School of Civil Engineering

Engineering Campus
Universiti Sains Malaysia
________________________________________________________________________

S5- INFLUENCE LINE TEST FOR BEAM DEFLECTION

OBJECTIVES OF THE EXPERIMENTS

The objectives of the experiments are to find the influence line for beam and to compare them
with value predicted from theory.

INTRODUCTION

Influence line for the deflection of a point on a beam is a line showing the relationship between
the deflection of that point and the position of application of a unit load acting on the beam.
The deflection of the point due to the application of any load to the beam is obtained by
applying the principle of superposition after multiplying the ordinate of the influence line by the
magnitude of the load. (See the example which of application of the influence line for w=5).

APPARATUS

Two load cells, dial gauge, load hanger, weights and one beam

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 School of Civil Engineering
Engineering Campus
Universiti Sains Malaysia
________________________________________________________________________
PROCEDURE

EXPERIMENT 1

Before starting the experiment, measure the length of the beam and mark it at mid –span and at
the ¼ -span points for easy reference.

1) Choose a suitable reading on the upper scale of the apparatus for the mid-span of the
beam. (One of the 10cm markers is most convenient).
2) Set one of the load cells so that it is ¼ spans to the left of the marker chosen in step 1.
(Do not forget to take account of any offset in the position cursor).
3) Set up the second load cell ¼ spans to the right of the mid span reading. Lock the knife
edge.
4) Place the beam in position with ¼ span overhangs at either end.
5) Position two hangers equidistant from the mid- point of the beam. (The cursors may
press lightly against the scale).
6) Place a dial gauge in position on the upper cross member so that the ball end rests on
the centre-line of the beam immediately above the left hand support. Check that the
stem is vertical and the bottom O-ring has been moved down the stem. Adjust the dial
gauge to read zero and then lock the bezel in position. Move the dial gauge to a position
above the right hand support, check that the beam is parallel to the cross member.
Then adjust the height of the knife edge so that the dial gauge reads zero.
7) Remove the dial gauge and unlock knife edges. Adjust the load cell indicators to read
zero.
8) Apply loads to the hangers in a systematic manner, tap the beam very gently and take
readings of the load cells.
9) Process the results and plot graphs to illustrate the theory.
10) Vary the value of W for chosen value a and b (Figure 1) and record the dial gauge
readings.
W h

b
a

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

Distance,a=200mm
Distance,b=(refer to Figure 1.1 – Figure 1.5)

Figure 1: Schematic of Experimental Set-up

11) For each set of readings, determine the mean deflection per increment (see the result).
12) Plot the influence line for ‘unit’ load. The unit may be defined as the incremental load.
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 School of Civil Engineering
Engineering Campus
Universiti Sains Malaysia
________________________________________________________________________
13) Apply load system and compare the measured deflection with that given by calculation
based on superposition and the influence line.
14) The value of k can be calculated as follows:

k = deflection / 5N load
= { (h at w = 5) – ( h at w = 0 ) ÷ 5 ] +

{ (h at w = 10) – (h at w = 5 )} ÷ 5 ….etc.

where :- h = deflection(mm)
a = 200mm

These results can be presented in graphical form as Figure 2

Figure 2: Influence line for W= 5N and W = 10N

CONCLUSIONS:

Comment on the agreement between theory and experiment. Account for any discrepancies
and suggest possible remedies.

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 School of Civil Engineering
Engineering Campus
Universiti Sains Malaysia
________________________________________________________________________
APPENDIX 1
EXPERIMENT 2

Example of Application of the Influence Line For W=5

10 N applied at b = 450 mm together with 5N at b= 250 mm.

Deflection due to 10 N = 2 x k at 450 mm
Deflection due to 5 N = k at 250 mm
Total Deflection = 2 x k at 450 mm + k at 250 mm

Measured Deflection is then compared with the total deflection obtain above. It should be
found that the figures are in close agreement.

5 N applied at b = 400 mm together with 10N at b= 200 mm.

Deflection due to 5N = k at 400 mm
Deflection due to 10N = 2 x k at 200 mm
Total Deflection = k at 400 mm + k at 200 mm

The measured deflection is should be very close agreement with the total deflection.

10N 5N Dial gauge

200mm Load cell

450mm

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

Set 1

Figure 1.1

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 School of Civil Engineering
Engineering Campus
Universiti Sains Malaysia
________________________________________________________________________

5N 10N Dial gauge

200mm Load cell

350mm
450mm

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

Set 2

Figure 1.2

5N 5N 5N Dial gauge

200mm Load cell

350mm
450mm

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

Set 3

Figure 1.3

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 School of Civil Engineering
Engineering Campus
Universiti Sains Malaysia
________________________________________________________________________

5N 10N 5N Dial gauge

200mm Load cell

350mm
450mm

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

Set 4

Figure 1.4

10N 10N 10N Dial gauge

200mm Load cell

350mm
450mm

L/4 L/4 L/4 L/4

Set 5

Figure 1.5

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 School of Civil Engineering
Engineering Campus
Universiti Sains Malaysia
________________________________________________________________________
S6- DATA SHEETS

Name : _____________________________________________________
Matrix No. : _____________________________________________________
Experiment Date : _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Group : _____________________________________________________

Data Sheet 1

Type of Length, L (mm)

Specimen 1 2 3 Average

Beam

Data Sheet 2

b (mm) 450 400 350 300 250 200

W (N) h h h h h h
0
5
10
15
20
25
K

where :-

h= deflection (mm)

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 School of Civil Engineering
Engineering Campus
Universiti Sains Malaysia
________________________________________________________________________
Data Sheet 3

Theoritical Experimental
Experiment 2 % Difference
Deflection Deflection
Set 1
Set 2
Set 3
Set 4
Set 5