SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

TITLE: DEFLECTION OF A CURVED BAR

OBJECTIVE:
To compare the measured deflection of a curved bar with the calculated deflection.

APPARATUS:
• Mild steel quadrant bolted to a steel baseplate
• Dial indicator
• Gauge blocks
• Angle plate
• Hanger
• Weights
• Rule
• Cord
THEORY

Castigliano’s first theorem states that if a linear elastic body is under a system of external loads,
the partial derivative of the strain energy with respect to a concentrated external load is the
deflection of the structure at the point of application and in the direction of that load, i.e.,

U
 i (1)
Pi
If the deflection is required where no load is applied, a dummy load is introduced at the point
acting in the proper direction.

1
Strain energy due to bending, U b  M
2
dx (2)
2 EI
Consider a section “dx” of the bar in Figure 1 at an angle
from the base.

Bending moment = M
M  Wx  Py  WR cos  PR(1  sin  ) (3)

(The sign convention is not important for bending when

using Castigliano’s theorem)

Let δV = vertical displacement (downward) at the free Figure 1

end

Total strain energy stored = Ub

 /2  /2
1 1
  WR cos  PR(1  sin  )
2
Ub  M dx 
2
Rd
2 EI 0
2 EI 0

But P  0
U b W 2 R 3  / 2
 
2

2 EI 0
V   cos 2
 d
W
 /2  /2
W 2 R3  1  cos 2  W 2 R 3  sin 2

2 EI 
0

 2
 d 
 2 EI 2

4 0

W 2 R 3

8 EI

V R 3
Hence,  (a constant )
W 4 EI
Let δH = horizontal deflection (to the left) at the free end

 /2  /2
1 1
  WR cos  PR(1  sin  )
2
Ub  M dx  2
Rd
2 EI 0
2 EI 0
 /2
Ub 1
H 
P

EI  [WR cos  PR(1  sin  )]R(1  sin  ) R. d
0

But P  0
 /2
1
H 
EI  [WR cos ]R(1  sin  ) R. d
0
3
WR  /2

EI  (cos  sin  cos )d
0
 /2
WR 3  sin 2  
 sin   2 
EI  0
WR 3

2 EI

H R3
Hence,  (a constant )
W 2 EI
PROCEDURE

1. Record the mean radius and x-sectional dimensions of the curved bar.
2. Setup an angle plate approximately 10 mm in front of the free end of the quadrant.
3. Pass cord through the small bole at the tip of the bar and attach the load hanger to the end
of the cord.
4. Zero the dial gauge.
5. Load in increments of 100 gf up to about 1kg gf, recording the deflection from the dial
gauge at each load and the change in distance between the free end and the angle block.
6. Repeat the procedure as the load is decreased to obtain the mean vertical and horizontal
deflection for each load.

RESULTS

Mean radius, R = Depth of quadrant, d = Width of quadrant, b =

Load, W (N) Deflection, mm
Loading Unloading Mean
δV δH δV δH δV δH

REPORT

1. Plot graphs of δV versus W and δH versus W.

2. Determine the slope δ/W and its uncertainty for the vertical and horizontal
deflection.
3. Calculate the theoretical value of δ/W for the vertical and horizontal deflection,
and compare the values with yours. Assume for the mild steel quadrant, E = 200
GN/m2. If there is a significant difference, why is this so?
4. What errors should be minimized (and how) to improve the accuracy of your
results?
Vernon Buchanan
November 2023

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