Effective, Equivalent, Apparent Density of a Heaped Pile of Chain

[Ussuri]

I should maybe have posted this in the Puzzles forum.

I am trying to find a method to approximate the equivalent (effective) density of a pile of chain, randomly placed in a heap. Google came up blank, at least using the search terms I could think of.

My initial thought was determine an effective density of per link based on a bounding cuboid using the link overall dimensions, allowing for the linking of adjacent links. I then hoped there would be a rule of thumb that could be applied for a loose pile of cuboidal objects (such as a pile of bricks).

Any other suggestions?

The background to this is that we will be designing box/frame that will be used to store and lift the chain, so I am looking for an approximation for how much this chain could weigh depending on box size/volume. Chain will be 76mm studlink mooring chain.

None of this exists at present so I cant just weigh it, but a test could be mocked up. But at the moment this is more of a desk study so an approximation is quicker (and cheaper).

 

[CANPRO]

you might have some luck calling a local supplier and ask them what the typical shipping weight of your size chain would be. I assume they would have that info available.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

I imagine this would scale fairly well; could you just get a length of small chain and measure it's weight and piled dimensions using a household scale?

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries

http://www.americanconcrete.com

 

[JStephen]

Go to Home Depot or Lowes, look at their chain- I think it comes on reels? Anyway, if you can get the length of chain on a new roll or size of container it comes in, that should help. I'm assuming heaped and rolled would be similar densities.

 

[Ussuri]

Thanks for the responses. I didn't think about calling and asking. Good shout. And I might be able to arrange a trip to the DIY shop at the weekend. It will give me an excuse for hardware shopping as well...

 

[moon161]

I'd think this is a answer well known to naval architects or engineers, with a few centuries of prior art to go by.

 

[PEinc]

Take a guess. 370 pcf?

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[JStephen]

"I'd think this is a answer well known to naval architects or engineers, with a few centuries of prior art to go by."

The battleship Texas and the aircraft carrier there in San Diego both have anchor chains that are not normal chains, they have two loops on each link, if I remember right, so stacking density for those chains would be different than a normal chain.

 

[BUGGAR]

We used to figure weight in chain lockers and similar to be the full weight of water they can contain. I recall that was their most critical load and was used for stability calculations as well. This is not always realistic.

 

[CANPRO]

this is off topic - in searching for effective densities of chain, I came across the below link which shows a massive chain. Says each link weighs 500 lbs. I thought it was really cool

http://twentytwowords.com/anchor-ch...big-it-makes-humans-look-like-mini-figurines/

 

[JStephen]

Yeah, that's the 2-loop kind, they're still using it after a 100 years.

 

[Ron]

Figure a void ratio of about 0.5 to 0.6....find the volume and use the unit weight of steel.

Uw x Vr= density

 

[oldestguy]

Take a sample length of chain, place in bucket, weigh it. Subtract bucket wt. Then fill bucket with water to cover chain. Try for chain to be sufficiently spread that there is no free water above it any place. Mark the inside of bucket for water level. Ideally the bucket should have straight sides. Remove the chain. Mark the new level of water. Measure the volume of bucket to each mark. With these measurements or a scale you can find the volume up to the upper mark. That volume divided by the weight of chain is its bulk density. If you wish, using the lower mark you can find the density of the steel in the chain.