LAB MANUAL

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS-1

CIVL 0006

Bending Moment on a Beam

Prepared by:

Senior Lecturer: Adams Joe

Civil Engineering Department

Fall 2014

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PREPARED BY: Adams
 The aim of the experiment:

 To determine the bending moment on a beam when the load is concentrated.

 To measure the bending moment at a normal section of a loaded beam and to check its
agreement with theory.
 To convert strain reading to force reading.
Theory:

Scope of Experiment:
From this experiment we can find out the following:
 To determine the bending moment on a beam when the load is concentrated.
 To comprehend the action of (moment of resistance) in a beam.
 To measure the bending moment at a normal section of a loaded beam and to check its
agreement with theory.
 To convert strain reading to force reading.
To calculate the experimental Bending Moment we need to use the following formula:
Bending Force, F= [(E.ε.l) / (L.y)]
Where,
E= Young’s Modulus of cantilever material = 70000 N/mm2
ε= strain reading recorded
l= second moment of area = (b.d3)/12
L=distance from centerline of strain gauges on cantilever to point of application of load
on the cantilever =56.5mm
Y=distance to neutral axis of cantilever= d/2=1.57mm
b=width of cantilever =approx.9.56mm
d= height of cantilever member = approx. 3.14mm
To calculate the bending Moment at cut section multiply the bending force by
150mm. (Where 150mm is the distance from centre line of the beams to the
horizontal centre line of cantilever)

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PREPARED BY: Adams
 Figure – 1 -Experiment setup for Bending Moment.

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PREPARED BY: Adams
 Experiment Apparatus:

HST 10 Bending Moment apparatus and HDA200 unit.

Structural frame made of acrylic material, different loads.

Experiment Procedure:

Part - A (To establish bending Moment at cut section C )

1. Measure the distance between two support of the beam

2. Position the W1, W2 and W3 hangers at the distance of 10cm, 30cm and 50cm
respectively from the left support A.
3. Level the two beams using the thumbnut and the spirit level.
4. Press holds the tare button the HDA200 display to initialize all the readings zero.
5. Place a 10N weight on the hanger W1 and level the beam. Record the strain value from
the HDA200 into the table 1.
6. Remove the 10N weight from hanger W1 and place it on hanger W2 and level the beam.
Record the strain value from the HDA200 into the table 1.
7. Finally remove the weight from W2 and place it on W3 hanger and level the beam with
the similar procedure. Record the strain readings from the HDA200 into the table 1.
8. Finally repeat the whole procedure using load of 20N. Record the strain readings from
the HDA200 into the table 1.
Part2 (Superposition)

1. Unload the beam and Set up the apparatus as stated below

2. Position the W1, W2 and W3 hangers at the distance of 10cm, 30cm and 60cm
respectively from the left support A.
3. Place the 4N in W1 and add 10N weights to W2 and W3. Level the beam and take the
strain reading from the HDA200 into the table 2.
4. Place the 4N in W2 and add 10N weights to W1 and W3. Level the beam and take the
strain reading from the HDA200 into the table 2.
5. Place the 4N in W3 and add 10N weights to W1 and W2. Level the beam and take the
strain reading from the HDA200 into the table 2.

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PREPARED BY: Adams
 Part3 (Strain Readings)

1. Unload the beam and Set up the apparatus as stated below

2. Position the W1, W2 and W3 hangers at the distance of 10cm, 30cm and 60cm
respectively from the left support A.
3. Place 4N weight on W1and 12N on the w3 hangers. Level the beam and take the strain
reading from the HDA200 into the table 3.
4. Finally Place 4N weight on W1, 10N on W2 hangers and 2N in W3hangers. Level the
beam and take the strain reading from the HDA200 into the table 3.

Observation, Calculation & Results:

Load(N) Strain Reading(µ.ε) & Bending force(N) for load at

W1 / Bending W2/ Bending W3/ Bending
Force Force Force
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10
20
Bending Moment (N/mm) and Theoretical value
10
20
Table-1. Shows the strain readings for load of 10N and 20N in W1, W2 and W3 hangers

Loading (N) Strain Bending Bending Theoretical

Reading force(N) Moment(Nmm) B.M
(µ.ε)
0 0 0 0 0
W2=W3=10,W1=4
W1=W3=10,W2=4
W1=W2=10,W3=4
Table-2. Shows the strain readings for different loads in W1, W2, W3 hangers

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PREPARED BY: Adams
 Loading (N) Strain Bending Bending Theoretical
Reading force(N) Moment(Nmm) B.M
(µ.ε)
0 0 0 0 0
W1 =4, W3= 12
W1=4,W2=10,W3 =2
Table-3. Shows the strain readings for different loads in W1, W2, W3 hangers

Discussions / Conclusion:

References:

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PREPARED BY: Adams