KEJ3102 MATERIAL ENGINEERING

SESSION 2019/2020

LABORATORY REPORT

(EXPERIMENT B)
DEFLECTION OF A SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

PROGRAMME:
BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE (MARINE TECHNOLOGY)

GROUP NUMBER: 2
NAME MATRIC NO.
MOHAMAD ZULHELMY BIN MOHD S50916
ZAINON
MUHAMAD FIRDAUS BIN S50749
ZANUDDIN
MUHAMMAD SYAHMI BIN ARIFIN S50917
HEONG SHU QING S50892
MOHD SANUSI BIN SALI S50746

DATE OF EXPERIMENT
29th SEPTEMBER 2019

DATE OF SUBMISSION
6th OCTOBER 2019

FACULTY OF OCEAN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATICS

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA TERENGGANU
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 OBJECTIVES
3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW/TEORY
4.0 APPARATUS/EQUIPMENT
5.0 PROCEDURES
6.0 RESULTS
7.0 DISCUSSION
8.0 CONCLUSION
9.0 REFERENCES
10.0 APPENDICES
1.0 Introduction
Structural deflection refers to deformations or movements of a structure and its
components (i.e beam, trusses) from their original positions. A simply supported
beam generally is one of the simplest structure which consists of a beam that has
pinned support at one end and roller support at the other end. Depending on the
load applied, the beam will deflect as it undergoes shearing and bending.

The beam deflection depends on its length, cross-sectional shape, the material,
where the deflecting force is applied, and how the beam is supported. In addition,
the deflection of the beam is also influenced by two other vital properties, the
Young’s modulus, E and the moment of inertia, I. Equation 1 expresses the
relationship between deflection and the related parameters;
𝑊𝐿3
Maximum deflection: 48𝐸𝐼 (1)

Where:
W=Load (N)
L=Distance from support to position of loading (m)
E=Young’s modulus for cantilever material (𝑁𝑚−2)
I=Second moment of area of the cantilever (𝑚4 )
Young’s Modulus, E

The elastic modulus is one of the most vital properties involved in various aspects
of material engineering for design purpose. Every material undergoes elastic
deformation. Elastic deformation is mostly defined as temporary deformation of
its physical shape and will able to return to its original state. For elastic
deformation, the material undergoes an amount of stress without exceeding the
elastic limit. Any deformation caused by further increases in load or stress
beyond the yield point of a material will be plastic permanent.

The Young’s modulus (elastic modulus) is the measurement of the stiffness of a

given material. It is defined as the limit for small strains of the rate of change of
stress with strain. Besides using the stress and strain graphs, the Young modulus
of any material can also be determined by using the deflection of the material
(beam) when subjected to load.

Moment of Inertia, I

Moment of inertia, I is the property of an object associated with its resistance to

rotation. It depends on the objects mass and the distribution of mass with respect
to the axis of the rotation. For any beam, the inertia is calculated based on the
cross sectional shape and the thickness. It does not depend on the length and
 material of the beam. For a rectangular section beam, the I value can be
calculated using Equation 2.
𝑏ℎ3
Moment of Inertia, I (for rectangular section) = 12 (2)

Figure 1. Rectangular section

Where:
b= width of the beam
h= height of the beam
2.0 Objectives
The objectives of this experiment are:
i. To examine the deflection of a simply supported beam subjected to an
increasing point load for two different materials.
ii. To determine the effect of beam length on the deflection.

3.0 Literature review/ Theory

3.1 Deflection
According to John Case (1999) when a body is under stress, then that stress tries
to change its shape and dimensions. Change is shape of the body is called
deflection and change in the dimensions is called strain. Following is the equation
which can be used for calculating deflection in beams
𝐹𝐿3
δ=
𝐾𝐸𝐼
Where
F = force
L = length of beam
K = constant based on the position
E = elastic modulus
I = second moment of area

3.2 Simply supported beam

A beam is said to be in equilibrium when there is no tendency for it to move.
There are two conditions for equilibrium, namely, the sum of the forces acting
vertically downward must be equal to the sum of the forces acting vertically
upward and the total moment of the forces acting on a beam must be zero. A
simply supported beam is one that rests on two supports and is free to move
horizontally. Typical practical applications of simply supported beams with point
loadings include bridges, beams in buildings, and beds of machine tools.
Although for equilibrium, the forces and moments cancel the magnitude and
nature of these forces, and the moments are important as they determine both
stresses and the beam curvature and deflection.
 4.0 Apparatus
The list of apparatus required are:
i. Metal beam (aluminum, brass, steel)
ii. Knife-edge hanger
iii. Weights (10g per piece)
iv. Frame with movable knife-edge support

Figure 3. The test frame

Figure 4. The structures frame for deflection test
5.0 Procedures

PART A:

1. The width and the height of the aluminum test beam is measured using
Vernier gauge and is recorded in Table 1.
2. The moment of area, I is calculated based on the values using Equation 2.
3. The length between supports, L is set to 400mm, and the beam is set up
as shown in Figure 3.
4. The digital dial test indicator is slid into position on the beam and lock it
using thumbnut at the rear. A knife-edge hanger is slid to the position
shown. The frame is tapped lightly and the digital dial test indicator is
zeroed using the ‘origin’ button.
5. Masses are applied to the knife-edge hanger in the increment shown in
Table 1. The digital dial test indicator reading is recorded each increment
of mass.

Figure 5. simply supported beam set-up and schematic

(fixed beam with variable load)
6. The procedures are repeated for the other two materials. The data is
recorded in Table 2-3.
7. The theoretical deflection is calculated using Equation 1.
PART B:

1. The beam is set up with the length, L at 200mm. The digital dial test
indicator and load hanger are ensured to be central to the beam, as shown
in Figure 4.
2. The digital dial test indicator is zeroed using the ‘origin’ button.
3. A 500g mass is applied and the deflection displayed on the digital dial test
indicator is recorded in Table 4.
4. The procedure for each increment of beam length is recorded.

Figure 6. Simply supported beam set up and schematic

(fixed beam load with variable length)
6.0 Result
PART A:
Table 1. Result for beam 1(Brass)
Material Brass
Length, L (mm) 400.00
Thickness, h (mm) 3.00
Width, b (mm) 19.00
Moment of inertia, I (𝑚4 ) 4.75× 10−11
Modulus Young, E (𝑁𝑚−2) 105× 109

Load (g) Experimental Theoretical % Error

deflection (mm) deflection (mm)
0 0.00 0.00 0.00
100 0.32 0.29 10.34
200 0.59 0.62 -4.84
300 0.89 0.87 2.30
400 1.16 1.17 -0.85
500 1.42 1.46 -2.74

Table 2. Result for beam 2 (Steel)

Material Steel
Length, L (mm) 400.00
Thickness, h (mm) 3.00
Width, b (mm) 18.80
Moment of inertia, I (𝑚4 ) 4.23× 10−11
Modulus Young, E (𝑁𝑚−2) 207× 109

Load (g) Experimental Theoretical % Error

deflection (mm) deflection (mm)
 0 0.00 0.00 0.00
100 0.16 0.15 6.67
200 0.27 0.30 -10.00
300 0.42 0.45 -6.67
400 1.55 0.60 -8.33
500 1.70 0.75 -6.67

1.6
1.42
1.4

1.16
1.2

1
DEFLECTION (MM)

0.89

0.8 0.7
0.59
0.55
0.6
0.42
0.4 0.32
0.27
0.16
0.2

0
100 200 300 400 500
APPLIED MASS (G)

BRASS STEEL

Figure 7. Plot of deflection against applied mass for two selected metal beams
PART B:
Table 3. Result for beam 1 (Aluminum)
Material Aluminum
Load, L (g) 500.00
Thickness, h (mm) 3.40
Width, b (mm) 19.00
Moment of inertia, I (𝑚4 ) 6.22× 10−11
Modulus Young, E (𝑁𝑚−2) 69× 109

Length (mm) Experimental Theoretical % Error

deflection (mm) deflection (mm)
0 0.00 0.00 0.00
100 0.07 0.02 250
200 0.28 0.19 47.37
300 0.84 0.64 31.25
400 1.78 1.52 17.11
500 3.36 2.98 12.75

Table 4. Result for beam 2 (Brass)

Material Brass
Load, L (g) 500.00
Thickness, h (mm) 3.00
Width, b (mm) 19.00
Moment of inertia, I (𝑚4 ) 4.75× 10−11
Modulus Young, E (𝑁𝑚−2) 105× 109

Length (mm) Experimental Theoretical % Error

deflection (mm) deflection (mm)
0 0.00 0.00 0.00
 100 0.05 0.02 150
200 0.20 0.16 25
300 0.61 0.55 10.91
400 1.39 1.31 6.11
500 2.68 2.56 4.69

3.5 3.36

3
2.68

2.5
DEFLECTION (MM)

2 1.78

1.39
1.5

1 0.84

0.5 0.61
0.28
0.05
0.07
0.2
0
100 200 300 400 500
BEAM LENGTH (MM)

Aluminum Brass

Figure 8. Plot of deflection against varying beam length for two selected metal
beams
7.0 Discussion
1. Based on the plot of deflection against applied mass, discuss the relationship
between the mass and the beam deflection for a simply supported beam.
For a simply supported beam, the deflection increases as the applied
mass increases. This shows that the applied load is proportional to the
experimental deflection.
2. Based on the plot of deflection against beam length, discuss the relationship
between the variable length and the beam deflection for a simply supported
beam.
The deflection of a simply supported beam increases as the length
increases. Deflection is directly proportional to length.
3. List THREE (3) practical applications of simply supported beam.
i. Bridge deck

ii. Precast structure

iii. Box girder bridge

8.0 Conclusion

1. For a simply supported beam, the deflection increases as the applied

mass increases.
2. For a simply supported beam, the deflection increases as the length
increases.

9.0 References

1. Anupreet Choudhary (2016, February 29). What is a simply supported

beam? Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-simply-
supported-beam

2. Sundar Dannana (2018, April 5). What is Young’s Modulus or Modulus of

Elasticity? Retrieved from https://extrudesign.com/youngs-modulus-
modulus-of-elasticity/

10.0 Appendix