Experiment 7: Deflection of beams (Effect of beam length and

width)
1. OBJE!"#E
The objective of this laboratory experiment is to find the relationship between the
deflection (y) at the centre of a simply supported beam and the span, width.
$. %&!E'"&() * &++&'&!,)
Steel Beams, Deflection measurin device, !"" weiht
-. ".!'OD,!O'/ ".0O'%&!"O.
The deflection of a beam, y, will depend on many factors such as# $
The applied load % (%&m').
The span (.
The width of the beam b, and its thic)ness h.
*ther factors such as position, method of loadin, the material of which the beam is
made will also influence the deflection.
+f we wish to find the relationship between y and one of the possible variables it is
necessary to )eep all the other possible variables constant throuhout the
experiment.
-.1 (ength calc1lation
+n this experiment the same beam is used throuhout and the centrally applied point
load is )ept constant.
Thus )eepin all possible variables other than the deflection y and the span L
constant we may investiate the relationship between y and L.
(et yL
n
where n is to be found
Then y & )'(
n
where ) is a constant
Ta)in loarithms#
lo y & n lo ( , lo ) which is in the straiht line form (y & mx , -).
Thus plottin loy aainst lo ( will ive a straiht$line raph of slope .n/ and .)/ may
be determined.
-.$ 2idth calc1lation
+n this experiment beams of the same material but of different width are used. The
span and loadin are )ept the same for each beam. 0ence )eepin all possible
variables other than width and deflection constant the relationship between y and b is
determined.
(et yb
n
where n is to be found.
Then y & )'b
n
where ) is a constant.
Ta)in loarithms,
lo y & n lo b , lo ) which is in the straiht line from # (y & mx , -).
Thus plottin loy aainst lo b will ive a straiht line of slope .n/ and .1/ may be
determined.
3.1 +'OED,'E ((ength calc1lation)
a) 2ar) the centre of the beam on each side of this point mar) off distances off
!"", 3"", 4""" mm.
b) 5ith a span of !"" mm measure the heiht of the central point on the
deflection $measurin device. 6pply a central load of !"" and measure the
new heiht.
c) 7epeat 8 for spans of 3"", 4""".
d) 9nter your results in the table below and complete the table
e) :lot the raph of lo y aainst lo ( with lo y on the .y/ axis and lo( on the
.x/ axis.
f) Draw the mean straiht line of the raph and measure its slope to determine
n.
3.1.1 'es1lts
&4& 2idth b
(mm)
(ength (
(mm)
Deflection 5
(mm)
(og( (og5
4
;"
8
;
<
!
3
S(*:9 & n & y(
n

3.$ +'OED,'E (2idth calc1lation)
a) 2ar) the beams with the same span so that they will be supported near their
ends and also mar) the mid point of the span.
b) Ta)e the beam of larest width, measure the width with the vernier -alipers.
c) Support the beam at the two mar)ed supportin points and measure the
heiht of the mid$point with the deflection measurin device.
d) 6pply the !"" load as the mid point and once aain measure the heiht at
the centre.
e) 7epeat 8, ;, and < for each beam.
f) 9nter your results in the table below and complete the table.
) :lot the raph of loy aainst lob with loy on the .y/ axis and lob on the .x/
axis.
h) Draw the mean straiht line of the raph and measure its slope to determine
n.
3.$.1 'es1lts
&4& (ength
( (mm)
2idth b
(mm)
Deflection 5
(mm)
(ogb (og5
4
=""
8
;
<
!
3
S(*:9 & n & yb
n

6. 7,E)!"O.)
:lot the raph of lo y aainst lo ( with lo y on the .y/ axis and lo( on the
.x/ axis. Determine slope n. 0ow does your result compare with the enerally
accepted relationship>
:lot the raph of loy aainst lob with loy on the .y/ axis and lob on the .x/
axis. Determine slope n. 0ow does your result compare with the enerally
accepted relationship>
-alculate the correspondin deflections y, durin lenth calculation (b has
constant value), accordin to the formula shown below.
-alculate the correspondin deflections y, durin width calculation (b has
variables values), accordin to the formula shown below.
-ompare the observed and calculated values of deflections y.
h=0.004 m
=
% ? (
;
y
< = ? 9 ? +
L = length of beam (m)
y = deflection of beam (m)
F = force (N)
E = Young's Modulus (N/m
2
)
I = moment of inertia of beam (m
4
)
Experiment 8: Deflection of beams (%aca1la59s %ethod)
1. OBJE!"#E
To determine experimentally the deflection at two points on a simply$supported beam
carryin point loads and to chec) the results by 2acaulay@s method.
$. &++&'&!,)
Beam deflection apparatus, steel beam, two dial test$indicators and stands,
micrometer, rule, two haners, weihts.
-. +'OED,'E (Experimental)
6ssemble the apparatus as shown in fi. 4 with the beam simply supported at its
ends 6 and B. :lace load haners at point - and D distant a and b
5
4
5
8
A
4
A
8
6 B - D B
7
4
b 7
8
l
Figure 1
7espectively from end 6. Select two points C and A approximately in positions
shown in the fiure and set up the dial aues to bear at these points on the upper
surface of the beam. Dero the dial aues with the haners in position.
6pply suitable loads 5
4
and 5
8
at - and D respectively and note the deflections at C
and A as indicated by the dial aues. 7ecord the values of 5
4
and 5
8
and the
correspondin deflections at C and A. S)etch the arranement and indicate on the
s)etch the distances a, b, and l. 6lso the distances of points C and A from end 6.
2easure the cross$sectional dimensions of the beam, usin a micrometer.
-alculate the deflections at C and A, usin 2acaulay@s method and compare the
values with the observed results.
3. !:EO'/
-onsider the simply$supported beam loaded as shown in fi.8.
5
4
5
8
C
6 B - D B
7
6
b 7
B
x l
Figure 2
%or values of x between b and l
( ) ( ) b x W a x W x R M
l A XX
=
2
(i)
%or values of x between a and b
( ) a x W x R M
l A XX
=
(ii)
%or values of x between o and a
x R M
A XX
= (iii)
9n. (i) ives the bendin moment at any section of the beam provided brac)eted
terms are discarded when they become neative. %or this reason, the brac)eted
terms are )nown as the .2acaulay Ehost Terms/.
Since M
dx
y d
EI =
2
2
9+ ) ( ) (
2 1
2
2
b x W a x W x R
dx
y d
A
= (iv)
+n 2acauley@s method, the brac)eted terms are interraded as a whole. This is
justified since

=
1
) (
x
x
x
dx a x

1
2
) ( ) (
x
x
a x d a x

9+ A b x
W
a x
W x
R
dx
dy
A
+ =
2 2
2
) (
2
2
) (
2 2
(v)
9+y B AX b x
W
a x
W x
R
A
+ + =
3 3
3
) (
6
2
) (
6
1
6
(vi)
By interatin the brac)eted Fuantities as a whole, the constants 6 and B have the
same values for all values of x.
This may be shown to be the case as follows#
:ut x & a in eFn. (v) and omit the term in (x$b) since it is then neative.
Then, A a a
WI a
R
dx
dy
EI
A
+ =
2
2
) (
2 2
A
a
R
A
+ =
2
2
%or values of x between o and a
9+ x R
dx
y d
A
=
2
2
+nteratin
9+
1
2
2
A
x
R
dx
dy
A
+ =
:uttin x & a
9+
1
2
2
A
a
R
dx
dy
A
+ =
Since the two eFuations concern the slope dyGdx at the same point that the constants
6 and 6
4
must be eFual. Similarly by puttin x & b it may be shown that the constant
is aain 6.
The actual values of the constants 6 and B are obtained from the boundary
conditions, that is, in eFn. (vi)#
y & o when x & o and
y & o when x & 4
+n the particular case considered, B & o.
6. +'OED,'E (alc1lations)
a) Set up an expression for the bendin moment for any section in the extreme
riht$hand panel of the beam, measurin x from the left$hand end. :ut in
sFuare brac)ets, the Hhost@
b) +nterate to obtain the slope eFuation and aain to obtain the deflection
eFuation and aain to obtain the deflection eFuation, addin the constants 6
and B respectively at each stae. +nterate the Hhost@ terms as a whole.
c) -alculate the constants 6 and B from the condition that the deflection y is
Iero at the two values of x correspondin with the supports. *mit neative
Hhost@ terms.
d) To determine slope or deflection at a particular point on the beam substitute
the correspondin value of x in the appropriate expression and omit any
Hhost@ term which may become neative.
6.1 'es1lts
5idth of beam, b (m)
Thic)ness of beam, d (m)
Span, l (m)
(oad 5
4
()
(oad 5
8
()
Distance a (m)
Distance b (m)
Deflection at A
4
(mm)
Deflection at A
8
(mm)
Aoun@s 2odulus, 9 & 84" E:a (assumed)
6.$ alc1lations
Second moment of area of beam cross$section +&
4
3
12
m
bd
=
7eaction 7
6
&JJJJJJJJ 7eaction 7
B
&JJJJJJJJ..
%lexural riidity 9+ &
By means of 2acaulay@s method calculate the deflection at the points C and A usin
the appropriate values of x and tabulate the results, as follows#
+oint
Obser;ed
Deflection
alc1lated
Deflection
4
8
<. O.(,)"O.
-ompare the observed and calculated values of deflection at the two points and
comment on probable causes of discrepancy.