FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND MECHATRONICS

ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING STRENGTH OF MATERIALS III

MST31A

NQF LEVEL 7
CREDITS: 14

LABORATORY GUIDE

Programme: Bachelor of Engineering Technology

(Mechanical Engineering)

COMPILED: Dr Maina Maringa

REVISED BY: Mr. Joseph Nsengimana

February 2023
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CONTENTS

1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRACTICALS ASSIGNMENTS. ...........3

2. SAFETY AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS………………………………..3

2.1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………….3

2.2 GENERAL SAFETY…………………….……….………..........................3

3. LABORATORY RULES……………………………………………….…..3

4. CONTENTS OF ASSIGNMENT…………………………………………….5

5. EXPERIMENT 1: DETERMINATION OF THE CRIPPED OR

BUCKLED SHAPE FOR A STRUT WITH
VARIOUS END CONDITIONS……………………….6

6 EXPERIMENT 2: DETERMINATION OF THE LOAD VERSUS

DEFLECTION CURVES AND CRIPPLING OR
BUCKLING LOAD FOR A STRUT WITH
VARIOUS END CONDITIONS …………………….…9
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1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRACTICALS ASSIGNMENTS.

Practical work is an essential part of work to be studied in Applied Strength of Materials III.
There would be expected of the student to hand in a report after each practical. In this
document the student must have its preparation, results and conclusions. The document must be
in the format and the same standard of work that you will give to your employer.

This report must be handed in one week after completion of the practical for evaluation. The
total mark for all your reports and practical tests is 35% of the course mark. An average of
50% for all practical marks must be obtain for admission to the main evaluation

NB: You can be refused entrance to the laboratory if:

o You did not prepare.

o You did not have your white coat and laboratory notes.

2. SAFETY AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

2.1 Introduction

Close attention should be given to all aspects of safety throughout training, and the highest
possible standards insisted upon. There is a special need to emphasize the fundamental
safety rules of behaviour, dress and practice when the trainee enters the laboratory.
Instructors have a particular responsibility to set a good example and to check without delay
any departure from safe working practices by trainees. Individual responsibilities in respect
of the safety of all persons in the vicinity of the working area must be clearly understood by
everyone. It is essential to develop safe working habits.

2.2 General safety

2.2.1 What to do

o Think before you act.

o Ask if in any doubt.
o Help to keep gangways clear.
o Keep your bench and working area tidy.
o Find out the position and type of fire appliances available.
o Report all accidents to your supervisor.

2.2.2 What not to do

o Do not run.
o Do not play practical jokes.
o Do not touch any equipment or try out machines unless authorized to do so.
o Do not leave rubbish lying about.
o Do not walk under suspended loads.
o Do not attempt to give first aid unless you are competent to do so.
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o Do not throw things.
2.2.3 Further points to consider

o Wear your overalls buttoned up.

o Keep hair short or wear a cap.
o Obey all safety rules and signs.
o Report any accident, however slight.
o Have all injuries properly treated, however minor.
o Do not wear torn overalls.
o Do not wear rings or a watch when working.
o Do not take chances.

3. LABORATORY RULES

o Students must prepare for the practical session.

o Students must wear protective clothing.
o An overcoat must be worn.
o No sandals are allowed in the lab.
o No fooling are allowed in the lab.
o No eating, drinking, or smoking are allowed.
o After completing the practical the equipment used must be placed in the stored places.
o Untidy work will be penalized.
o Your measurements taken must be sighed by the lecturer.
o BE SURE TO KNOW IN WHICH GROUP YOU ARE PLACED AND ATTEND
THE PRACTICAL AS SCHEDULED ON YOUR SCHEDULE SHEET. [If you do
not attend a practical a doctor’s certificate must be handed to the lecturer within three
days after the practical session.]
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LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS

The laboratory experiments must consist of the following:

1. Aim of the experiment.

2. Sketch and describe the apparatus.

3. A short summary of the theory.

4. Procedure.

5. Results.

5.1 Tabulate data obtained from the experiment.

5.2 Calculations

5.3 Graph if necessary

6. Conclusion

The following experiments shall be performed to verify the various principles.

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ENGINEERING STRENGTH OF MATERIALS III

EXPERIMENT 1: STRUT – BUCKLED SHAPE

DETERMINATION OF THE CRIPPLED OR BUCKLED SHAPE FOR A

STRUT WITH VARIOUS END CONDITIONS

1. AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT

To determine the crippled or buckled shapes for a strut with various end conditions.

2. USED APPARATUS

The apparatus consists of a strut loading frame, dial gauge, steel meter scale and
struts. Steel strut nominal size – 20 mm x 3 mm x 550 mm.

3. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

1. Ensure that the clamps of the specimen holders are tightened.

2. Select the required specimen and adjust the rear specimen cross-beam to the
correct position and then insert the locking dowel pins.

3. Examine the strut and carefully straighten it if necessary.

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4. Retract the dial gauge plunger to ensure that its stem does not impede insertion
of the strut.

5. Insert the strut into the loading frame, with its ends in the vee-groves of the
two specimen holders on the two cross-beams. [The ends of the struts will rest
on the stops at the bottom of the holders. It may be necessary to unscrew the
loading knob, to reduce the load to zero after insertion of the strut].

6. Release the dial gauge plunger to rest perpendicularly on the side of the strut.

7. Lay the scale rule across the two cross-members and on the two specimen
holders in order to find the mid-span point on the strut.

8. Adjust the scale so that the mid-span reading is a convenient whole number
(say 300 mm). Fix the scale onto the cross-members with adhesive tape to
ensure it remains in its set position.

9. Adjust the dial gauge cross-beam to ensure that the dial gauge plunger is
located at the mid-span of the strut.

10. Adjust the bezel of the dial gauge to ensure that its indicator reads zero.

11. With the locks on the central cross-member carrying the dial gauge slackened,
slide it to one end by increments of 20 mm and take a reading of the dial
gauge at each increment.

12. Return the cross-member bearing the dial gauge to mid-span and repeat step
11 this time sliding it towards the other side.

13. Apply a load to the strut using the loading knob biasing the deflection of the
strut away from the dial gauge. Set the load to give a deflection of the dial
gauge of 60 divisions, which is equal to 6 mm. If the strut deflects towards the
dial gauge, then unload the strut, and reverse it.

14. Repeat steps 11 and 12, ensuring that the applied load always remains constant
during reading.

15. Repeat steps 5 – 14 but this time with one end of the strut clamped.

16. Repeat steps 5 – 14 but this time with both ends of the strut clamped.

17. Plot the obtained readings on graphs of distance along the strut (x-axis) versus
deflection (y-axis) for each experiment.

18. Plot sines curves of amplitude 59 units in each graph plotted under item 17
and compare them with the experimental curves.

19. Examine the two sets of curves in each graph and discuss their similarities and
differences.
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4. SUMMARY OF THE MARKING RUBRIC

The report of the learner will be assessed as follow:

1. Aim of the practical work 3 marks

2. Apparatus- engineering drawing 10 marks
3. Experimental procedure 5 marks
4. Theoretical background 8 marks
5. Tabulated experimental results 5 marks
6. Calculated (theoretical) results 32 marks
8. Plotted Graphs of experimental and calculated results 20 marks
7. Comparison of experimental and calculated results 5 marks
9. Conclusion 12 marks
Total 100

A detailed guide to marking of the student reports will be placed on Ethuto.

Students must ensure that they write out their reports individually and not in
groups, and in their own words. There will be penalties for non-compliance, as
stated in the memorandum.
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EXPERIMENT 2: STRUT – BUCKLING LOAD AND LOAD VERSUS
DEFLECTION CURVE

DETERMINATION OF THE LOAD VERSUS DEFLECTION CURVES AND

CRIPPLING OR BUCKLING LOAD FOR A STRUT WITH VARIOUS END
CONDITIONS

1. AIM OF THE PRACTICAL WORK

To determine the load versus deflection curves and crippling or buckling load for a
strut with various end conditions.

2. USED APPARATUS

The apparatus consists of a strut loading frame, dial gauge, steel meter scale and
struts. Steel strut nominal size – 20 mm x 3 mm x 550 mm.

3. EXPERIMETAL PROCEDURE

1. Repeat steps 1 – 10 in experiment 1.

2. Apply a load onto the strut using the loading knob, biasing the deflection of
the strut away from the dial gauge. If the strut deflects towards the dial gauge,
then unload the strut, reverse it and apply a load to give a central deflection of
100 divisions (10 mm).
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3. Reduce the load to zero and adjust the bezel of the dial gauge to ensure the
dial indicator reads zero. Tap the dial gauge plunger gently to ensure the
indicator reads zero.

4. Starting with a load of 50 N, apply loads onto the strut in increments of 50 N,

taking care to ensure the central deflection does not exceed 150 divisions or
150 mm. [Tap the dial gauge gently at each load and take readings of the dial
gauge and corresponding applied load for each increment of load].

5. Repeat steps 3 – 4 but this time with one end of the strut clamped.

6. Repeat steps 3 – 4 but this time with both ends of the strut clamped.

7. Plot graphs of load versus deflection and extrapolate the curves to obtain the
experimental crippling or buckling load in each case.

8. Determine the relationship between the crippling or buckling loads for the
various end conditions.

9. Compare the experimental and theoretical crippling or buckling loads based on

Euler’s Theorem and discuss the causes of any discrepancies found.

4. SUMMARY OF THE MARKING RUBRIC

The report of the learner will be assessed as follow:

1. Aim of the experiments 3 marks

2. Used apparatus 10 marks
3. Experimental procedure 5 marks
4. Theoretical background 8 marks
5. Tabulated, experimental results 5 marks
6. Calculated (theoretical) results 32 marks
8. Plotted Graphs of experimental and calculated results 20 marks
7. Comparison of experimental and calculated results 5 marks
9. Conclusion 12 marks
Total 100

A detailed guide to marking of the student reports will be placed on Ethuto.

Students must ensure that they write out their reports individually and not in
groups, and in their own words. There will be penalties for non-compliance, as
stated in the memorandum.