General Instructions. In problems requiring the specification of sizes for steel cable,...

General Instructions. In problems requiring the specification of sizes for steel cable, bar, or pipe, selections should be made from Tables 3.1–3.3. In all problems, write a brief technical report following the guidelines of Appendix A, where you summarize all pertinent information in a well-organized fashion. It should be written using proper, simple English that is easy for another engineer to read. Where appropriate, sketches, along with critical dimensions, should be included. Discuss the objectives and constraints considered in your design, the process used to arrive at your final design, safety issues if appropriate, and so on. The main discussion should be typed, and figures, if needed, can be computer-drawn or neatly hand-drawn. Include a neat copy of all supporting calculations in an appendix that you can refer to in the main discussion of your report. A length of a few pages, plus appendix, should be sufficient.

A ferry is being designed to cross a small river having a strong current. The ferry has no engine and is supported by a steel cable ABCA. At B the cable is wrapped around a winch so that it does not slip, and at C the cable passes around a freely rotating pulley. Both ends of the cable are fixed to the ferry at A. The drag force on the ferry is highest at midstream and lowest at the banks, and it is given by . The winch moves the ferry slowly, so there are no other in-plane forces applied to the ferry beyond F and the cable forces. Specify the necessary diameter for cable ABCA. The owner of the ferry also wants to know the position x (within ± a few meters) where Figure DP3.9 the load on the cable is the greatest.