Table of Contents

Experiment # 05.........................................................................................................................2
Title:.......................................................................................................................................2
Objective:...............................................................................................................................2
Problem Statement:................................................................................................................2
Apparatus:..............................................................................................................................2
Theory:...................................................................................................................................3
Beams:................................................................................................................................3
Bending moment:...............................................................................................................5
Sign conversion for Shear force and bending moment......................................................5
Load-Extension Curve:......................................................................................................6
Procedure:..............................................................................................................................6
Observations and Calculations:..............................................................................................6
Graphical method:..............................................................................................................7
Conclusion:............................................................................................................................8
Comments:.............................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................8

Table of Figures
Figure 1: Apparatus....................................................................................................................2
Figure 2: Cantilever beam..........................................................................................................3
Figure 3: Simply supported beam..............................................................................................3
Figure 4: Overhanging beam......................................................................................................3
Figure 5: Fixed beam.................................................................................................................4
Figure 6: Continuous beam........................................................................................................4
Figure 7: Point load....................................................................................................................4
Figure 8: Uniformly Distributed Load.......................................................................................4
Figure 9: Uniformly Varying Load [1]......................................................................................4
Figure 10: Bending moment.......................................................................................................5
Figure 11: Positive and negative bending illustration................................................................5
Figure 12: Direction of forces in both cases..............................................................................5
Figure 13: Load Extension curve...............................................................................................6
Figure 14: Extension (in) vs Load (lb).......................................................................................7

List of Tables
Table 1 Calculation of Modulus of Elasticity of Simply Supported Beam.....................................

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 Experiment # 05
Title:
To determine the central deflection of a fixed ended beam loaded by a concentrated load at
midpoint and hence determine the modulus of elasticity of the material of the beam.

Objective:
 Measure the modulus of elasticity of a fixed ended beam
 To observe the relation of stress to strain on a fixed ended beam
 To verify the experimental and theoretical results by graphical method

Problem Statement:
The beams have vast applications based on engineering as well as domestic applications.
They are used to support a load or a structure especially in construction purposes, etc. In
these scenarios the loading tends to bend the beam depending on nature of loading. The
desired working is to be performed in the elastic limit of the beams. In case the load limit
exceeds the elastic limit then, the risk of failure will increase. Also to select the nature of
material to be used in particular application, the determination of modulus of elasticity is
necessary to choose the best material in sense of availability and cost.

Apparatus:
 Deflection of beam apparatus
 Hanger
 Weights
 Meter rod
 Dial indicator
Two fixed supports
 Vernier Calipers
Dial indicator

Beam
Weights

Hanger

Figure 1: Apparatus

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Apparatus contains a metal beam and two clamp unit supports upon which the beam is
supported for this experiment and hence the beam becomes of a fixed ended type.

Theory:
Beams:
A beam is a long and a straight horizontal piece with a uniform cross-section characterized by
the type of supports. These beams are used to support different type of loads. There are
different types of beams are available along with the different applied loads.
Types of Beams:
 Cantilever Beam
The type of beam which is supported from a one fixed end and the other end is left
freely. The loading is done one the free end. This type of beam is used particularly in
cantilever cranes.

Figure 2: Cantilever beam

 Simply Supported Beam

The type of beam which is supported on two vertical supports on which the beam can
move horizontally but if load is applied perpendicular to axis of beam deflection will
takes place. Typical practical applications of simply supported beams with point
loadings include bridges, beams in buildings, and beds of machine tools.

Figure 3: Simply supported beam

 Overhanging Beam
Considering the case of simply supported beam, if the load is applied beyond the
support of beam it is called overhanging beam. If the load is applied beyond the both
supports of beam then it will called as double overhanging beam. The overhanging
beam is mainly encountered in a floor beam that extends beyond the exterior wall of a
building to provide support to a balcony.

Figure 4: Overhanging beam

 Fixed Beam
When a beam is fixed from both of its sides, it is called fixed beam. The fixed beam
has wide use in practical applications because they can withstand both horizontal and
vertical forces. Maximum bending takes place in case of fixed beam as compared with
simply supported or an overhanging beam. They are used in bridges, beams in
buildings, etc.

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 Figure 5: Fixed beam

 Continuous Beam
When a beam is supported on more than two supports it is termed as continuous
beam. This type of beam is used when the distance between two supports is so large
so that any major loading can easily cause permanent deflection. To overcome this,
the number of supports is increased. The common example of continuous beam is
long bridges which are supported on more than two supports.

Figure 6: Continuous beam

Type of Loads that can be applied to Beams

A beam is usually horizontal, and the applied load is vertical. Following are the different
types of loads.
1. Concentrated or Point Load: Act at a point. It is mostly taken at center of beam to
cause maximum deflection.

Figure 7: Point load

2. Uniformly Distributed Load: Load spread along the length of the Beam. To
overcome the complexity in calculations, we can convert the distributed load to point
load by taking summation of all loads applying on beam and the collective load is
then taken on center of beam as a point load.

Figure 8: Uniformly Distributed Load

3. Uniformly Varying Load: Load spread along the length of the Beam, Rate of
varying loading point to point.

Figure 9: Uniformly Varying Load [1]

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Bending moment:
Bending moments occur when a force is applied at a given distance away from a point of
reference; causing a bending effect. In the simplest terms, a bending moment is basically a
force that causes something to bend. If the object is not well-restrained the bending force will
cause the object to rotate about a certain point.
A bending moment is a force normally measured in a force x length (e.g. Nm)
Bending moment example:
Consider an example of a plastic ruler overhanging a desk. If one end of the ruler is lying on
the desk and is being held down, and then a force is applied to the other end of the ruler, it
will cause the ruler to bend. The ruler will experience the greatest bending moment at the end
where the force is applied.

Figure 10: Bending moment

Bending moment of a cantilever beam is maximum if the load is applying on the edge of end
while for the simply supported beam it is maximum at the center of beam due to largest
moment arm for both ends. [2]
Sign conversion for Shear force and bending moment

Figure 11: Positive and negative bending illustration

For a simply supported beam, if a point load is acting at the center of the beam. Imagine a
section X-X divide the beam into two portions perpendicular to the axis of beam.

Figure 12: Direction of forces in both cases

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If the left portion makes a clockwise moment and the right portion of the section makes an
anticlockwise moment, then it is sagging moment. Bending moment Positive.
If the left portion makes an anticlockwise moment and the right portion of the section makes
a Clockwise moment, then it is hogging moment. Bending moment Negative. [1]
Load-Extension Curve:
A line plotted from the results of a tensile test on metal, the loads being shown as ordinates
and the elongations of the gage length as abscissae, thus relating the extension of the material
under test to the applied load. [3]

Figure 13: Load Extension curve

Procedure:
1. Set the Deflection of Beam apparatus on a horizontal surface.
2. Set the dial indicator at zero.
3. Apply a load of 0.5 lb and measure the deflection using dial indicator.
4. Take a set of at least five readings of increasing value of load and then take readings
on unloading.
5. Calculate:
a. The “Theoretical value of deflection (yc)” of beam at mid-span.
b. The %age error between theoretical and experimental values of central
deflections.
Observations and Calculations:
Least Count of the dial indicator = 0.01mm
Least Count of vernier calipers = 0.01mm
Effective length of beam (L) =24 in
Breadth of beam (b) =1 in
Height of beam (h) = 0.2 in
Moment of inertia of the beam (I=bh3/12) =6.67×10−4 in 4

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 Table 1 Calculation of Modulus of Elasticity of Fixed ended Beam

Effective Central Deflection-δc Modulus of

Load- (in) W/ δc Elasticity
No. of
Obs. W (lb/in) E=(W/δc)(L3/48I)
Loading Unloading Average
(lb) (Psi)
1. 0.5 0.00276 0.00335 0.00305 187.9699248 81162426.3
2. 1 0.00551 0.00591 0.00571 169.4915254 73183747.1
3. 1.5 0.00846 0.00886 0.00866 181.1594203 78221758.68
4. 2 0.01142 0.01142 0.01142 158.7301587 68537159.98
5. 2.5 0.01457 0.01457 0.01457 171.5854496 74087870.26
Average value of E = 75038592.46psi

Graphical method:

Load(lb) vs Extension(in)
3

2.5

2
Load (lb)

1.5

0.5

0
0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.01 0.012 0.014 0.016
Extension (in)

Figure 14: Load (lb) vs Extension (in)

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Conclusion:
The experiment was performed carefully and we have observed the relation of stress to strain
of a simply supported beam. The modulus of elasticity is very important to be calculated
before applying a material in a certain application. The beam was loaded and unloaded by
some loads gradually. The ratio of stress over strain was quite uniform and average value
comes to 75038592.46psi but it has some error due to:
 The instrument was supported initially by setting its value to zero but after performing
experiment it does not came back to zero.
 The maximum load was applied on the center of the beam so that its grain structure
may got affected.
 The loading and unloading values have some difference due to lack of setting time in
which material utilizes all of the residual stresses.
 The gauge was very sensitive regarding deformation and it had a needle placed on the
load clamping unit. That needle might got displaced while applying the load by us so
that it gave us changed value of loading and unloading all time.

Comments:
The evaluation of modulus of elasticity of any fixed ended beam can be determined by this
set of apparatus. However, to reduce the probability of error we should have to perform the
experiment more carefully. Also there is a suggestion to calibrate the gauge and there should
be a notch between the needle of gauge and load clamping unit surface so that the needle
could not be displaced while performing the experiment.

References

[1] s. danna, "extrudesign," What are the different types of beams with loads?, 23 May 2018.
[Online]. Available: https://extrudesign.com/different-types-of-beams-with-loads/.

[2] skyciv, Ed."What is Bending Moment?," 02 October 2021.

[3] mindat.org, "mindat.org," [Online]. Available: https://www.mindat.org/glossary/load-

extension_curve#:~:text=A%20line%20plotted%20from%20the,test%20to%20the
%20applied%20load.. [Accessed 1 Oct 2021].

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