ME2114-1 STRAIN GAUGE TECHNIQUE

Name :Wei Yi Matriculation number: U095178R

Department of Mechanical Engineering National University of Singapore

1. Objectives
a) Introduce students to the use of certain measuring equipments commonly found in the applied mechanics laboratories. b) In this case a cantilever beam is used as an object to illustrate the use of a strain meter. The results are future used to study the static behavior of a cantilever beam under a point load at the free end

2. Data and plots a) Datasheet is attached at the end of report. b) Plots

1) P against YL
1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 y = 0.358x - 0.0045 R = 0.9999

2) Theoretical and experimental P against A

The upper line is theoretical data and bottom line is experimental data.
1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 50 100 150 200 250 y = 0.0073x - 0.0311 R = 0.9998

3) P against AB
1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 100 200 300 400 500 y = 0.0037x - 0.0136 R = 1

4) P against e
1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 y = 0.0049x - 0.0181 R = 1

5) P against 1
1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 y = 0.0049x - 0.0177 R = 1

3. Sample calculations
Use the first set of data as sample. We have the equation: 1 = e + g + 0.5[(e g)2 + (2f e g)2 ]0.5 2

And for the first set of data, e= 55, g= -16.5, f= 19 So we can get 1 = 55.0087.

From plot 1, the slope is 0.358 which is P/YL. As we have the equation: P=Ebt3YL/4L3 and we have b=25.6mm, t=6.06mm and L=0.3m We can get E= 67.87 GPa To calculate the theoretical A, we have the equation: P=Ebt2/3L*A And we have b=25.6mm, t= 6.06mm L= 0.3m and theoretical E= 70GPa. We can get theoretical A= 34.2.

4. Discussions
a) Both the theoretical and experimental P against A have been plotted in the same plot as plot 2. The slope and shape of the line is relatively similar and the minor error might because of: The equipments are relatively old and the size might not be very accuracy as needed which might affect the results. While taking readings, the readings were vibrating in a range instead of one number which might cause inaccuracy. When doing the experiment, the table might be shaking in a really small degree which might also cause errors. b) The slope of plot 4 and 5 are almost same as 0.004. c) In this experiment, I used average value of loading and unloading of A, e, f and g to minimize the inaccuracy and errors and make the results more accurate.

5. Conclusion
After doing the experiment, we have gained more understanding of several measuring equipments commonly used in applied mechanics laboratories. By using and studying the cantilever beam as object, we are now more familiar with the static behavior of a cantilever beam under a point load at the free end. Our experimental results are similar with theoretical data and objectives have been met.