A question for the engineering/physics/geometry (?) guys

[iamgigglz]

Two steel poles, 2m long, to be erected as shown, bolted together at the top - I guess the rear pole will stick out the top a bit. That's fine.

The red line is a rope that'll have around 100kg pulling on it, 30deg from the horizontal.
There's the option of having a counterweight hanging vertically from any point along either steel pole.
The steel poles are not embedded in the ground at all and are able to pivot on their bases.

Is there a "best case" combination of angles and/or rope attachment points that will evenly distribute the load between the two poles and potentially negate the need for a counterweight?

 

[pɐlΛ‾pɐq‾ƃᴉq]

Not sure I understand what you are asking but GLHF

 

[Off-The-Chart]

hmmmm

I think I have the wrong idea of "pivot", but still don't see how 2m long poles bolted together at the top can do that on their bases?

what is a top down perspective of this?

 

[WiZard]

hmmmm

I think I have the wrong idea of "pivot", but still don't see how 2m long poles bolted together at the top can do that on their bases?

what is a top down perspective of this?

I don't think the poles will be actively pivoting, the pivots are just there to ensure that the forces are in line with the poles, so that there are no "bending" forces on them.

Best would be to draw a force triangle for the top bolting point? The left pole will be under tension and the right under compression, so you will not be able to "balance" them, the left one can be a LOT thinner than the right one (if it is clamped at the top point, it can even be a cable...).

 

[iamgigglz]

Ok so I think that really old bottle of wine I found at the back of the liquor cabinet was affecting my head when I posted this.
Thanks for the replies.

The left pole will be under tension and the right under compression, so you will not be able to "balance" them

Duh. As soon as I set this up and started pulling on it I realised the error of my ways. The only way the compression force on both poles could be equal is if they were both parallel to the 30deg pull.

This was for a hammock in my garden. I have one that I normally use when I go on solo camping trips. Issue is I don't have two trees close enough together. I got myself two 2m pieces of angle iron, bolted them together at one end and set them up in a shallow triangle in line with the hammock. Two guy ropes coming off the apex at 90deg stop the frame falling over left or right.

Thanks for entertaining this old/tired/drunk/cabin-fevered brain.
As you were.