TITLE:

SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT IN A SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the shear force and bending moment in a simply supported beam under
a variety of loading patterns and to compare it with the theoretical value.

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Determination of the shear force and bending moment in a simply supported beam. As
a group you are required to record the force reading using appropriate apparatus in
laboratory.

THEORY:

Beams generally carry vertical gravitational forces but can also be used to carry
horizontal loads (i.e., loads due to an earthquake or wind). The loads carried by a beam are
transferred to columns, walls, or girders, which then transfer the force to adjacent structural
compression members.

The shear force at a section is defined as the algebraic sum of vertical components of
force acting on one side of a section.

Figure 4.1: Typical Arrangement of the beam in shear force apparatus

Consider a simply supported beam with vertical point loads as shown in figure. The shear
force at section C.

Q c =R B−W 1 ¿ of section C ¿¿ … … … … … … eq 1

Qc =R A −W 2−W 3 ( considering the ¿ of section C ) … … … eq 2

The bending moment at a section is defined as the algebraic sum of the moment of all forces
acting on one side of a section.

Figure 4.2: Typical Arrangement of the beam in bending moment apparatus

Consider a simply supported beam with vertical point load as in figure. Take the vertical
section at point C at a distance x from the right support. The bending moment at section C

M c =R B ( x )−W 1 ( x−L 1 ) ¿ of sectionC ¿ ¿ … … … … … … … … … eq 1

M C =R A ( L−x ) −W 2 ( L 2−x )−W 3 ( L 3−x ) [ considering the ¿ of section C ] … eq 2

APPARATUS:
 1. Shear Force in A Simply Supported Beam

2. Bending Moment in A Simply Supported Beam

PROCEDURES

1) Shear Force in A Simply Supported Beam

a) The beam support was fixed to provide a span, L of 440 mm.
b) 300 mm on the left side of the beam and 140 mm on the right side of the beam
was marked. These used to position the beam on its support.
c) L1, L2, and L3 were marked on the top of the beam from the right support.
The load hangers were set up at those positions.
d) The force gauge reading was taken (first reading for calibration)
e) The load on the hangers was applied.
f) The force gauge reading was taken. The net force gauge reading gives the
shear force at C
 g) The load was increased in suitable steps and the corresponding force gauge
reading was noted after aligning the beam.
h) The experiment was repeated by changing the position of a point load and the
observations was recorded.
i) The theoretical shear force at C was calculated by using equation (1) or (2).
j) The experiment shear force was compared with the theoretical shear force and
the ratio of Qexp and Qtheo was calculated.
2) Bending Moment In A Simply Supported Beam
a) The beam support was fixed to provide a span, L = 440 mm.
b) 300 mm on the left side of the beam and 140 mm on the right side of the beam
was marked from the pin and ball bearings. These used to position the beam
on its support.
c) L1, L2, and L3 were marked on the top of the beam from the right support.
The load hangers were set up at those positions.
d) The force gauge reading (first reading for calibration) and the horizontal
distance from the center of the force gauge (spring balance), y was taken.
e) The loads on the hangers were applied.
f) The force gauge reading was taken. The net force gauge reading gives the
shear force at C.
g) The load was increased in suitable steps and the corresponding force gauge
reading was noted after aligning the beam.
h) The experiment was repeated by changing the position of a point load and the
observations was recorded.
i) The theoretical bending moment at C was calculated by using equation (1) and
(2)
j) The experiment bending moment was compared with theoretical shear force
and the ratio of Mexp and Mtheo was calculated.

DATA ACQUISITION
 1) SHEAR FORCE IN SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

BEAM SPAN, L (mm) = 440

DISTANCE OF THE SHEAR SECTION FROM THE LEFT SUPPORT (A) (mm) =
300

Load Point Loads L1 L2 L3 Shear Shear % Error

(N) W1=W2=W3 (mm) (mm) (mm) Force, Qc Force, [Qcexp –
(N) Experiment Qc Qctheo]/Qctheo
(N) Theory
(N)

1 1 80 160 360 0.5 0.4 20

2 2 80 160 360 0.9 0.7 22.2
3 3 80 160 360 1.2 1.1 8.3

THEORETICAL VALUE FOR SHEAR FORCE:

LOAD : 1N

∑ M B=0=VA ( 440 ) −1 ( 360 ) −1 ( 280 )−1(80)

VA =1.64 N

∑ F Y =0=VA +VB−3
VB=1.36 N

Q C =1.36−1

Q C =0.36 N ≅ 0.4

LOAD : 2N

∑ M B=0=VA ( 440 ) −2 ( 360 )−2 (280 )−2(80)

 VA =3.27N

∑ F Y =0=VA +VB−6
VB=2.73 N

Q C =2.73−2

QC =0.73 N ≅ 0.7

LOAD : 3N

∑ M B=0=VA ( 440 ) −3 (360 )−3 ( 280 )−3 (80)

VA =4.91N

∑ F Y =0=VA +VB−9
VB=4.09 N

Q C =4.09−3

QC =1.09 N ≅ 1.1

2) BENDING MOMENT IN SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

DISTANCE OF THE SECTION FROM RIGHT HAND SUPPORT (mm) = 140

DISTANCE FROM CENTRE OF PIN TO THE TENSION SPRING, y (mm) = 125
 BENDING MOMENT (EXPERIMENT) AT THE SECTION (Nmm) = Force Gauge
Reading x y

Load Point L1 L2 L3 Force Bending Bending %

(N) Loads (mm) (mm) (mm) Gauge Moment Moment Error
W1=W2 Reading Exp Theory [Mexp
=W3 (N) (N) (Nmm) (Nmm) –
Mtheo]
/Mtheo

1 1 80 160 360 1.0 125 130 3.8

2 2 80 160 360 2.0 250 262 4.6
3 3 80 160 360 3.1 387.5 393 1.3

THEORETICAL VALUE FOR BENDING MOMENT:

LOAD : 1N

∑ M B=0=VA ( 440 ) −1 ( 360 ) −1 ( 280 )−1(80)

VA =1.64 N

∑ F Y =0=VA +VB−3
VB=1.36 N

M C =1.36 ( 140 ) +1(60)

M C =130.4 Nmm ≅ 130 Nmm

LOAD : 2N

∑ M B=0=VA ( 440 ) −2 ( 360 )−2 (280 )−2(80)

VA =3.27N

∑ F Y =0=VA +VB−6
VB=2.73 N
M C =2.73 ( 140 ) +2(60)

M C =262.2 Nmm≅ 262 Nmm

LOAD : 3N

∑ M B=0=VA ( 440 ) −3 (360 )−3 ( 280 )−3 (80)

VA =4.91N

∑ F Y =0=VA +VB−9
VB=4.09 N

M C =4.09 ( 140 )+3 (60)

M C =392.6 Nmm ≅ 393 Nmm

CONCLUSION

The shear force and bending moment in a simply supported beam under a variety of loading
patterns and the different of error between experimental and theoretical have a little different.
Shear force and bending moment will increase if the load increases