Notre Dame University (Louaize)

Faculty of Engineering

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

CEN 204

Mechanics of Materials Lab

Beam deflection
Prepared by:

Marc zaatar

Submitted to:

Suzanne Sleiman

Date:

12-7-2020
GRADE DISTRIBUTION

Section Total points Grade

Abstract 15

Scope and Objectives 5

Theoretical Analysis 10

Experimental Methods 15

Results and Discussion 25

Conclusions 15

References 10

Appendices 5

Total Grade /100

Abstract:

The deflections of a beam are an engineering concern as they can create an

unstable structure if they are large. Engineers do not work on a field where there is

something which can deflect , even though it may be in no danger of failing.so

when we applied a load on a beam it will deflect . Displacements from the initial

axes are called bending or flexural deflections. The deflection in a beam is related

to the beams area moment of inertia I, the concentrated load P, length of the beam

l, the modulus of elasticity E, and changing the situation of load on the beam .
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

Scope and Objectives 1

Theoretical Analysis 2

Experimental Methods 3

Results and Discussion 5

Conclusions 16

References 17

Appendix A 18
SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES:

 Finding the modulus of elasticity of four different materials and compare with theoretical

value.

 Finding the modulus of elasticity, and state whether it depends on the material’s cross-

section.

 To compare the modulus of elasticity obtained with the theoretical values.

 Using material : steel

Brass
Aluminum

Theoretical Analysis:
  Case 1:

the Modulus of Elasticity E differs from steel ,brass and aluminum . It is estimated
by simply using the equation of the deflection, and then finding the modulus of
elasticity in terms of deflection, force, moment of inertia, and span width
according to the following equation:

Fx L3
E= .
48 xIxF

where:

F, force applied at mid-span;

L: Span Width;

I: moment of inertia.

I=bh^3/12= 20*(6^3)/12=360
  Case 2 :

In the second case the deflections at mid-span due to the loads are computed
using the following formula:

C=L-b
a
b

W1

Fx (L¿¿❑−b)∗x 2 2
W1= ∗(l − (l−b ) −x 2 )¿
6∗E∗I ∗L

With x=a

 F: Magnitude of concentrated load

 L: Length of the Span
 I: Moment of Inertia of the beam
 E: Modulus of elasticity
 b: Distance from support to position of load
Experimental Method :
Equipment and apparatus :

 Two Roller support.

 Steel, Copper, Brass and aluminum beams: having a cross-sectional area of 20x6 mm2 each.
 Measuring tape: for taking measurements.
 Dial Gage: for measuring deflection.
 Inclinometer: for adjusting the proper level of the beam.
 Clamping Screws: for holding the supports in place.
 Slider: for attaching the loads to the beam at different positions.
 Load Hanger: for hanging loads.
 10N, 20N loads.
 Scotch tape: for sticking the beam edges to the assigned supports.
 Caliper: for determining beam dimensions.

Case 1 :
1. Clamp the roller supports (A) and (B) 80 cm away.
2. Mount the steel beam on the supports.
3. Install the dial gage at mid-span and set it to zero.
4. Place the slider at mid-span and hang the respective loads separately.
5. Read the value of the deflection for each loading.

Figure 1: Setup of Experiment 5, 1st Case.

Case 2 :
Experimental Procedure
1. Two Roller support.
2. Steel, Copper, Brass and aluminum beams: having a cross-sectional area of 20x6 mm2 each.
3. Measuring tape: for taking measurements.
4. Dial Gage: for measuring deflection.
5. Inclinometer: for adjusting the proper level of the beam.
6. Clamping Screws: for holding the supports in place.
7. 2 Slider: for attaching the loads to the beam at different positions.
8. Load Hanger: for hanging loads.
9. 10N, 20Nloads.
10. Scotch tape: for sticking the beam edges to the assigned supports.
11. Caliper: for determining beam dimensions.

Figure 2: Setup of Experiment 5, 2nd Case

 Results and Discussion:

Case 1 :

F = 10 N F = 20 N

Avg E Avg.
Beams E (theo.) F
F mm E (Exp.) % Er E (Exp.) % Er (Exp) % Er
6 * 20 mm2 N/mm2 (mm) for E
N/mm2 N/mm2 N/mm2

311.9 48.52 290.6 38.38

Steel 210 1.1 269.3 28.2 1.9

Brass 95.6 123.5 27.32 109.6 14.38

97 3.1 95.6 4.8

Aluminum 74.1 98.81 43.18 86.5 25.29

69 4 74 6

Graphe 1 :

600

500

400

300 aluminuim
brass
steel
200

100

0
E theoretical E experimental E experimental(20N)
(10N)
 Case 2 :

Exp. Total
Deflection Theo. Deflection Exp. deflection: F Theo. Sum
(mm), F at Deflection (mm), F at Theo. Sum of is at both of
Beam 200mm (F @ 200 500mm Deflection(F individual 500mm & individual
20*6mm2 (Exp.) mm) (Exp.) @ 500mm) deflection 200mm deflection

 2  0.8  0.8  1.1  1.2  1.9  2  2.07

 5  2.3  1.7  2.7  2.8  5  5  4.5

 7  3  2.4  3.7  3.9  6.7  7  6.3

steel Brass Aluminum average

% difference (Between Exp. Sum of individual

Deflections & Exp. Total Deflections)  10  0  30  13.33

% error (Between Exp. Total Deflection & Theo. Sum of

Individual deflections)  3.38  11.11  10.58  8.36

Difference  6.62  11.11  19.42  4.97

Discussion :

Case 1:

- Finding from the equation of the deflection the modulus of elasticity. The values of the
deflection, moment of inertia, force and length all is constant except the deflection which
differ due material of the beam .The deflection and the modulus of elasticity is inversely
proportional. So if we increase the modulus of elasticity, the deflection decreases and
vice versa.
- We can see that for (steel) deflection 20 N loads is equal to 1.9 mm and for 10 N is 1.1
mm. For aluminum deflection (20 N loads) equal to 6 mm and for 10 N load is 4 mm and
finally for brass deflection (20N load) deflection equal to 4.8 mm and for 10 N load
deflection is equal to 3.1 mm.
- But for the experimental values of the modulus of elasticity of steel beam for 20 N load
is 311.8 and for 10 N load 269.36,for brass bar (20 N load ) E is equal to 123.45 and for
10 N load is 98.5 and finally for aluminum (20 N load ) E is equal to 98.81 and for 10 N
we have E is equal to 74.1.For the average between E theoretical and experimental for the
steel at f =10 N and 20 E is 290.6 . for aluminum E is equal 86.41 and for brass E is
109.5.

Case 2 :

 In this case we used a load of 10 N and changed his place to 200 mm ,500 mm and in the
same time 500 and 200 mm.so the deflection is measured by this method .For steel beam
(F@200mm) we have deflection equal to 0.8mm , for aluminum is 2.5 and for brass is
1.7 mm .As for for deflection @500 mm mid span we have for steel beam the deflection
is 1.2mm for brass is 2.8 mm and for aluminum is 3.9 mm. After that the summation of
these two deflection @200 and @500 mm is 2.07 for steel beam , 4.5 for brass beam and
finally 6.3 for aluminum.
 For the percentage error Between Experimental Total Deflection and Theoretical Sum of
Individual deflections is 3.38 % for steel beam ,11.11 % for brass ,10.58 % for aluminum .
These error are acceptable as they will be an error due :
 Mistakes in measurement
 reading values on the dial gage.
 impurities in the material.
 The beam is not horizontall
Conclusion:

Using the basic equation of deflection we can find the modulus of elasticity and we

found that the deflection and modulus of elasticity are inversely proportional if one

decreases the other increase. The superposition principle can also be verified using

the deflection equations. The deflection of the beam due to multiple loadings is

equal to the sum of deflections of the beam due to each of the loads applied

independently. The error due experimental method is always find but we can

maximized by an accuracy and precession.