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Civil Engineering/Weight Distrubution

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Expert: - 4/1/2004


Question
I am wondering whether a scale actually measures the entire weight of an object. For example if I was trying to carry 1000 pounds of rock in my truck but my truck could only carry 900 pounds could I build something that would support the rock and not transfer the weight to the wheels. I am thinking of constructing something like a brace. I'd have some metal bars pushing against the sides of the sides of the bed, like how shower curtain rods are hung. I'd then lay a box over these bars and put the rocks in it. I think that the weight is then distubuted on the box and the bars and the sides of the bed. The structure would then be supporting some of the weight instead of the wheels on the truck. In summary, can weight be distrubuted outwards instead of downwards therefore making the load "lighter"? A better example might be a bridge constructed between two "walls". The weight is sent to the sides of the bridge and not down into the water ( assuming that there is not any middle support). Am I correct in thinking that weight can be distrubuted so that it will not be detected by a scale since it only measures downward pressure or do I have some faulty thinking somewhere. Thank you and sorry for any confusion.  

Answer

Hi Bradley,

I regret to inform you that always weight down (action) equals wheel or axel loading (reaction)- there is no way that you can loose gravity load to horizontal thrust in a stationary object (i.e. in a statics calculation).

The only way you can achieve your objective is to suspend helium filled ballons to your truck body to give you 100 pounds of uplift!

Hope that answers your query!

Kind regards,

Arshad

Civil Engineering

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Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience

Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

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