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center of gravity of structure

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monchie

Structural
Feb 22, 2011
96
Hello,

In finding the center of gravity of structures,ie, core walls(3 core walls located at various location of the building), it is normally ;1.) establish your reference point 2.) take the individual components(walls) of each core walls(x&y axis on "plan"), and from this you can get its center of gravity.

I've seen some calculations take all the "loadings" of the core walls/structures and from there, they get the center of gravity of the core walls. Any ideas regarding this? Which one is the most reliable method?

 
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I don't understand the second method. Can you elaborate?

What is your goal here? Distribution of lateral forces?

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
 
I typically use cad to find the geometric centroid of a polyline that I have drawn around the boundary. If the building has an uneven weight distribution (half wood, half concrete) then method 1 would apply.

Never heard of method 2.

When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.

-R. Buckminster Fuller
 
In "method 2", are you finding the center of resistance? Which may or may not coincide with the center of gravity of the actual forces (resulting in rotation)?
 
From the description, it sounds like Method 1 is the centroid of an area, and Method 2 is the centroid of the forces applied? Depends on what you're doing with that number. Center of "gravity" implies a centroid of a mass, which would be misleading in either case.
 
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