ME2113 1

DEFLECTION AND BENDING STRESSES IN

BEAMS

09/09/2012

LAB REPORT

Group 2L1
Low Kah Hou
A0084776M

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING

INTRODUCTION
Beams are one of the commonest components encountered in structures. In most cases, they
are transversely loaded and thus undergo bending. Bending induces stresses in a beam and
causes it to deflect. In the design and analysis of beam-type structures, the stresses and
deflections generated must be examined to ascertain that they are within acceptable limits.
Simple beam theory provides expressions for the calculation of these quantities. This
experiment provides the means to investigate how beam theory can be applied in practice.

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE

1) To study the application of beam theory in practice by subjecting a cantilever to
various point loads and examining resulting stresses and deflection.

2) To calculate the Youngs Modulus and Poissons Ratio of the beam material.

3) To investigate in terms of their relation to each other in accordance to beam theory,

the magnitude and signs of the strains and stresses at two locations along the
cantilever beam.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Part I
1.1

Identify the strain quantity (i.e. xx1 , zz1 ,xx2 or zz2 ) measured by each gauge and the
channel to which it is connected on the switching box.

1.2

With no loads on the hanger, set the dial gauge reading to zero.

1.3

Select a channel on the switching box for the first set of strain gauge readings and zero
the strain meter.

1.4

Load the beam in four steps of 250g weight increments and record the deflection of the
load point and the reading of the strain gauge selected [note whether the strain readings
are positive (tensile) or negative (compressive)]. Record the deflection and strain
readings upon unloading as a check.

1.5

Select the other channels in turn, zero the dial gauge if necessary and repeat the
loading/unloading process together with the recording of deflection and strain readings.

1.6

Tabulate all the readings and plot the following:

Graph 1 -

Load P against vertical deflection v . From the slope of this graph and
Eqn. (7), calculate Youngs modulus E of the beam material.

Graph 2 -

zz1 against xx1 and zz2 against xx2. From the slope of the lines, calculate
Poissons ratio using Eqn. (6).

Graph3 -

Load P against xx1. Calculate the slope of this graph.

Graph 4 -

Determine, using Eqn. (1), the bending moment magnitudes at the two
strain gauge locations, x = d1 and x = d2 , for each of the four applied
loads. Then, use Eqn. (2) or (3) to calculate the theoretical magnitude
of the longitudinal stresses (xx1 and xx2) at the beam surface (y = h/2)
for the four loads. Use these four pairs of stress values to plot four
lines showing the theoretical variation of maximum longitudinal stress
with location along the beam (i.e. xx against x ).

From the magnitudes of the longitudinal strain readings (xx1 and xx2)
corresponding to the four values of applied load, calculate the
corresponding experimental stress magnitudes (xx1 and xx2) using the
value of E derived from Graph 1 and Eqn. (5). Plot these experimental
points on the same graph with the four lines showing the theoretical
variation of maximum stress with beam location.

Part II

Attach the gripper to the end of the beam (Fig. 2) and grip the gripper as tight as possible.

Record the highest reading xx1 of strainmeter, and evaluate your handgrip force.

Fig 2.

DISCUSSION
1) xx1 is the axial strain at the top of the surface where y = h/2 while xx2 is the axial strain at
the bottom of the surface where y = -h/2. When the beam is loaded where x = L, force P is
acting downwards. The top surface experiences tensile in the axial direction, while the bottom
surface experiences compression in the axial direction. Therefore, xx1 is positive and xx2 is
negative.
zz1 is the transverse strain at the top surface while zz2 is the transverse strain at the bottom

zz
surface. By Poisson ratio

xx
xx
E

, hence, at the top surface, tension in the

axial direction will lead to a compression in the transverse direction while at the bottom
surface, compression in the axial direction will lead to tensile in the transverse direction.
Therefore, zz1 is negative and zz2 is positive.

2) Graph 4 shows linear negative slopes hence indicates that as the distance x increases, axial
stress at the top surface decreases linearly. This is because as the bending moment Mxz
magnitude gets smaller from the fixed end towards x direction, axial stress xx magnitude
decreases too as it is proportionate to Mxz. The beam is also made of a linearly elastic
material. The slopes get steeper when the load increases as the bending moment at the fixed
end is higher when load increases. The slopes are also steeper for theoretical stress as
compared to the experimental stress for the same loads. The difference is greater as the load
gets heavier. This may be due to the experimental error. All the lines converge to a same point

 xx
where x = 250mm and

= 0. Hence this implies that the axial stress at the top surface

decreases linearly as the x distance from the built-in-end increases.

3) The accuracy of calculating my handgrip force is low as- a constant highest handgrip could
not be maintained due causing the reading to be fluctuating, hence only an estimate reading
can be taken. As the calculation is based on the gradient of Graph 3, the upper limit of the
linear line only extended to 14.71N of load force. Any greater load may exceed its linear
elastic plastic deformation limit hence axial strain will not increase linearly anymore with the
increase in load. Thus this may lead to a miscalculation of my handgrip force.

CONCLUSION
By subjecting a cantilever with varying point loads and examining the resulting stresses and
deflection at different positions, one can study the application of beam theory in practice. I
am able to calculate the Youngs modulus and Poissons ratio of the beam mathematically.
The magnitudes and directions of the strains and stresses along the beam were also examined
to find out their inter relationship and that with the beam theory. I am also able to calculate
my handgrip force by applying the beam theory too. All objectives have been met with no
anomalous result with little disparity between the experimental and theoretical results.