Structural Analysis

The hull design team worked to determine the maximum stresses present in the canoe. They did this by performing a complete structural analysis of the canoe. The first step to this was to create a shear diagram and moment diagram, to determine the maximum positive and negative moments in the canoe. The team determined that the maximum stress in the canoe was the compressive force occurring at midspan at the top of the canoe. Knowing the magnitude of the moment at this location of the canoe, the team used the flexural equation to determine the magnitude of the compressive stress at this part of the canoe. To do this, the team had to identify the centroid and moment of inertia of the canoe at this cross-section. This was done by simplifying the shape of the cross-section of the canoe into the shape of a steel channel "C" section. Upon identifying the centroid and moment of inertia at the midspan cross-section, the team calculated the maximum compressive strength in the canoe to be 16.7 pounds per square inch. The mix design team now has a strength goal to design the mix towards.