Ref:-

Theory 3:13

The apparatus has been designed to enable students to carry out experiments on simply
supported and cantilever beams in order to investigate:—

(i) The relationship between the deflections and the applied loads.
(ii) The effect of variations in length and cross sectional dimensions on the beam compliance.
i.e:— Deflections per unit load.

1 Simply Supported Beam with Central Point Load

W
b

d
l

Beam Cross Section

For this arrangement, it can be shown that the deflection under the load, i.e:— Maximum
Deflection
∆ = Wl3 where I = bd3
———————— ———————

48EI 12

∴ beam compliance ∆ =
———————————
l3
—————————————————————

W 4Ebd3

2 Cantilever Beam with End Point Load

l
b
W
d

Beam Cross Section

 Ref:-
Theory 3:13

For this arrangement, it can be shown that the deflection under the load, i.e:— Maximum
Deflection
∆ = Wl3 where I = bd3
——————— ———————

3EI 12

∴ beam compliance ∆ =
———————————
4l3
——————————————————

W Ebd3

3 Simply Supported Beam Subjected to Uniform

W W
b

d
a l a

M Beam Cross Section

x

Bending Moment Diagram

For this arrangement, it can be shown that the central deflection relative to the supports i.e:—
Maximum Deflection between the supports

∆ = Wal2 where I = bd3

———————— ———————

8EI 12

∴ beam compliance ∆ =
———————————
3al2
——————————————————————

W 2Ebd3
 Ref:-
Experimental 3:13

The following are suggestions for a series of experiments which may be carried out on the
standard equipment.

Experiment 1
To investigate, for a simply supported beam carrying a central point load,

(i) The relationships between the deflections and the applied loads.
(ii) The effect of variations in length and cross sectional dimensions on the beam compliance.

W
b

d
l

Beam Cross Section

Carry out load /deflection tests, for beams of the same material as follows :—

Test (i) l = 800mm b = 25.4mm d = 3.2mm

Test (ii) l = 400mm b = 25.4mm d = 3.2mm
Test (iii) l = 800mm b = 12.7mm d = 6.4mm
Test (iv) l = 800mm b = 25.4mm d = 6.4mm

For the effect of decreasing l compare tests (i) and (ii)

For the effect of increasing b compare tests (iii) and (iv)
For the effect of increasing d compare tests (i) and (iv)

Experiment 2
To investigate, for a cantilever beam carrying an end point load,

(i) The relationships between the deflections and the applied loads.
(ii) The effect of variations in length and cross sectional dimensions on the beam compliance.

l b
W
d

Beam Cross Section

 Ref:-
Experimental 3:13

Carry out load /deflection tests, for beams of the same material as follows :—

Test (i) l = 800mm b = 25.4mm d = 6.4mm

Test (ii) l = 400mm b = 12.7mm d = 6.4mm
Test (iii) l = 400mm b = 25.4mm d = 3.2mm
Test (iv) l = 400mm b = 25.4mm d = 6.4mm

For the effect of decreasing l compare tests (i) and (iv)

For the effect of increasing b compare tests (ii) and (iv)
For the effect of increasing d compare tests (iii) and (iv)

Experiment 3
To investigate, for a simply supported beam subjected to a uniform bending moment, the
effect of variations in length over which the beam is supported.

b
W W
d

a l a
Beam Cross Section

Carry out load /deflection tests, for beams of the same material and cross sectional
dimensions as follows :—

Test (i) l = 700mm a = 50mm

Test (ii) l = 600mm a = 100mm
Test (iii) l = 500mm a = 150mm
Test (iv) l = 400mm a = 200mm

In all tests b = 25.4mm and d = 6.4mm

Specimen graphs for these experiments are included at the end of this manual.

For more advanced students, surface strain measurements could be taken by attaching some
form of strain gauge to the surface of the beam. These strain values could then be compared
with those predicted by using the theory of bending.
 Ref:-
Specimen 3:13

Experiment 1
Simply Supported Beam (Central Point Load) Effect of

20
∆ (mm)

18
16 Test 1
14 Test 2
12 ∆/W = 0.768 (mm/N)

10
8
6
4
2 ∆/W = 0.096 (mm/N)
0
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
W(N) × 9.81

Experiment 1
Simply Supported Beam (Central Point Load) Effect of
10
∆ (mm)

9
8 Test 3
7 Test 4
6 ∆/W = 0.192 (mm/N)

5
4
3
∆/W = 0.096 (mm/N)
2
1
0
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
W(N) × 9.81
 Ref:-
Specimen 3:13

Experiment 1
Simply Supported Beam (Central Point Load) Effect of
20
18
∆ (mm)

Test 1
∆/W = 0.768 (mm/N)
16 Test 4
14
12
10
8
6
4
2 ∆/W = 0.096 (mm/N)
0
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
W(N) × 9.81

Experiment 2
Cantilever Beam (End Point Load) Effect of Decreasing l
10
9
∆ (mm)

∆/W = 1.54 (mm/N)

8
7
6 ∆/W = 0.192 (mm/N)
5
4 Test 1
3 Test 4
2
1
0
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
W(N) × 9.81
 Ref:-
Specimen 3:13

Experiment 2
Cantilever Beam (End Point Load) Effect of Increasing b
10
9
∆ (mm)

8 ∆/W = 0.384 (mm/N)

7
6 ∆/W = 0.192 (mm/N)
5
4
Test 2
3
Test 4
2
1
0
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
W(N) × 9.81

Experiment 2
Cantilever Beam (End Point Load) Effect of Increasing d
10
∆ (mm)

9
∆/W = 1.54 (mm/N)
8
7
6 ∆/W = 0.192 (mm/N)
5
4 Test 3
3 Test 4
2
1
0
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
W(N) × 9.81
 Ref:-
Specimen 3:13

Experiment 3
Simply Supported Beam (Uniform M)

2.4
∆ (mm)

2.0 Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
1.6
Test 4

1.2

0.8

0.4

0.0
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
W(N) × 9.81

Test (i) ∆/W = 0.0276 (mm/N)

Test (ii) ∆/W = 0.0405 (mm/N)
Test (iii) ∆/W = 0.0421 (mm/N)
Test (iv) ∆/W = 0.036 (mm/N)