CONTENT

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1 Title of experiment 1
2 Introduction 2

3 Objectives 3

4 Apparatus 4

5 Procedure 4

6 Result & Calculation 5-9

7 Discussion 10-11

8 Conclusion 12

9 Reference 13

0
TITLE

S2- Bending Moment

INTRODUCTION

It is known by us that a beam will support both shear and moment. Moment is
a rotational force that occurs when an external force is applied perpendicularly to
a point at a given distance away from the point. Bending moment, in the other
hand, is a moment that cause the bending of the beam.
Moment in a beam causes a rotation, which is clockwise and anticlockwise,
about the center of moments. Clockwise rotation, which can be considered as
positive, will cause sagging while the anticlockwise rotation, which can be
considered as negative, will cause hogging.
The bending moment at a section is the sum of the moments about that
section of all external forces acting to one side of the section. The forces and
moments on both sides of the section must be equal for it to be in an equilibrium
state and to balance out each other. It is to make sure that the same bending
moment will came out from summing all the moments, regardless of which side of
the section is selected. The bending moment of the beam is calculated by
multiplying the perpendicular force with the distance at which they are applied.
OBJECTIVE

To determine the bending moment at a particular section and compared with the
theoretical calculations.
APPARATUS

- Scale
- Simple supports
- Support Frame
- Weights
- Hanger
- Ruler
- Beam span

PROCEDURE

1) The knife edged supports was fixed on the beam span and tightly screwed to
the base.
2) The width, length and the thickness of the beam span were measured using
ruler.
3) The hangars were placed at a distance of 100 mm for hanger 1, 550 mm for
hangar 2 and 750 mm for hanger 3 measured from the left support in all cases.
4) Datum was measured without placing any load and made sure the beam was
straight.
5) The loads of 5 N, 10 N and 30 N was placed for case 1 in hangars 1, 2 and 3
respectively.
6) The loads of 5 N, 20 N and 40 N was placed for case 2 in hangars 1, 2 and 3
respectively.
7) The loads of 5 N, 15 N and 30 N was placed for case 3 in hangars 1, 2 and 3
respectively.
8) The reading was recorded for all the three cases after stabilizing the scale for
Bending moment measurement.
 RESULT

Bending moment for different cases involve different weight of load are shown
based on figure ;

W1 W2 W3

RB RA

Case W1 W2 W3 Balance Force RA (N) RB (N) Bending Moment (Nmm)

(N) (N) (N) Reading (N)
(N)
Experimental Theoretical

0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0

1. 5 10 30 29.0 17.0 13.333 31.667 5100.0 3499.9

2. 5 20 40 40.0 28.0 18.889 46.111 8400.0 5166.7

3. 20 0 0 37.0 25.0 15.278 34.722 7500.0 4083.4

 CALCULATION
Case 1

5N 10N 30N

550mm
750mm

RB RA

+ A
M = 0
RB (900) - 5(100) - 10(550) - 30(750) = 0
RB = 31.667 N

+Fy = 0

V RA - 5 - 10 - 30 + 31.667 = 0
RA = 13.333 N
5N

M
13.333 N

X = 300mm
+Fy = 0
13.333 - 5 - V = 0
V = 8.333 N

+M300 = 0
5(100) - 13.333(300) + M = 0
M = 3499.9 N.mm
Case 2
5N

20 N

40 N
 +
MA = 0
RB (900) - 5(100) - 20(550) - 40(750) = 0
RB = 46.111 N

+Fy = 0

V RA - 5 - 20 - 40 + 46.111 = 0
RA = 18.889 N
5N

M
18.889 N

X = 300mm

+Fy = 0
18.889 - 5 - V = 0
V = 13.889 N

+M300 = 0
5(100) - 18.887(300) + M = 0
M = 5166.7 N.mm
 Case 3

5N 15N 30N

RA RB

+
MA = 0
RB (900) - 5(100) - 15(550) - 30(750) = 0
RB = 34.722 N

+Fy = 0

V RA - 5 - 15 - 30 + 34.722 = 0
RA = 15.278 N
5N

M
15.278 N

X = 300mm

+Fy = 0
15.278 - 5 - V = 0
V = 10.278 N

+M300 = 0
5(100) - 15.278(300) + M = 0
M = 4083.4 N.mm
Percentage error of bending moment

Percentage error of bending moment for the respective cases can be determine
using the formula ;

theoretica l value - experiment al value

100
% error of bending moment = theoretica l value

Case 1

3499.9 5100.0
100 45.718%
% error of bending moment = 3499.9

Case 2

5166.7 8400.0
100 62.580%
% error of bending moment = 5166.7

Case 3

4083.4 7500.0
100 83.670%
% error of bending moment = 4083.4

Different percentage error is observed in all three cases, it is believed that some
inevitable error have been occurred throughout the experiment.
DISCUSSION

The stress and the strain are created throughout the interior of a beam when
the beam is loaded by a weight. When a moment is applied to the element, it will
bend thus producing a bending moment. The beam that bend downwards by the
force is producing a positive bending moment. Thus, the relationship between the
stress, bending moment and the load can be calculated. Based on experiment S2,
we required to determine the bending moment at a particular section across the
beam. Datum for all three cases were fixed with 12N.

Some assumptions are made in this experiment. The beam is assumed to be

initially straight without any bending. If the beam bends from the beginning it will
affect the results obtained in the experiment. The stress and strain relationship is
assumed linear and elastic. The readings that obtained from the spring balance are
assumed to be correct for the experimental of bending moment in each case. No
any other external force is applied on the beam other than the load applied on it.

For case 1 we put 5 N load at 100 mm , 10 N load at 550mm and 30 N load at

750mm away from the left-end side of the beam. The reading that we obtained
from the spring was 29 N and the experimental value that we obtained was 5100
N/mm. As for the theoretical value, we obtained 3499.9 N/mm. The percentage
error of bending moment between the experimental and theoretical value is
45.718%.

For case 2 we put 5 N load at 100 mm , 20 N load at 550mm and 40 N load at

750mm away from the left-end side of the beam. The reading that we obtained
from the spring was 40 N and the experimental value that we obtained was 8400
N/mm. As for the theoretical value, we obtained 5166.7 N/mm. The percentage
error of bending moment between the experimental and theoretical value is
62.580%.

For case 3 we put 5 N load at 100 mm , 15 N load at 550mm and 30 N load at

750mm away from the left-end side of the beam. The reading that we obtained
from the spring was 37 N and the experimental value that we obtained was 7500
N/mm. As for the theoretical value, we obtained 4083.4 N/mm. The percentage
error of bending moment between the experimental and theoretical value is
83.670%.

From what we obtained, the bending moment is directly proportional to the

loading at any section. The value that we obtained were all in positive value which
means when the loads applied make the beam bend downwards, thus a positive
bending moment is produced. The supports at the end however have no bending
moment. A 5N load is kept constant applied at 100mm away from the left end of
the beam for all three cases so that the datum value is always fixed at 12N. The
manipulated variable here is only the two loads that were applied at 550mm and
750mm away from the left end of the beam. With, that it is easier to compare the
value of bending moment for each case later. Comparing case 1, 2 and 3 shows
that beam in case 2 bends the most followed by beam in case 3 then case 1.
Hence, the larger the total load applied, results in larger bending moment.

As we observed from the result obtained, there is a huge difference between

the experimental value obtained and the theoretical value calculated. The
percentage error also increases from case 1 to case 3. We assumed that this occur
mostly due to the apparatus used. We had to manually adjust the spring balance
and balancing the beam using water level therefore this might contribute to human
error which also affects the result. Hence, there are several precautions should be
considered to reduce the percentage error. First, make sure the eye level is
perpendicular to the scale of instrument when taking reading to avoid parallax
error. This is important because parallax error results in taking the wrong readings.
Second, the condition of the apparatus should be check beforehand such as the
zero error. Third, avoid moving the apparatus while the experiment is being
carried out for example make sure the hanging load is in static condition before
taking the reading. Then, ensure the beam does not move from its initial position,
if it moves put it back correctly. Lastly, the best way to improve the result is
repeating the experiment at least three times and finds the mean values for the
readings.
CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we managed to determine the bending moment at a particular

point on the beam by calculating support reactions and applying the equations of
equilibrium for each axis and moment. The calculated value was then compared to
the experimental value that we obtained from the experiment. Hence, the value of
percentage error obtained were discussed. As the three cases were compared we
conclude that, the bending moment is directly proportional to the load applied.
The more the load applied, the beam will bend downwards more.
REFERENCES

Hibbeler, R. C. (2013). Mechanics of materials (9th ed.). Buona Vista, Singapore:

Pearson Prentice Hall.

Rattan, S. S. (2008). Strength of materials. Patel Nagar, New Delhi: Tata

McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited.

Bansal, R. K. (2010). A textbook of strength of materials in S.I Units (4th ed.).

Daryaganj, New Delhi: Laxmi Publications.

Shear force and bending moment. (2000, October 5). Retrieved from
http://people.virginia.edu/~pjm8f/engr162/beam/shear_force_and_bending_m
oment.htm