Chapter 117: A plan (1 of 2)
Translated by me, edited by drpetro.
In Ye Qing's hands was a piece of cylindrical synthetic light steel. Under the powerful engagement of the data glasses, everything from its composition to its degree of damage was datafied. Ye Qing could clearly see that the split scar on that piece of steel was covered in a crude layer of coarse brownish grey grains.
Originally the light steel was covered in a layer of black anti-corrosive paint. Now the paint was falling off patch by patch. In Ye Qing's view, the coarse grains were the result of countless minute fractures in the steel.
It was the direct result of metal fatigue as its inside structure had already been damaged by outside forces, resulting in a massive decline in strength.
As for why there were traces of metal fatigue on the steel, that was due to the continuous application of outside forces. Countries around the world had experienced many aviation related accidents caused by these said metal fatigues.
If a piece of metal was put there, it wouldn't be damaged without outside forces.
Yet the sky art piece was completely stationary, and the lighting and electric wiring also can't move.
Then the only part of the ceiling that could create motion was the water circulated air conditioner.
The water circulated air conditioner had an opening in the pipeline every couple of meters, where an extractor was spinning constantly at high speeds.
"It's most likely that the vibration frequency from the extractor resonated with the frame metal, hence rapidly increasing the wear on the frames." Right now Ye Qing's data glasses looked like transparent glass, so no one would notice their strangeness.
"How did you come up to that conclusion?" Xiao Jun nervously looked at Ye Qing.
"It's actually really easy if you want proof." Ye Qing took off his glasses and pointed to another pipeline: "The consistency of industrially products is generally very high. You guys can go check those other frames over there. If even those frames have clear drops in structural strength, then that could only means that the frequency from the extractor vibrations was resonating with the steel."
"That's actually very likely!" The acting manager of Gree Electric was first stunned, then slapped his thigh: "Since none of our designs were a problem, then the frequency resonance would be our most suspected cause."
Several maintenance workers hurriedly rushed below the still in place air conditioner extractors. They familiarly took down the extractor, the nearby piping, and the attached ceiling frame.
Without the need for additional instruments, the light steel was easily tested with pliers, as it was quite clear now how soft and weak the steel supports were.
"It's really the result of resonance." The manager anxiously commented: "But how can that be, our motors definitely pass the standard tests, and the bearings' concentricity is also levels above the national standard, so there can't be any excessive vibrations."
"It's not excessive vibrations, it's the natural vibrations of the machine." Ye Qing explained to everyone that was still confused: "If a machine has excessive vibrations, then it'll be quite easy to tell just by hearing it."
"However, while a machine is operating, in addition to have rotating fans, there'll naturally be vibrations."
"This is commonly known as normal vibrations because the sound from it is quite gentle and the extent of the vibration is small. But there still are high frequency cases. If the vibrating frequency in this case is similar enough to that of the surrounding material, then there will be resonance."
"And very clearly, the vibrating frequency of these steel frames are very close to the machines's natural vibrations, resulting in a case of serious metal fatigue."
"I don't know if everyone has seen Final Destination or not, but in the movie there is one scene where the support frame of an air conditioner resonated with it, resulting in the collapse of the entire air conditioner."
"I understand now." The manager suddenly reached enlightenment: "This is a coincidence, pure coincidence. We do perform resonance tests on our products, but it wasn't possible for us to eliminate natural vibrations. Who would've thought that it would actually resonate with the steel frame it's hanging from."
"So simple ~ "
"This is really a simple fix. All we need to do is change the spinning speed of the air conditioner to avoid resonance, and we're good to go."
"Then what are we going to do with the already weakened structural framework?" Xiao Jun angrily asked, and had many workers who were here to watch the fun terrified.
Yeah……
A section of the pipeline had already collapsed. That meant that right now, in the entire gallery, every other air conditioner could also collapse.
As for this off chance for collapse, who was actually willing to risk it?
"Seal the exhibit area for now. I need everyone to leave so that we can fix this hidden danger." Wen Xiaowei immediately ordered. As long as no one was injured, then there will always be ways for redemption.
No one hesitated as everyone hurriedly ran off.
It was just like suddenly going from spring to summer since the sky art still had some heat retention properties as the coldness inside hadn't faded yet.
But running out from under the sky art put them all under the blazing summer heat.
"Thank you, thank you so much for find the cause. You saved us just too much precious time." Standing outside, Wen Xiaowei's nervousness passed a bit as he non-stoppingly shook Ye Qing's hand.
"Where's your display both? If we can fix the gallery, then I'll definitely display some advertisement for your company on the big screen."
"Z-42, It's the Monster Heavy Industries at the corner there." Ye Qing feeling a bit embarrassed as he reported his company's exhibition spot.
That was the corner of the last row; one of worst possible positions available for any exhibition.
"Monster Heavy Industries!" Wen Xiaowei raised his thumb and praised: "A truly imposing name."
"Young man, you're definitely in the mechanical field, and are most likely very experience in it." Xiao Jun also came up to express his praise: "Us architects will always consider resonance generated from winds. America's Tacoma Narrows Bridge incident was a painful example."
"However it's just this is indoors, who would actually spend that much money to perform resonating tests on some stationary thing?"
"Even if it was done, there would still be no results. Before we were all pushing the blame, as we all thought it was caused by the excessive weight from the formed ice."
"Yet who would've thought the problem would be with mechanical resonance." Xiao Jun ashamedly said: "This is knowledge in two completely different areas……"
"Let's forget about this right now." Wen Xiaowei cut in: "I'm sure everyone understands the seriousness of the situation. Since we've discovered the problem to be with the sky art framework, then we must seize the moment and fix it before the opening."
"Otherwise tomorrow at 9, we won't be able to start the exhibit, and that's damage to the image of our entire country."
"Mr. Xiao, you're a well-know architect within the country. That piece of sky art is also designed by your studio, so please help us come up with a possible solution."
Xiao Jun gravely nodded his head, sank into deep thought, walked back and forth from time to time, and even made several calls to the light steel maker to see if they had any stockpiles in storage.
Finishing the calls, he then asked his assistants to use simple calculations to estimate the structural strength of the entire sky art framework.
Messages came in one by one, and as they came in, Xiao Jun's forehead was slowly covered in sweat.
Pacing back and forth some more, frowning from time to time, followed by major enlightenment, then there was the disappointment of head shaking.
Finally Xiao Jun ashamedly said: "There's no other choice, these steel materials are all custom designed products. I just asked the producer, and they don't have much stockpiled. They don't even have enough to fix the damaged corner."
"To be honest, even if there was enough stockpiled, the framework was started a month ago as it was pieced together piece by piece by the welding team."
"So, as the matter stands, there's only one option left."
"What option?" Wen Xiaowei wiped his sweating forehead as he nervously asked.
"The main structure of the sky art is still fine, only a corner of it collapsed. We can fill in the corner with dry wall, and forget about pulling up another section of air conditioners."
"The destroyed booths also need to be immediately fixed."
"Then……" Xiao Jun ashamedly said: "Under every AC extractor, we'll need to place a supporting columns to support the weight of the extractors and the pipeline."
"We need approximately 300 steel columns. There isn't much time left, so the columns just need to be thick enough to bear the weight of the extractors and pipes."