PUSAT PENGAJIAN KEJURUTERAAN AWAM LABORATORY MANUAL SEMESTER

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, PULAU PINANG MARCH – JULY 2023

COURSE CODE : CES511

COURSE : STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
LEVEL OF OPENNESS : 1
CATEGORY : PARTIALLY OPEN
DEGREE OF OPEN ENDED (%) : 33%
PERIOD ACTIVITY : 2 WEEKS
EXPERIMENT NAME : INDETERMINATE BEAM (CO1:PO2)

INTRODUCTION
The redundant in form of reaction exist in an indeterminate system. A statically indeterminate beam
can be determined by using the following formula:

𝑫𝑶𝑰 = (𝟑𝒎 + 𝒓) − (𝟑𝒋 + 𝒄)

Where;

𝑚 = member, 𝑟 = reaction, 𝑗 = joint, 𝑐 = internal hinge

However, static equilibrium equation itself unable to solve that particular redundant. The
superposition method is one of the suitable approaches to determine this reaction. The fixed end
moment of a fixed end beam is given by:

𝑴𝑭 𝑨𝑩 = 𝑾 ∗ 𝒂 ∗ 𝒃𝟐 /𝑳𝟐 - (1)

𝑴𝑭 𝑩𝑨 = 𝑾 ∗ 𝒂𝟐 ∗ 𝒃/𝑳𝟐 - (2)
PREAMBLE
Where;

𝑊 = Load on the beam

𝐿 = Length of beam span
𝑎 & 𝑏 = Length from point load to support a/b

OBJECTIVES
To validate the theoretical equation of fixed end moment through experimental work by using the
superposition method for indeterminate beam.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the experiment, students should be able to:
1. determine the reaction of the indeterminate beam by using superposition method.
2. describe the principal of superposition approach.

Structural could be classified into statically determinate and indeterminate system. Static equation
PROBLEM can use to solve the determinate problem. Meanwhile, superposition method can use to solve the
STATEMENT indeterminate problem.
 PUSAT PENGAJIAN KEJURUTERAAN AWAM LABORATORY MANUAL SEMESTER
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, PULAU PINANG MARCH – JULY 2023

EQUIPMENT

WAYS &
MEAN
Figure 1: Indeterminate Beam Apparatus
PROCEDURES

1. Fixed the two supports tightly to the base with the distance between them equals to the span of
the beam.
2. Check that the load cell is properly secured to the pivoting plate.
3. Place the ends of the beam between the clamping plates of the supports and tightened the two
screws to fix the beam.
4. Clipped the load hanger at the position where the beam is to be loaded.
5. Connect the load cell from the support pier to the display unit, each load cell occupying one
terminal on the display.
6. Switch on the display and beginning with channel 1 record the initial reading for each channel.
7. Place a suitable load on the load hanger and record the reading of each load cell.
8. Increase the load on the load hanger and record the pier reaction.

DATA ACQUISITION

Refer Appendix 1a & 1b

DATA INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS

Each group is required to prepare the experimental report based on the data collected:
1. An introduction of the theoretical background regarding the fundamental knowledge of the
experiment.
REPORT 2. All readings and data from the experiment should be converted to appropriate units and
tabulated accordingly.
3. List of collected data and sample calculation/plot of graph.
4. Include all the analysis and calculation of the needed answer.
 PUSAT PENGAJIAN KEJURUTERAAN AWAM LABORATORY MANUAL SEMESTER
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, PULAU PINANG MARCH – JULY 2023

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

1. From Equation 1 and 2 above write down the equations for the fixed end moment at A and B for
this experiment.
2. Determine the slope of fixed end moment verses load for both supports.
3. Calculate the percentage error using the slope obtained from the above graph.
4. For a beam loaded with a single point load as above, discuss the relationship between the fixed
end moment and load.

REFERENCE Include list of references at the end of your report.

 PUSAT PENGAJIAN KEJURUTERAAN AWAM LABORATORY MANUAL SEMESTER
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, PULAU PINANG MARCH – JULY 2023

Appendix 1 : Results

Length of beam span = mm

Distance of load from support A = mm

Distance of load from support B = mm

Fixed end moment (exp); (V*55) = Nmm

Table 1a

Load, P Load Cell Reading Load Cell Reading

at Support A, VA at Support B, VB
(N) (N) (N)

Table 1b

Fixed-End Moment Fixed-End Moment

at Support A at Support B
Load, P
(Nmm) (Nmm)
(N)
MF(exp) = MF (theory) = MF(exp) = MF (theory) =
VA*55 refer equation 1 VB*55 refer equation 2
PUSAT PENGAJIAN KEJURUTERAAN AWAM LABORATORY MANUAL SEMESTER
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, PULAU PINANG MARCH – JULY 2023

Figure 3: Setup for Fixed-End Beam