You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
I finally had time to look around for something to explain the shape of the arch formed by forcing the ends of a cattle panel inward. I kept looking because I wanted to know what the arch would look like at different widths, so I could decide how I was going to build. I found that the shape is a catenary, which is the shape of a chain hanging from two equal endpoints. You can illustrate by holding a small chain in both hands and watching as you move the ends in or out.The arch is the mathmatical result of inverting the shape.
The drawing below is a sample of what a 16 foot length (cattle panel or PVC pipe) would look like if bent to the measured endpoints. I've included an approximate height at the peak/center of the arch which results from each shape. The overall height of the structure is then set by changing the height of additional veritical sidewalls under the arch.
Hopefully this is interesting to someone else...I had fun doing it, but I'm a nerd.
David
Click the image for an enlarged view.
There are 5 replies. The replies of posts in this forum are viewable only by paid subscribers of Dave's Garden, and only subscribers can post new replies. We are a member supported website.
