greybeard
Herd Master
So many questions an so much food for thought...
In this case, I agree with using panels or corral panels in the 14' areas.
But, to get back to this:
This, is one of those illusionary things that make us think short runs of fence won't need as much bracing as a long run.
It's a false assumption most of the time, but always, if the posts can't be planted very deep.
When we stretch wire, we do exactly that--we are pulling it and making it longer than it is when it came off the roll--hence the 'stretching' term. This puts a tension or strain into the wire, and it being somewhat elastic (wants to return to it's original length) that strain is always there with modern wire, whether it is barbed, slick or any of the woven/knotted/welded wires. The 2 end posts have to be able to take this strain without leaning in toward each other.
Stretch. All wire stretches, even HT, and it all/each stretches a set amt per foot for any given type of wire. The longer the wire, the more total stretch (elongation) that takes place. When it stops elongating, it's tight. Beyond that is the wire's breaking point.
What we think, vs what is reality...
We think, because a run is 100 ft long, that there is more strain on the wire than if it were only 10 ft long.
False. The strain or tension itself is the same for both run lengths (assuming both runs were stretched with the same force in approx foot lbs of pull) . Why do we think this? Because we are mistakenly considering the weight of the wire instead of the strain, but the large % of that weight of the wire is supported by all the line posts in between the two ends, (and by the ground in the case of field fence) while the strain is still being borne only by the end posts. The only weight the end (or corner) posts feels is the distance between it and the first line post, and that's very little compared to the tension or strain.
Just pulling a number out of the air for illustration purposes..
When the fence is up and line posts all in and you have put 150 ft lbs of strain on a 14' long wire segment, and do the same for a 140' long wire segment, and each has the needed line posts installed, which segment has the most strain on the end posts?
Answer=both are equally stressed. 150 ft lbs of strain is 150 ft lbs of strain regardless of how long the wire is.
Therefore, the 14' long sections need the same bracing a longer run needs.
In this case, I agree with using panels or corral panels in the 14' areas.
But, to get back to this:
This, is one of those illusionary things that make us think short runs of fence won't need as much bracing as a long run.
It's a false assumption most of the time, but always, if the posts can't be planted very deep.
When we stretch wire, we do exactly that--we are pulling it and making it longer than it is when it came off the roll--hence the 'stretching' term. This puts a tension or strain into the wire, and it being somewhat elastic (wants to return to it's original length) that strain is always there with modern wire, whether it is barbed, slick or any of the woven/knotted/welded wires. The 2 end posts have to be able to take this strain without leaning in toward each other.
Stretch. All wire stretches, even HT, and it all/each stretches a set amt per foot for any given type of wire. The longer the wire, the more total stretch (elongation) that takes place. When it stops elongating, it's tight. Beyond that is the wire's breaking point.
What we think, vs what is reality...
We think, because a run is 100 ft long, that there is more strain on the wire than if it were only 10 ft long.
False. The strain or tension itself is the same for both run lengths (assuming both runs were stretched with the same force in approx foot lbs of pull) . Why do we think this? Because we are mistakenly considering the weight of the wire instead of the strain, but the large % of that weight of the wire is supported by all the line posts in between the two ends, (and by the ground in the case of field fence) while the strain is still being borne only by the end posts. The only weight the end (or corner) posts feels is the distance between it and the first line post, and that's very little compared to the tension or strain.
Just pulling a number out of the air for illustration purposes..
When the fence is up and line posts all in and you have put 150 ft lbs of strain on a 14' long wire segment, and do the same for a 140' long wire segment, and each has the needed line posts installed, which segment has the most strain on the end posts?
Answer=both are equally stressed. 150 ft lbs of strain is 150 ft lbs of strain regardless of how long the wire is.
Therefore, the 14' long sections need the same bracing a longer run needs.
But that is why I asked it here in a "generic" bracing thread. Figured if I was wrong, others who read later can be disabused of the same hope. I don't know how one WOULD brace two corners that close together. I guess you would have to stuff a post in the middle and make a double H though at 7' it seems the brace wire angle would be steeper than it should to not put more upward pressure on the posts.
Any piece of equipment that isn't needed just gets moved there and the occupied space grows over the years. I've seen some farms you'd think they had their own junk yard. 
