todd wrote:
"Bob Gramza" wrote in
y.com:
"McQualude" wrote in message
...
: (Fred the Red Shirt) said:
:
: I found this question in another group (misc.rural)...
: Which is stronger, a round post or square post? Assume the
: posts are both made from the same wood and are both equivalent
: in width.
:
: Answering a different question, here but:
:
: If you start with a tree trunk which is typically what you start
: with for a fence post, it will be stronger if you leave it round
: than if you square it up.
:
: No, that is the question. I gave the same answer you gave, but not
: quite as clearly perhaps. I was hoping that someone would be able to
: support it, because I have no proof and I don't think math will
: answer this question.
: --
: McQualude
I would think that utilities would use square telephone poles if they
were stronger instead of leaving them round. They spend a lot of money
and resources on the poles they push into the ground.
Apparently, you've never tried to drill a square hole in the ground. ;-)
From an engineering mechanics point of view, this is a very simple problem.
However, it probably breaks down for utilities on the basis of cost, i.e.,
it's just cheaper to get a round pole of similar strength than a square
pole. There are probably a hundred other reasons that make round poles
more workable (easier to climb with spikes, don't have to be oriented any
particular way, insulator bases are designed with round poles in mind, etc,
etc).
todd
I think it boils down to economy and simplicity. You have
to start with a much larger tree to get a square pole with
the same strength of a round pole. And, you don't need to
send it through a sawmill or buy larger trees. Simplicity
depends on the type of wood. In the west, lots of poles are
lodgepole pine which grows straight with a long length that
changes very little in width.