropic materials are not supported without an expensive add-in, so I'll have to look into that when I get back to the states.  I'll let the computer do the math for me.  With the right tools, more calculation can be done in milliseconds than could be done in a lifetime.  Not an expensive toy ... a powerful tool.

Frank Emerson