Stake Boom

[BenGman]

Not that it changes anything, but I think the fulcrum is all the way at the bottom of the stake. But then, I'm not a ME, either.

For the sake of argument, the fulcrum point will be at the highest point that the soil has the strength to support the stake and not allow it to "cut in" any farther. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

If the soil in front of the top part of the stake is weak but the soil behind the bottom part of the stake is strong (e.g. a rock in the way), the stake will not move forward/pivot at the fulcrum in the line of tension (only if it the stake bends under the pressure).

A fulcrum point then can be anywhere along the length of the stake so using a "middle point" as an average position is good in Alamosa's original concept.