I have a question that I would like to ask the group given I am not an
engineer. This is not a homework problem, but I am trying to figure
out how to determine the angle between two cables attached to two
rigid structures. Please let me explain what I am talking about. I
have two vectors (2 cables attached to a fixed beam - they will always
have tension and will never deform out of shape of a line) and the
other end they both are attached to a non-fixed box (I guess you can
think of it as rubber cords on the wall attached to a box). I will
always know the orientation of one cable (CABLE A) that is, the angle
relative to the box (coordinate system of the box). I know the
INITIAL angle of the second cable (CABLE B), however, the angle is the
angle relative to the beam. I would like to know if there is a way to
solve the angle of CABLE B in the boxes coordinate system at 1) the
initial position and 2) if the box is moved to a new location. This
seems like it would be simple, but I don't know how to solve this.
So, I started it by trying to transform the vector of CABLE B into the
coordinate system of the box (going from the fixed beam to the box).
I think that would give me the initial position/angle of CABLE B in
the boxes coordinate system. I really do not know how to write the
transformation matrix to do this, but think it would be something
CABLE B
X
Y * [Rotation Matrix] = CABLE B's new XYZ coordinates
Z
Then how would I need to get the angels with respect to the boxes
coordinate system.
Then if the box moves, how would this all work as well? Please help!
- posted
14 years ago
