Objective of deflection of beam lab report

1. Learn basic working of beam

2. Perform theoretical calculation for deflection of beam
3. Perform series of experiment with different material,
shapes and load for beam
4. Compare the result and discuss the finding

Introduction to deflection of beam

Load supporting element in any structure that is installed in
horizontal direction and take load perpendicular to its length is
called a beam.
Based on the way it is installed in structure, beam can be
classified in to four main types.
First simply supported beam which have supports at its both
ends, second is overhanging beam which have length extended
over its supports, third is overhanging beam which have more
than two supports and fourth is cantilever beam which fixed
only at one end and other end is free.
There are three basic types of supports available for beams
which includes fixed ends support, pined connection support and
roller end support. From these three types any two types can be
used to support single beam.
When load is applied on beam, its produce bending moment in
beam by apply shear force across its cross section area. Beam
reacts against this bending moment and shear force according to
its moment of inertia.
Moment of inertia of beam is its shape dependent property
which shows the beam ability to resist bending moment applied
on it. Another factor which help beam to resist bending is
modulus of elasticity of beam.
It’s the material related property of beam which defines the
strain produce when a certain load is applied on it. Moment of
inertia of beam and modulus of elasticity of beam material when
combine define the beam reaction against the bending moment
due to applied load.
Another factor which affects the working of beam is its length.
Greater the length of beam greater will be the bending moment
produce due to external load.
Experimental Procedure of deflection of beam
1. Selection one material from the four different materials
available and after that selects the shape on which
experiment will be conducted
2. Note down the materials Modulus of elasticity and
moment of inertia of the selected shape
3. Select the number of weights and magnitude of each
weight.
4. Fix the position of application of load
5. Use all the above information to find the reaction of
beam theoretically
6. Use the information available to form the moment
equation of beam
7. Use the moment equation of beam in Macaulay theory
to drive the equation of slope and deflection
8. Use Equation of deflection to find the deflection of beam
due to load at certain positions
9. Place the selected beam on apparatus and attach
weight hanger and deflection measuring instrument
10. Apply load on beam by placing weight on hangers
11. Note the deflection of beam on selected points
12. Compare the theoretical and experimental results
13. Repeat the procedure for four different beams
Results of deflection of beam lab report

beam 1
Aluminu
material
m
position of left
support 500mm
position of right
support 1200mm
load 1 (N) 10 N
position of load 1 250mm
load 2 X
position of load 2 X
Calculatio
EXP n
Distance along Deflectio deflection
length n in mm mm
X y y
500 -0.03 0.00
600 -1.41 -1.54
700 -2.57 -2.90
800 -3.21 -3.93
900 -3.14 -3.93
1000 -2.37 -2.90
1100 -1.28 -1.54
1200 -0.02 0.00
beam 2
Aluminu
material
m
position of left
support 500mm
position of right
support 1200mm
load 1 (N) 10N
position of load 1 750mm
load 2 10N
position of load 2 950mm
Calculatio
n
Distance along Deflectio deflection
length n in mm mm
X y
500 -0.03 0.00
600 -2.31 -1.76
700 -4.26 -3.16
800 -5.45 -3.88
900 -5.51 -3.73
1000 -4.4 -2.72
1100 -2.44 -1.01
1200 -0.01 0.00

beam 3

material Brass
position of left
support 500mm
position of right
support 1200mm
load 1 (N) 22 N
position of load 1 850mm
load 2 (n) X
position of load 2 X
Calculatio
EXP n
Distance along Deflectio deflection
length n in mm mm
X Y
500mm -0.01 0.00
600mm -4.75 -4.58
700mm -8.65 -8.40
800mm -11.11 -10.71
900mm -11.27 -10.71
1000mm -9.02 -8.40
1100mm -4.86 -4.58
1200mm -0.02 0.00

Beam 4

material steel
position of left
support 500mm
position of right
support 1200mm
load 1 (N) 1.16 N
position of load 1 750mm
load 2 (n) 1.16 N
position of load 2 950mm
Calculatio
EXP n
Distance along Deflectio deflection
length n in mm mm
X Y
500 0 0.00
600 -5.43 -4.61
 700 -9.95 -8.30
800 -12.82 -10.17
900 -12.84 -9.78
1000 -10.3 -7.12
1100 -5.6 -2.64
1200 -0.02 0.00

Discussion on deflection of beam

From the experimental and theoretical calculation made
above it can be concluded that theoretical values are
always less than the experimental values.
This is because theoretical values are made with ideal
cases ignoring many facts of real life, like damaged
apparatus, human error and human/machine limitations.
Other facts which can be concluded, the increase in
modulus of elasticity of beam decrease deflection and
similar to that increase in moment of inertia of beam
decreases the deflection. Different material act differently
during experiment.
Conclusion on deflection of beam
The aim of this lab work to study the deflection of beam
has been completed successfully and four different
experiments have been conducted on three different
materials with four different shapes.
At the end of this lab work it can be concluded that
increase in modulus of elasticity and moment of inertia
decreases the deflection where increase in number of
loads, magnitude of load and distance of load from ends
increase the deflection of beam.
Each beam show deflection based on its modulus of
elasticity and moment of inertia. It also can be concluded
that experimental values of deflection are always greater
than calculated values.