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About This Tool
This tool computes the curvature of a elastic rod (e.g. tent pole) compressed between two endpoints and compares it to a simpler approximation using a parabolic curve. This can be used for designing dome tents, tunnel tents, etc.
Full credit for this calculation goes to Willmac8 at Physics forum for the original code, which was converted to Python by /u/bbhank on Reddit. I have just converted the Python script to Javascript for this page, and added the parabola comparison with a nice plot and data table.
Input Parameters (use consistent units):
- Width: The distance between the endpoints (must be less than length).
- Length: The length of the pole to compress between the two endpoints.
- Steps: The number of coordinate points to calculate (higher = smoother curve).
Example lengths from a 2 pole dome tent: 3.5m long pole, 2.5m between pole fixing points.
Download 1:1 Scale SVG Template
Generate a 1:1 scale SVG file of the elastic rod curve. Ensure the units below match the units you used for the inputs above.
