Paul Fitzsimmons wrote:
>
> Bill,
> I have no intention of getting into the middle of this one.
> But, you could rent a lot of motel rooms for that repair bill.
> Fitz
>
> Bill Dalton wrote:
>
> > Gar,
> > I have done some reconstructive math regarding this problem. The
> > aforementioned 3mph is = to 4.4 feet per second (fps). If the land barge
> > contacted the object in question at a speed of 4.4 fps, allowing for a
> > reaction time of .75 seconds (a fairly good reaction time for all but
> > dragster people who do it in about .4 of a second), before it was
> > realized that some part of the land barge was not wanting to travel
> > along at the same speed, with the rest of the vehicle, and the brakes
> > were applied- the barge would have travelled 3.3 feet before the brakes
> > were applied. Once the brakes were applied we could assume a linear
> > deceleration from 4.4 fps to 0, which would make the average velocity of
> > the land barge during decelleration = to a velocity of 2.2 fps. Putting
> > these numbers into simultaneous equations relating speed, deceleration,
> > and distance, it is my conclusion that, had the land barge been
> > travelling at the claimed speed of 3 mph (4.4 fps) it would have
> > traveled an addition distance of something less than 2 ft. This would
> > make the total distance traveled 5.5 feet. Assuming 4 feet of extended
> > damage due to buckling etc, the 18 feet would be reduced to 14 feet of
> > contact- not likely possible at a speed of 3 mph.
> >
> > If we assume that the speed were 6 mph,(8.8 fps) the length of contact
> > works out to be something between 2 and 3 feet making the length of
> > contact about 9 ft. Closer but still not 14 feet.
> >
> > If we assume that the speed were 9 mph,(13.2 fps) the length of contact
> > works out to be 13'-6"! Voila!!! Pretty close to the 14'.
> >
> > If I were called to testify in court as an expert witness, I would have
> > to say that the land barge was traveling at a speed of approximately 9
> > mph when the incident occurred.
> >
> > Fitz, what do you think?
> >
> > Gar, since you request help in getting to the truth of the matter, and
> > my rate is $50/hour. The clock has been on for 1/2 hour resulting in a
> > $25 charge. However, I do have a minimum billing of $50 to cover office
> > expense and such, therefore a bill in the amount of $50 is being mailed
> > today for services rendered.
> >
> > Bill D- away from the track also known as,
> > William J Dalton PE
> > IL Lic 62-039626
> >
> > See you in Tech
Fitz,
You are so right to put it in perspective. For WST's land barge bill, I
would need the calculator again to figure out how many races I could
attend, -but a quick guess comes up in years.
Bill D
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