FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTING

PROGRAMME : Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours

ACADEMIC YEAR : 2022
MODULE : Solid Mechanics I
MODULE CODE : BME2003
MODULE LEADER : Mohamad Fauzi Rahim
ASSIGNMENT TYPE : Laboratory 4– Bending moment in a Beam
INTAKE/GROUP : Sept 2022
DISTRIBUTION DATE : Tuesday, 1 November 2022
SUBMISSION DATE : Click here to enter a date.

STUDENT NAME STUDENT ID CLASS CODE

Fow Seng Joe B1757 BENGME2A

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 Laboratory 1 Feedback Form

Solid Mechanics I

Criteria A B C D F Comments
Objectives/
Introduction/
∕ 15
Theory
Methodology/
Procedures
∕ 10
Results/
Calculations
∕ 15
Discussions ∕ 30
Format/
Presentation
∕ 10
References/
Citations
∕ 5
Conclusion ∕ 15
Marks: ∕100

General Comments:

Assessor’s Signature: Date:

Name: Mohamad Fauzi Rahim

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 General Instructions
Use the following format for the preparation of the lab report submission.
• Paper size : A4
• Margins: left and right = 1.25”, top and bottom = 1”
• Font size : 12 , Times New Roman
• Line spacing : 1.15
• Number all pages sequentially
• Number all Figures and Tables sequentially and refer them in the text
• Binding: staple at top left corner of lab report submission

WARNING
• Lab reports submitted after the due date will be considered late.
• Lab reports submitted not later than two weeks after the due date will be marked,
but the marks will be capped to a maximum of 40%.
• Lab reports submitted later than two weeks will be marked, but carry zero mark.
• First City University College takes allegations of plagiarism very seriously.
Submissions involving plagiarism will be marked, but given zero mark. Plagiarism is
the attempt to pass off the work of another as your own. Information taken from the
work of others should be acknowledged by reference to obviate the charge of
copying.
• Collusion is an academic irregularity within the First City University College
assessment regulations. Any student found colluding in the production of any
assessment will be subject to an investigation with the imposition of any penalty
deemed appropriate. Students must ensure they are familiar with the definition of
collusion.

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 I. Laboratory Requirements

Introduction

In this experiment the concept of bending moment and its calculation along a straight
beam is investigated. Measurements are performed to improve the understanding of
the concept and to gain experience in the use of modern bending moment testing
machine. The bending moment test is performed to study how the bending moment
varies with variation of the
o Load magnitude
o Load distribution
It also helps students to find out how the bending moment can be measured in a
point along the beam

Theory

Members that are slender and support loadings that are applied perpendicular to
their longitudinal axis are called beams. In general beams are long, straight bars
having a constant cross-sectional area. Because of the applied loadings, beams
develop an internal force called shear force and an internal moment known as
bending moment. In general, both shear force and bending moment vary from point
to point along the beam, as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 1: Shear force and bending moment

They are calculated at each point using the following procedure.

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 1- Determine all the reactive forces and couple moments acting on the beam.
2- Section the beam perpendicular to its length at the desired point and draw the
free body diagram of one segment. Make sure that V (Shear Force) and M
(Bending Moment) are shown acting in their positive sense.
3- The shear force is obtained by summing the forces perpendicular to the
beam’s axis and the bending moment is obtained by summing the moments
about the sectioned end of the segment.

In order to properly design a beam, it is important to know the variations of the shear
force and the bending moment along its axis in order to find the points in which these
values are maxima. Both important parameters at each point vary by changing the
magnitude and the distribution of the applied loads. This test is being performed to
study the effects of the magnitude and distribution of the applied loads on the
bending moment value at a specified point.

Equipment

The bending moment machine, shown in Fig. 2, used in this laboratory consists of a
beam fitted into the structure test frame. The detail of the bending moment machine,
shown in the Fig. 3.

Figure 2: Bending moment machnine

The structure test frame is a sturdy aluminum frame, which stands on a workbench.
Loads are applied to experiments using hangers, which hold various masses. The

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Digital Force Display electronically measures and displays forces during
experiments. It conveniently fixes to the test frame. All the equipment connects to a
computer by means of an Automatic Data Acquisition Unit and software (STR2000).
The beam is ‘cut’ by a pivot. To stop the beam collapsing a moment arm bridges the
cut on to a load cell thus reacting (and measuring) the bending moment force. A
digital display shows the force from the load cell. The beam geometry and hanger
positions are shown in Fig. 4. Hanger supports are 20 mm apart and have a centre
slot that positions the hangers. The moment arm is 125 mm long. The beam hangs
from the top member of the test frame, rather than sitting on the bottom, so the
supports do not interfere with loading positions

Figure 3. Detail of the bending machine

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Figure 4. Beam geometry and hanger position

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Procedures

In this experiment the bending moment is measured at ‘Cut’ position and loadings are applied
in some other points along the beam. Three load cases according to Figures 5(a), 5(b), and 5(c)
are considered.

Figure 5(a) Setup 1 Figure 5(b) Setup 2

Figure 5(c) Setup 3

Figure 5 Different position for load hanger

The steps of the experiment are as following:

1. Make sure that beam is load less and in its horizontal position.
2. Turn on the load digital force displayer if it is off.
3. Make sure that the digital force displayer displays zero force.
4. Hang the load hanger exactly according to the position shown in Fig. 5(a).
5. Put proper masses to get load according to the load shown in Fig. 5(a).

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6. Read the force displayed by the ‘digital force displayer’ and write it in the first row forth
column of Table 1.
7. Remove the load hanger.
8. Hang the load hangers exactly according to the positions shown in Fig. 5(b).
9. Put proper masses to get loads according to the loads shown in Fig. 5(b).
10. Read the force displayed from the ‘digital force displayer’ and write it in the second row
forth column of Table 1.
11. Remove the hanger W1 and read the force and then hang W1 and remove the hanger W2.
Check if the summation of these two cases is equal to the force you read in step 10.
12. Remove the load hangers and hang them according to Fig. 5(c) with the shown loads.
13. Read the force displayed from the ‘digital force displayer’ and write it in the third row
forth column of Table 1.
14. Repeat the step 11 similarly

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Results
Measurement Value (mm)
Beam span, L 400
Distance of the cut section from the left support 300
Distance of point load, a 260

Setup W1 W2 Load Experiment RA RB Theoretical Percentage

(N) (N) (N) bending (N) (N) bending Error
moment at moment at (%)
cut point cut point
(Nm) (Nm)
1 4.90 3.92 3.8 0.475 4.9 3.92 0.882 46.15
2 1.96 3.92 3.6 0.45 2.32 3.56 0.754 40.32
3 3.92 1.4 0.175 1.83 5.75 0.256 31.64

Calculation: Experimental result

Setup 1
Bending moment at cut point (Nm):
3.8N X 0.125m = 0.475 Nm

Setup 2
Bending moment at cut point (Nm):
3.6N X 0.125m = 0.45 Nm

Setup 3
Bending moment at cut point (Nm):
1.4N X 0.125m = 0.175 Nm

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Calculation: Theoretical result

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Setup1: Load vs Bending moment diagram
Section x MB-equation Eqn V-equation Eqn
(N.mm) (N)
A 0 0 2 3.92 1
A 120 470.4 2 3.92 1
A 240 940.8 2 3.92 1
B 240 1881.6 4 -0.98 3
B 320 1803.2 4 -0.98 3
B 400 1724.8 4 -0.98 3
C 400 392 6 -4.9 5
C 420 294 6 -4.9 5
C 440 196 6 -4.9 5
Table 1: Setup 1

Figure 1: Shear force and Bending moment diagram

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Setup2: Load vs Bending moment diagram
Section x MB-equation Eqn V-equation Eqn
(N.mm) (N)
A 0 0 2 3.56 1
A 110 391.6 2 3.56 1
A 220 783.2 2 3.56 1
B 220 1566.4 4 1.6 3
B 240 1598.4 4 1.6 3
B 260 1630.4 4 1.6 3
C 260 1263.2 6 -2.32 5
C 350 1054.4 6 -2.32 5
C 440 845.6 6 -2.32 5
Table 2: Setup 2

Figure 2: Shear force and Bending moment diagram

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Setup3: Load vs Bending moment diagram
Section x MB-equation Eqn V-equation Eqn
(N.mm) (N)
A 0 0 2 -3.92 1
A 70 -274.4 2 -3.92 1
A 140 -548.8 2 -3.92 1
B 140 1610 4 1.83 3
B 290 1884.5 4 1.83 3
B 440 2159 4 1.83 3
Table 3: Setup 3

Figure 3: Shear force and Bending moment diagram

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Figure 4: Load vs bending moment graph

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Discussion

Based on this experiment proves that there is a linear relationship between the applied load
and the resulting displacement. This is because when load is applied to a beam will increases
cause the resulting displacement occurs also increases.

When the load is hanged on the bending moment machine, the bending moment occurs. The
slope of the graph represents the modulus elasticity, which mean the bending moment is the
reaction induced cause an external force to applied on the object to be bend.

Based on the data above, the experimental value that have recorded will be different results
with the theoretical value that has been calculated manually because the percentage error
ranged are large which caused by several errors happen. This is because the display device has
parallax error when it shows the reading the value or the quality of the equipment is very bad.
Moreover, human error also involves according to observation and calculated experimental
value with wrong method. In order to make an improvement for this experiment that
engineering students must be aware these precautions to be taken to avoid and minimize the
error and inaccuracy.

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Conclusion:

From the experiment, the effect of different applied load on the bending moment in the
beam and the result show that there is a linear relationship between bending moment and
applied load so that the relationship between applied load and bending moment is increasing
linearly. As the experimental of the load increases, the bending moment will increase steadily.
Besides that, the shear force diagram shows that it can be seen how shear force varies at the
cutting point of beam for various loading condition when the applied load placed on the beam
increases, the shear force will decrease [1]. Thus, the relationship between applied load and
the bending moment when the applied load increasing also cause the bending moment
increases [2]. This shows that the applied load is linearly increases with the bending moment.
When the applied load is increased the moment also increases.

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 References
[1] testbook, “Shear force vary with load,” 13 December 2020. [Online]. Available:
https://testbook.com/question-answer/when-there-is-a-sudden-increase-or-decrease-in-
the--5ff3304baa5ed8bf9de051ab. [Accessed 2 December 2022].
[2] Green Mechanic, “Bending Moment in a Beam Lab Report,” [Online]. Available:
https://www.green-mechanic.com/2017/01/bending-moment-in-beam-lab-report-pdf.html.
[Accessed 11 December 2022].

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 II. Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes Assessment Question

Analyze structural members subjected to
resultant loading using the fundamental concepts
of stress, strain and elastic behavior of materials.
Analyze torsion in structural members due to
torque.
Analyze stress in beams caused by bending. √

Apply finite element method to determine the

deformation of a structure.

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 III. Assessment Marking Criteria

Marks >80% 70-79% 60-69% 50-59% 0-49%

Objectives/ Good coverage of the Comprehensive research Small amount of research is Theories are copied from the No theories.
Introduction/ theories and demonstrate the relevant to the topic is done. lab manual.
Theory ability to relate the theories completed.
(15 marks) to the experiment.
Report the procedures and Complete description of the Limited elaboration of the Procedures are copied from No procedures.
Methodology/
methods in completing the procedures with minor procedures of the lab manual.
Procedures
experiment with figures or mistakes. experiment.
(10 marks)
other form of illustrations.
Results are presented Results to be presented Basic results are shown with Minimum presentation of No results/ calculation
Results/ professionally and relevant professionally and relevant necessary calculations. results.
Calculations calculations are shown. calculations are shown.
(15 marks) Further analyses are done Basic graphs are drawn
using graphs and tables. where necessary.
Demonstrate the ability to Discuss on the analyses of Discussions are given on the Reiteration of the results. No discussion.
analyse the results in an the results. Provide error analyses of the results,
independent and critical way. analyses of the results and graphs and tables.
Further discussion is done constructive suggestions for
Discussions on the improvements of the improvements of the
(30 marks) accuracy if there is any accuracy.
discrepancy. Comments
based on the existing
research literature and error
analyses of the results.
Present a professional report Able to present a neat and Basic structure and format is Lack of standard format and Incomprehensible/ no format.
Format/
with standard format and tidy report in the format presented. structure.
Presentation
complete structure and stated.
(10 marks)
presentation.
References/ Give citations and references Minimum citations and Few references are cited. No citation, only references. No citation, no reference.
Citations with correct format. references.
(5 marks)
Relevancy of the experiment Provide suggestion for Highlight the key indication of Provide summary of key No conclusion
Conclusion
to the real-life engineering further analyses. the results. results.
(15 marks)
problems.

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