Ok I'm not truck driver except my DCTD dually. But here is my question..
Why are large flat bed trailers bowed up inthe middle.???
I worked in a trailer fab shop for a while and there was about a 4 inch bow put in flat beds. I asked the question then and got more BS answers than about any other question asked.
After this stint, I waded thru Mech Eng school for 5 years and now 25 years later the question is still unanswered. I also did a bunch of structural analysis and it all works out the same......It simply makes the trailer flat when loaded. I guess this is better looking than bowed down inthe middle. It also maybe provides a guide to how heavy the load is with out weighing.....ie flat equals maximum load. If load is concentrated in the middle. Now if you look at Rail road tankers you will see the older ones are pot bellied. I think this is from fatigue of the rail system. Rail stuff really takes a beating. I see new ones straight as ruler but the same type 20 years later is potbellied.
Any takers??
Why are large flat bed trailers bowed up inthe middle.???
I worked in a trailer fab shop for a while and there was about a 4 inch bow put in flat beds. I asked the question then and got more BS answers than about any other question asked.
After this stint, I waded thru Mech Eng school for 5 years and now 25 years later the question is still unanswered. I also did a bunch of structural analysis and it all works out the same......It simply makes the trailer flat when loaded. I guess this is better looking than bowed down inthe middle. It also maybe provides a guide to how heavy the load is with out weighing.....ie flat equals maximum load. If load is concentrated in the middle. Now if you look at Rail road tankers you will see the older ones are pot bellied. I think this is from fatigue of the rail system. Rail stuff really takes a beating. I see new ones straight as ruler but the same type 20 years later is potbellied.
Any takers??