Assessment Submission Form

Student Name Ahmad Elkadri

Student Number C00235640
Course, Year & Group Civil Engineering Yr4
Subject Structural Analysis
Lecturer Chris O’Byrne
Date Submitted Feb 25-2019
Assessment Title Measurement of deflections in a beam and comparison with
values given by the elastic curve in bending.

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STRUCTRAL ANALYSIS DEFLECTION IN A BEAM CHRIS O’BYRNE

Table of Contents

List of figure...................................................................................................................................2
Objective..................................................................................................................................................3
Apparatus................................................................................................................................................3
Theory.....................................................................................................................................................3
Procedure................................................................................................................................................4
Results.....................................................................................................................................................4
Calculations............................................................................................................................................7

List of figure
Figure 1 Experiment set up..............................................................................................................3

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STRUCTRAL ANALYSIS DEFLECTION IN A BEAM CHRIS O’BYRNE

Objective
To measure the deflections of the steel beam under an applied point load and to compare the
values with those of the elastic curve in bending for the beam.

Apparatus
1. 1no. steel bar 700mm long approx.
2. Set of weights and a hanger
3. Frame to mount beam on
4. 4 no. deflection gauges

Figure 1 Experiment set up

Theory
Pre-Experiment reading- the derivation of the differential equations for the bending and the
elastic curve in bending.

Procedure

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STRUCTRAL ANALYSIS DEFLECTION IN A BEAM CHRIS O’BYRNE

1. The steel beam has an approximate length. According to the laboratory information, 700
mm was 760 mm long when measured.
2. Steel beam was first being labeled along its length to pinpoint its deflection gages and the
positioning of the load for each test.
3. The beam was installed onto the test frame and the gauges for deflection were installed.
4. Gauges for deflection were set to zero.
5. From a hanger a load of 2 kg was hung and placed on the beam at its first location.
6. Gauges for deflection were read and recorded.
7. This method has been repeated twice, and each time the weight has been relocated.
8. Hand calculations were then performed to evaluate the theoretical readings and to equate
them with the actual readings.
9. An assumption of E=208 x 109 N/m2, g=9.81m/s2 was made.

Results
Numbers show that both calculated E - values are similar because of the graphs similarities.
Therefore, the theoretical and actual values show resemblances in their geometry, stating that the
method used by McCauley is an efficient method for measuring deflections in a steel beam. The
theoretical values indicate that the actual values are much more accurate. Compared to the
theoretical values, the actual values are less evenly distributed. There may have been inaccurate
measurements when marking the locations for the deflection gauges. Recording the deflection
gauges was complex as it was not possible to set the gages to zero, so accurate readings could
not be read directly from the dials. The dial gauge sensitivity was very high, allowing the data
level to differ slightly during each reading. The figures found to be challenging due to the dials
rotating in the counter - clockwise direction are not recorded.

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STRUCTRAL ANALYSIS DEFLECTION IN A BEAM CHRIS O’BYRNE

THE THEORETICAL AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS

Result Table (mm)

Theoretical 0 180 240 450 540 700
Theoretical

Distance @630mm - -12.27 -15.31 -17.46 -13.01 0

Distance @360mm - -14.05 -16.82 -15.31 -10.78 0
Distance @90mm - -12.09 -14.05 -12.27 -8.58 0
Actual 0 180 mm 240 mm 450 mm 540 mm 700 mm
Actual

Distance @630mm - -11.24 -14.61 -16.52 -11.46 -

Distance @360mm - -12.57 -15.12 -14.1 -9.8 -
Distance @90mm - -10.62 -12.08 -10.29 -7.38 -

Deflection vs Location
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Deflection (mm)

-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
Location of Deflection (mm)

Actual Theoretical

Deflection vs Location
0
-2 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
-4
Deflection (mm)

-6
-8
-10
-12
-14
-16
-18
Location of Deflection (mm)

Actual Theoretical

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STRUCTRAL ANALYSIS DEFLECTION IN A BEAM CHRIS O’BYRNE

Deflection vs Location
0
-2 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Deflection (mm)

-4
-6
-8
-10
-12
-14
-16
Location of Deflection (mm)

Theoretical Readings Experimential Readings

Calculations

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STRUCTRAL ANALYSIS DEFLECTION IN A BEAM CHRIS O’BYRNE

FORMULA

v(x)=(1/EI)([gbx^3)/6L)+(g1bx(b^2-L2)/6L)-g1(c-a^3)/6

g= 19.62
a= 0.18
b= 0.52
180mm

x= 0.18 0.24 0.45 0.54

1/EI= 0.147692
L= 0.7
v= -0.01209 -0.01405 -0.01227 -0.00858
Deflection (mm)= -12.09 -14.05 -12.27 -8.58

FORMULA

v(x)=(1/EI)([gbx^3)/6L)+(g1bx(b^2-L2)/6L)-g1(c-a^3)/6

g= 19.62
a= 0.24
b= 0.46
240 mm

x= 0.18 0.24 0.45 0.54

1/EI= 0.147692
L= 0.7
v= -0.01405 -0.01682 -0.01531 -0.01078
Deflection (mm)= -14.05 -16.82 -15.31 -10.78

FORMULA

v(x)=(1/EI)([gbx^3)/6L)+(g1bx(b^2-L2)/6L)-g1(c-a^3)/6

g= 19.62
a= 0.45
b= 0.25
450 mm

x= 0.18 0.24 0.45 0.54

1/EI= 0.147692
L= 0.7
v= -0.01227 -0.01531 -0.01746 -0.01301
Deflection (mm)= -12.27 -15.31 -17.46 -13.01

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