PBL

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2022

NAME : Abdullah Kashif

REG NO. : 2023-ME-179
SECTION : D
SUBJECT : Engineering Mechanics-II
COURSE CODE : ME-124
SUBMITTED TO : Dr. Jamal Umar

Registration No. A B C D FB aA aC aD Slope of vD/A Slope of vC/D

kg N m/s2

2023-ME-179 358 544 726 910 537 -3.01 3.309 -0.82 2.191443 4.136587
Problem:
The masses of blocks A, B, C and D are 2x kg, (3x + 7) kg, (4x + 10) kg and (5x + 15) kg,
respectively. Knowing that a downward force of magnitude 3x N is applied to block B and that the
system starts from rest, determine acceleration of block aA, aC, and aD. Neglect the weights of the
pulleys and the effect of friction.
Consider x as a student registration number (2022-ME-x). Determine the velocity (a) of D relative to
A (vD/A), (b) of C relative to D (vC/D) from 0s to 15s. Plot (vD/A) and (vC/D) against time (0-15s),
determine linear regression line equation and report slope of the line.

Data:
mA = 2x kg = 358 kg
mB = (3x + 7) kg = 544 kg
mC = (4x + 10) kg = 726 kg x is 179 for this PBL
mD = (5x + 15) kg = 910 kg
FB = 3x N = 537 N↓(acting downward) Required:

aA , aC , aD = ? vD/A

, vC/D = ?
 v ,v
Slope of D/A C/D = ? Also draw their graphs.
Assumptions:
• There are no frictional forces in the system.
• The pulleys are weightless and frictionless.
• The strings are inextensible, meaning that their length does not change on the
application of tension.
• The sizes of blocks are irrelevant to the analysis.
• The blocks are uniform, meaning that their mass is uniformly distributed over the
whole body.
• The weight of the blocks acts at their center of gravity.
• All the forces acting on the system produce constant acceleration.
• Gravitational acceleration g is taken to be 9.81 m/s2.

Free Body Diagrams:

Analysis:
Accelerations
Equations for the strings:
In this problem, we have two strings. One, that passes through A, B and C (let us call it l 1).
The other string passes through D (let us call it l2).

We shall define the Datum line on the upper fixed part of the system. It is shown below:
The equations for these are given below:
For l1:

2sA + 2sB + sC = l1
For l2:

( sD – sA ) + ( sD – sB ) = l2
Taking derivative of both of these equations twice, we get the equations for the
accelerations of the blocks:

2aA + 2aB + aC = 0 (i)

2aD – aA – aB = 0 (ii)

Due to the way, we have defined the Datum, the acceleration will be positive in the
downward direction and negative in the upward direction1. This fact is also supported by
the given condition that the system starts from rest.

Equations for the blocks:

In this problem, we have four blocks. By using the free body diagrams, we can write one
equations for each of the block. This is done using the Newton’s second law of motion. As
the system is in motion, we cannot write equilibrium equations. Therefore, we have to write
the motion equations which account for the overall acceleration of the block.
For Block A:
Applying Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion along y-axis taking downward
direction as

+↓ΣFy = may ; T2 + WA – 2T1 = mAaA (A)

For Block B:
Applying Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion along y-axis taking downward
direction as positive:

+↓ΣFy = may ; FB + WB + T2 – 2T1 = mBaB (B)

For Block C:
Applying Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion along y-axis taking downward
direction as

+↓ΣFy = may ; WC – T1 = mCaC (C)

For Block D:
Applying Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion along y-axis taking downward
direction as positive:

+↓ΣFy = may ; WD – 2T2 = mDaD (D)

T T l l
(Here 1 and 2 are the tensions in 1 and 2 respectively).

Calculations:
First of all, the values of the masses and weights (W = mg) are plugged in the equations A,
B, C, D. Then the equations are rearranged in the standard form.

T2 + WA – 2T1 = mAaA
Putting values and rearranging:

T2 – 2T1 – 358aA = -3508.4 (iii)

FB + WB + T2 – 2T1 = mBaB
Putting values and rearranging:
T2 – 2T1 – 544aB = -5331.2 (iv)

WC – T1 = mCaC
Putting values and rearranging:

T1 + 726aC = 7114.8 (v)

WD – 2T2 = mDaD
Putting values and rearranging:

2T2 + 910aD = 8918 (vi)

Now, we have 6 equations in total. We also have 6 variables. Thus we can easily solve
these equations for all variables. Solving a system of 6 equations is very easy if we convert
them in matrix form. Then we can use excel to solve them.
Writing all equations in ordered form, we get:

T2 – 2T1 + 0aA – 544aB + 0aC + 0aD = – 5331.2

T2 – 2T1 – 358aA + 0aB + 0aC + 0aD = – 3508.4

0T2 + T1 + 0aA + 0aB + 726aC + 0aD = 7114.8

2T2 + 0T1 + 0aA + 0aB + 0aC + 910aD = 8918

0T2 + 0T1 + 2aA + 2aB + aC + 0aD = 0

0T2 + 0T1 – aA – aB + 0aC + 2aD = 0

Hence, the required accelerations are:

aA ≈ -3.01 = -3.01 ↑ aC ≈ 3.309 = 3.309 ↓ aD ≈ -0.82 = -0.82 ↑

The answers were also double-checked using Wolfram Alpha’s 6 Equation Solver 2.
 Relative Velocities
vC/D:
To find relative velocity of C with respect to D we have:

vC/D = vC – vD
As we have assumed that the forces acting on the system produce constant acceleration,
we can use the First equation of Motion: vf = vi + at
In this case, according to the aforementioned conditions, the system started from rest, so we
are taking vi = 0 m/s and vf = v.
It reduces the equation to:

v = at vC = aCt vD =
aDt vC – vD = (aCt) -
(aDt) vC/D = ( aC – aD )t
Plugging aC & aD from above calculations:
vC/D = 4.13t
Comparing to y = mx + c

Slope of vC/D = 4.136587

vD/A:
To find relative velocity of C with respect to D we have:

vD/A = vD – vA
As we have assumed that the forces acting on the system produce constant acceleration,
we can use the First equation of Motion3: vf = vi + at
In this case, according to the aforementioned conditions, the system started from rest, so we
are taking vi = 0 m/s and vf = v.
It reduces the equation to:

v = at vD = aDt vA =
aAt vD – vA = (aDt) -
(aAt) vD/A = ( aD – aA )t
Plugging aC & aD from above calculations:

VD/A = 2.19t
Comparing to y = mx + c

Slope of vD/A = 2.19

Graphs:
Using excel, the values of the relative velocities against the required time are very easily
calculated. The table for the velocities against time (0-15 s) is given below:
 Vc/d
70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Vd/a
35

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Comparison:
Comparison of these relative velocities clearly shows that velocity of D with respect to A is
increasing and same for that of C with respect to D, but rate of increase in second case is
greater than the first one.
 70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Results:
Now, summing up all results from calculations performed are as under:
• Block A with mass 358 kg will move upward with an acceleration of
3.63 m/s2 (-ve).
• Block B with mass 544 kg, and the one on which 303 N force Is
applied vertically downward, will move downward with an
acceleration of 2.03 m/s2 (+ve).
• Block C with mass 726 Kg will move downward with an
acceleration of 3.19 m/s2 (+ve).
• Block D with mass 910 kg will move upward with an acceleration
of 0.799 m/s2 (-ve).

A breakdown of the theory required to solve the problem:

1. Newton's Laws of Motion:
• First Law (Law of Inertia): An object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object
in motion tends to stay in motion with the same velocity unless acted upon by
an external force.
 • Second Law (Law of Acceleration): The acceleration of an object is directly
proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
It can be expressed as F = ma, where F is the net force, m is the mass, and a is
the acceleration.
• Third Law (Law of Action and Reaction): For every action, there is an equal
and opposite reaction.
2. Forces:
In this problem, the only force considered is the downward force applied to
block B with a magnitude of 3N. We neglect other forces like friction and
the weights of the pulleys.
3. Acceleration:
The acceleration of a block is determined by the net force acting on it and its
mass, as per Newton's second law. By applying the given force and mass
values, we can calculate the acceleration of each block.
4. Relative Velocity:
Relative velocity refers to the velocity of one object relative to another
object. In this problem, we are interested in finding the velocities of D
relative to A (vD/A) and C relative to D (vC/D).
To determine relative velocity, we need to calculate the velocities of each
block separately and then find the difference between them.
5. Velocity Calculation:
There are two ways to find the velocities of the blocks. We can either integrate the
acceleration over time. By integrating the acceleration, we can find the velocity as a
function of time.

The other method is to simply use the First Equation of Motion. This method works
because we have assumed that the accelerations produced by the forces are constant. In
this PBL, this method is used.

Capping Off:
In this PBL we analyzed a given system of masses and pulleys connected by a couple of
cords. We drew free body diagram for each block and analyzed cord parameters in
reference to suitable datum to get relations between variable parameters and after getting
our hands on them, we used those parameters to analyze kinematics of blocks and find
relative velocity equations. We then plotted these velocities against time from 0-15s to
visualize the extent and degree of motion and then reported slops of those linear trends
which were representing rate of change in these velocities.

References:

1. R. C. HIBBELER. ENGINEERING MECHANICS (DYNAMICS). 12th Edition. Pearson

Prentice Hall. 2010. 82 p. (procedure for analysis section).
2. Wolfram Alpha’s 6 Equation Solver https://www.wolframalpha.com/widgets/view.jsp?
id=a9536b3eddefb39312a81eeeb828835f