Prandtl Membrane Analogy Group III The elastic membrane analogy, also known as the soap-film analogy, was first published by pioneering aerodynamicist Ludwig Prandtl in 1903. It describes the stress distribution on a long bar in torsion. In this project, we demonstrated the Prandtl Membrane analogy and related it to the stress distribution in the beam of similar cross section. Negi, Piyush Y9413 Jain, Sambhav Y9508 Kumar, Navin Y9361 Meena, Abhijeet Y9 Boyina, Prudviraj Y9
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Prandtl Membrane Analogy Group III The elastic membrane analogy, also known as the soap-film analogy, was first published by pioneering aerodynamicist Ludwig Prandtl in 1903. It describes the stress distribution on a long bar in torsion. In this project, we demonstrated the Prandtl Membrane analogy and related it to the stress distribution in the beam of similar cross section. [Pick the date]
The Prandtl Membrane Analogy: Introduction ....................................................................................... 4
The Theory .............................................................................................................................................. 5
The Setup ................................................................................................................................................ 7
The Procedure ......................................................................................................................................... 8
Data Presentation ................................................................................................................................... 9
Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls.
-David Thomas
We are grateful to Prof Rajesh Kitey, our instructor in-charge, who provided us this
wonderful opportunity to enhance our experimental skills. This project was one of its kinds,
which we experienced for the first time. We would also like to extend our thanks to Mr
Singh, the lab staff of the structures laboratory, who helped us by suggesting better
methods for our setup of the equipment. We are thankful to David, the student in the
structures lab, who helped us with handling of the sensors and the setup. Though this
project has been made by the five of us, it would not have been close to what it is now
without the experienced guidance and assistance of the various tutors and lab staff present
there at all times. Last but not the least we extend our gratitude to all of the friends and to
each and every person who made contribution to our project directly or indirectly.
--Group 3
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The Prandtl Membrane Analogy: Introduction
Shafts with noncircular sections are not uncommon. Although a circular shape is optimal
from a stress analysis view, square or prismatic shafts may be easier to produce. Also, round
shafts often have keyways or other geometrical features needed in order to join them to
gears. All of this makes it necessary to be able to cope with noncircular sections. We will
outline one means of doing this here, partly for its inherent usefulness and partly to
introduce a type of experimental stress analysis.
In an elegant insight, Prandtl pointed out that the stress distribution in torsion can be
described by a Poisson differential equation, identical in form to that describing the
deflection of a flexible membrane supported and pressurized from below. This provides the
basis of the Prandtl membrane analogy, which was used for many years to provide a form of
experimental stress analysis for noncircular shafts in torsion. Although this experimental use
has been supplanted by the more convenient computer methods, the analogy provides a
visualization of torsional induced stresses that can provide the sort of design insight we
seek.
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The Theory
We define the Prandtl stress function using
We can easily check that this definition satisfies equilibrium.
It can easily be shown that the traction-free boundary conditions are satisfied if
where, s is a coordinate system that is tangent to the boundary.
If the cross section is simply connected, then the boundary conditions are even simpler:
From the compatibility condition, we get a restriction on ϕ
where, C is a constant.
Using relations for stress in terms of the warping function ψ, we get
Therefore, the twist per unit length is
The applied torque is given by
For a simply connected cylinder,
The projected shear traction is given by
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The projected shear traction at any point on the cross-section is tangent to the contour of
constant at that point.
The relation between the warping function and the Prandtl stress function is
The equations
are similar to the equations that govern the displacement of a membrane that is stretched between the boundaries of the cross-sectional curve and loaded by a uniform normal pressure.
This analogy can be useful in estimating the location of the maximum shear stress and the torsional rigidity of a bar.
The stress function is proportional to the displacement of the membrane from the plane of the cross-section.
The stiffest cross-sections are those that allow the maximum volume to be developed between the deformed membrane and the plane of the cross-section for a given pressure.
The shear stress is proportional to the slope of the membrane.
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The Setup
Materials Used:
Plastic sheets: to use as membrane
Buckets: to mount the plastic sheets to get the membrane
Water: to apply pressure on the membrane
Hot Air Blower: to fix the plastic membrane firmly
Equipment Used:
Laser Displacement Sensor (LDS) and LDS holding frame
Software Used:
Lab View
Matlab
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The Procedure
The experiment gives the analogy of the stress distribution in a triangular cross section
beam with triangular shaped membrane.
The base of the bucket is cut to give the desired shape of a triangle.
The plastic sheet is fixed on the cut portion to give the membrane.
Hot air blower is used to give smooth surface to the plastic membrane.
Different points are marked on the membrane with the help of reflecting paint, so as to
use the Laser Displacement Sensor to measure deflections.
The position of membrane, which is uniform throughout the membrane due to its
smoothness, is noted by the Laser Displacement sensor.
Another bucket is filled with water, and the bucket with membrane at the base is dipped
inverted in the water up to a certain height.
The air inside the membrane bucket, which has been trapped between water and the
membrane base, builds up pressure inside the membrane.
The membrane deflects due the pressure build-up inside it, and the deflection of the
membrane at different points marked on it is stored with the help of the Laser
Displacement Sensor.
The initial reading of the Laser Displacement Sensor is subtracted from the final one to
give the deflection due to pressure inside the membrane.
The data thus received is used to relate and demonstrate Prandtl Membrane Analogy.
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The Data Presentation
The steps named above are performed for a membrane of quarter-circle shaped and the