TITLE

Deflection of a Simple Supported Beam

OBJECTIVE :
1) To observe the deflection of a simple supported beam with variable loads.
2) To find the relationship between the deflection of a simple supported beam and the
variable length of the beam.

INTRODUCTION :
A beam is a length of material supported at its two ends, in such a way so as to
bear loads. The load perpendicular to its longitudinal axis will result in bending and, in
most cases, transverse shearing. In the simplest of situations, the beam is taken to have a
rectangular cross-section and the loads and supporting reactions act in the vertical plane
containing the longitudinal axis. The loads and the reactions at the supports are
considered external forces and they must be in equilibrium for the entire beam to be in
equilibrium. To study the strength of the beam, it is necessary to know how these external
forces affect it. As in the theory appendix, the mathematical approach is to assume that
an imaginary transverse section cuts the beam into two parts, and then to examine the
equilibrium of each part. To maintain the equilibrium, certain forces must be introduced
at the point of cut. When the cut is not present, these forces must continue to exist
internally in the material of the beam. Before the slope or the displacement at a point on a
beam (or shaft) is determined, it is often helpful to sketch the deflected shape of the beam
when it is loaded, in order to “visualize” any computed result and thereby partially check
these results. The deflection diagram of the longitudinal axis that passes through the
centroid of each cross-sectional area of the beam is called the elastic curve. For most
beams the elastic curve can be sketched without much difficulty. When doing so,
however, it is necessary to know how the slope or displacement is restricted at various
types of supports. In general, supports that resist a force, such as a fixed wall, restrict
displacement, and those that resist a moment, such as a fixed wall, restrict rotation or
slope. Due to the nature characteristic of the materials, when a force acting on a long
beam, the force will cause the beam to bend. If the force is acting downwards, the
moments at the two ends will act upwards and same for the opposite way.

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THEORY :
In this experiment, we will examine the deflection of a simply beam subjected to
an increasing point load. We will also vary the beam length by changing the distance
between the supports. This means we can find out the relationship between the deflection
and the length of the beam.

From the figure 1, we have:

1 = - (1)
 y

If the material is homogeneous and behaves in a linear-elastic manner, then  =  /

E. Also, since the flexure formula applies,  = - My/L. Combining these equations and
substituting into equation (1), we have,
1 = M (2)
 EI

Where,  = the radius of curvature at a specific point on the elastic curve (1/ is
Referred to as the curvature)
M = the internal moment in the beam at the point where  is to be determined
E = the material’s modulus of elasticity
I = the beam’s moment of inertia computed about the neutral axis

The elastic curve for a beam can be expressed mathematically as v = f(x). To

obtain this equation, we must first represent the curvature (1/p) in terms of v and x. In
most calculate books, it is shown that this relationship is

1 = d2v/dx2 (3)
 [1 + (dv/dx)2]3/2

substituting equation (2) into equation (3), we get

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 d2v/dx2 = M (4)
[1 + (dv/dx)2]3/2 EI

The above equation gives a non-linear second-order differential equation. Its

solution, which is called the elastic, gives the exact shape of the elastic curve, assuming,
of course, that beam deflections occur only due to bending.

In order to solve most of the deflection problems, equation (4) can be modified by
written as :
d2v = M (5)
2
dx EI

A B

P/2 P/2

Figure 2 : The apparatus in this experiment

x
M

P/2

Figure 3 : Segment AB

+ M = 0 , M – Px/2 = 0
M = Px/2

From equation 5, EI d2v/dx2 = M

= Px/2
EI dv/dx = Px2 / 4 + C1

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 EIv = Px3 / 12 + C1x + C2 (6)

The constant of integration are obtained by applying the boundary condition v = 0 at x =

0,
and the symmetry condition that dv/dx = 0 at x = L/2. This leads to

C1 = PL2 / 16 and C2 = 0

Substitutes inside equation (6),

Hence, EI v = Px3 / 12 + PL2x / 16

The maximum deflection happened at x = L/2, we have

EIv = P(L/2)3 / 12  PL2(L/2) / 16

EIv = PL3 / 96  PL3 / 32
EIv =  PL3 / 48 (7)

Modifying equation (7) that y-axis is positive downwards, and P = W in this experiment,

EIv = WL3 / 48

v = WL3 (8)
48 EI

where W = Load (N);

L = Distance between the two support (m);
E = Young’s modulus for cantilever material (Nm-2);
I = Second moment of area of the cantilever (m4)

In this experiment,

I = bd3 / 12

where, b = width (m)

d = depth (m)

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APPARATUS :

1. TQ Deflection of Beams
2. Cantilevers
3. Aluminium beam
4. Steel beam
5. Brass beam
6. Vernier gauge
7. Knife-edge
8. Digital dial test indicator
9. Variable loads

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PROCEDURE :
Part 1

Figure 3: Simply supported beam set-up and

schematic (fixed beam with variable load)

1. A vernier gauge is used to measure the width and the depth of the mild steel test
beam. The values are recorded next to the results table and they are used to calculate
the second moment of the area, I by using the formula given in the theory above.

2. Any clamps from the backboard are removed. The length L is set to 400 mm, and the
beam is set up as shown in figure 3.

3. The digital dial test indicator is slide into position on the beam and is locked by using
the thumbnut at the rear.

4. A knife-edge hanger is slide to the position shown. The frame is tapped lightly. The digital
dial test indicator is set to zero by using the ‘origin’ button.

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5. Masses are applied to the knife-edge hanger in the increments from 0 to 500 g.

6. The frame is tapped lightly each time, and the digital dial test indicator readings are
recorded for each increment of mass. Theoretical deflection is computed too.

7. All the readings are recorded into a table.

8. A graph of Deflection versus Applied Mass for a simply supported beam is plotted
according to the readings from the tables.

9. The procedures of 1 – 8 are repeated by substituted the brass test beam for mild steel
test beam.

Part 2

Figure 4 : Simply supported beam set-up and

schematic (fixed beam load with variable length)

1. The beam is set up with the length (that is, distance between knife-edge supports) at
200 mm. The digital dial test indicator and load hanger is ensured that still central to
the beam, as shown in figure 4.

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2. The frame is tapped lightly and the digital dial test indicator is set to be zero using the
‘origin’ button. A 500 g mass is applied and the deflections are recorded.

3. The procedure is repeated for each increment of beam length. All the readings are
recorded into a table.

4. A graph Deflection versus length, L3 is plotted.

5. The procedures of 1 – 4 are repeated by substituted the brass test beam for mild steel
test beam.

RESULT:

Part 1

Steel
Modulus of Elasticity, E = 207 GNm-2

Width b = (18.9+19.0+18.9) /  mm
= 18.93 mm

Depth d = (.5+.4+.5) / 3 mm
= .47 mm

I = m4
= 6.59 x 10-11 m4

Mass (g) Actual Actual Actual Theoretical

deflection deflection deflection deflection (mm)
(mm) (mm) (mm)
1 2 Average
0 0 0 0 0
100 0.08 0.10 0.090 0.096
200 0.21 0.22 0.215 0.191
300 0.34 0.34 0.340 0.288
400 0.46 0.46 0.460 0.384
500 0.59 0.58 0.585 0.479

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 Graph of Deflection (mm) Versus
Applied Mass (g)

0.8
Deflection (mm)

0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2 0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Applied Mass (g)

Steel

From the graph deflection versus applied mass,

Gradient, kS = (0.585 – 0.340) / (500 – 300)

= 1.225 x 10-3 mm/g

Brass

Modulus of Elasticity, E = 105 GNm-2

Width b = (19.2+19.2+19.2) / 3 mm
= 19.2 mm

Depth d = (3.2+3.3+3.3) / 3 mm
= 3.27 mm

I = m4
= 5.59x 10-11 m4

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 Mass (g) Actual Actual Actual Theoretical
deflection deflection deflection deflection (mm)
(mm) (mm) (mm)
1 2 Average
0 0 0 0 0
100 0.26 0.25 0.255 0.223
200 0.55 0.47 0.510 0.446
300 0.79 0.75 0.770 0.669
400 1.05 1.05 1.050 0.891
500 1.30 1.29 1.295 1.114

Graph of Deflection (mm) Versus

Applied Mass (g)

1.5
Deflection (mm)

0.5

0
0 200 400 600
-0.5
Applied Mass (g)

Brass

From the graph deflection versus applied mass,

Gradient, kBr = (1.295 – 0.510) / (500 – 200)

= 2.62 x 10-3 mm/g

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Part 2

Steel

W = 0.5  9.81
= 4.905 N

Length,L (mm) L3 (x10-3m3) Actual Theoretical

Deflection, (mm) Deflection, (mm)
200 8.00 0.09 0.06
250 15.63 0.17 0.12
300 27.00 0.28 0.20
350 42.88 0.43 0.32
400 64.00 0.58 0.48
450 91.13 0.93 0.68
500 125.00 1.31 0.94

Graph of Deflection (mm) Versus

Length of Beam (mm)

1.5
Deflection (mm)

1
0.5
0
-0.5 0 200 400 600
Length of Beam (mm)

Steel
From the graph deflection versus length of beam,

Gradient, kS = (0.93 – 0.17) / (450 – 250)

= 3.80 x 10-3

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Brass

W = 0.5  9.81
= 4.905 N

Length,L (mm) L3 (x10-3m3) Actual Deflection, Theoretical

(mm) Deflection, (mm)
200 8.00 0.15 0.14
250 15.63 0.30 0.27
300 27.00 0.57 0.47
350 42.88 0.92 0.75
400 64.00 1.29 1.11
450 91.13 1.88 1.59
500 125.00 2.64 2.18

Graph of Deflection (mm) Versus

Length of Beam (mm)

3
deflection (mm)

2
1
0
-1 0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Length of Beam (mm)

Brass
From the graph deflection versus length of beam,

Gradient, kS = (1.88 – 0.30) / (450 – 250)

= 7.90 x 10-3

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DISCUSSION :

For part 1, from the results above, we can conclude that the deflection increased
as the applied mass increased for all the beams (aluminium beam, brass beam and steel
beam) . But, the values we gained from the experiment (actual deflection) were different
from the theoretical calculations (theoretical deflection).

For part 2, there is logical that when the length of the beam is increasing, the
deflection of the beam will increase too. It means that the longer length of the beam will
cause the greater of the deflection of the beam.

The value for actual deflection and theoretical deflection are different by a small value.
The factors that would cause the errors above are as below :

1. Temperature.
Temperature is one of the main factor that cause the errors because high temperature
would cause the specimen to expand, and soften the specimen. In most of the factory,
the theoretical Young’s modulus is obtained on 28C experimentally.

2. Oxidation layer on the beams’ surface.

The second factor is the oxidation layer on the beams’ surface that might harden the
specimens. For example, Aluminium oxide is harder than Aluminium. The layer might
affect the deflection too. So the accuratecy of the experiment is not very high.

3. The level of the beams.

The third factor is the level of the beams. If the beam is imbalance. The reactions
occurred on the two supports is different. So, the moment on the segment will be
affected. Therefore, the equation can not applied under this circumstance.

4. The impurity of the cantilevers.

The forth factor is the impurity of the cantilevers that may cause the change of the
Young’s modulus. The bigger or smaller substance, or holes inside the cantilever may
soften or harden it. Then, the deflection may also affected too.

5. Length of the cantilevers.

The fifth factor is the length of the cantilever.If the length of the cantilever is too long
and the the distance between the two supports is short, the end of the beam will react

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 on the endwise because of the force applied by the weight of the beam. The extract
forces might affect the deflection.
The apparatus can be modified to obtain a better results: -

1. The weight for each mass is too small. If there is a small error occurred on each mass,
there will become a big error when they are gathered.
So, to solve the problem, larger weight of mass(100g @ 200g each) should be used.

2. A level should added to the backboard and the backboard is movable so that we can
adjust the two supports so that they are at the same level before starting the
experiment.

3. Two more supports should added to the backboard to balance the weight occurred on
the endwise of the beam.

Examples
In real life, the study of deflection is very useful. In some cases, this type of
bending is desirable. For examples, in constructing bridges and buildings. A beam is used
as a supporter in building a bridge. The beams are bent upwards before it used to build
bridges. The beam can support more loads on the curve surface. The deflection of beam is
also used in weighing heavy loads such as heavy vehicles. The stress occurred on the
beam is converted to weight. In sports, there are a lot of activities which using the
characteristic of deflection. For examples, in diving. The diver uses the characteristic of
elastic of the diving board to rebound. And in gymnasium, a participant uses the
characteristic of deflection of the beam so that he can turn 360 for few rounds. In the
design of vehicles, beams suspend the wheels of vehicles so that the wheels are movable
up and down. In some cases, the deflection of beams is undesirable. For examples, in
rotating beams such as the shaft of the engine. The deflection of the beam is highly
deniable. The deflection of the beam may cause the beam rotates out of its axis and cause
the rotation unstable.

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CONCLUSION :

From the experiment, we can conclude that the deflection of aluminium , brass , and
steel beams are proportional to the applied mass. But the deflection value for aluminium
is biggest than the value for brass and steel. In the other words, the deflection increases
as the applied mass increased.

Deflection, v  M
where, M = mass

The deflection of beam is proportion to the power of three of length.

The deflection increases as the length increased.

Deflection, v  L3
where, L = length

REFERENCES :

1. Russell C. Hibbeler, (1997). ‘Mechanics of Materials’. Prentice Hall International,

Inc.

2. William D Callister, JR.(1999). ‘Materials Science and Engineering an

Introduction’, 4th edition. John Willey & Sons, Inc.

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Graph 1 : Graph Deflection versus Mass Applied for aluminium
Graph 2 : Graph Deflection versus Applied Mass for brass.
Graph 3 : Graph Deflection versus Applied Mass for steel.
Graph 4 : Graph Deflection versus Beam Length for aluminium.
Graph 5 : Graph Deflection versus Beam Length for brass.
Graph 6 : Graph Deflection versus Beam Length for steel.

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