Faculty : Civil Engineering And

Environment Engineering
Page 01
Department : Structure And Material
Engineering
Edition 2
Checking No
Title : BENDING MOMENT IN A BEAM Effective Date
Amendment
Date

INTRODUCTION
A structural member which is long when compared with its lateral dimensions, subjected to
transverse forces so applied as to induce bending of the member in axial plane and it is called
beam.
Bending moment is the algebraic sum of the moment of the forces to the left or to the right of the
section taken about the section.
1.0 OBJECTIVE

1.0 To examine how bending moment varies with an increasing point load
1.1 To examine how bending moment varies at the cut position of the beam for various
loading condition
2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

2.0 To application the engineering knowledge in practical application
2.1 To enhance technical competency in structural engineering through laboratory
application
2.2 To communicate effectively in group
2.4 To identify problem, solving and finding out appropriate solution through laboratory
application


3.0 THEORY W



RA a cut RB
C
L
Moment at the cut section, Mc = Wa (L-a) . . . equation 1
L
PART 2 :
Use the statement:
The bending moment at the cut is equal to the algebraic sum of the moment of force acting to
the left or to the right of the cut

4.0 PROCEDURE

PART 1
1. Digital Force Display meter read was reads zero with no load.
2. A hanger with mass 100g was placed to the left of the cut. Digital Force Display data was
recorded into the table 1. The work was repeated using any masses between 200g and 500g.
3. Mass that changed into a load in Newton ( multiply by 9.81 ) and the force reading into a
bending moment (Nm) and used the following expression :
Bending moment at a cut (Nm) = Displayed Force x 0.125
4. Theoretical bending moment was calculated in fill into the table 1.

PART 2
1. Digital Force Display with meter zero with no load was checked.
2. Beam with the hangers in any positions and loads as example in Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4
was carefully load and complete the table 2.
3. The force reading was into bending moment (Nm) using :
Bending moment at a cut (Nm) = Displayed Force x 0.125

4. Support reaction (RA and RB) and theoretical bending moment at the cut was calculated.




Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3





5.0 RESULT


Mass
(g)
Load
(N)
Force
(N)
Experimental
Bending
Moment (Nm)
Theoretical
Bending
Moment (Nm)
0 0 0 0 0
100 0.981 0.7 0.088 0.107
200 1.962 1.4 0.175 0.214
300 2.943 2.0 0.250 0.321
400 3.984 2.6 0.325 0.428
500 4.905 3.1 0.388 0.535

Table 1



No W1
(N)
W2
(N)
Force
(N)
Experimental
Bending
Moment (N)
RA
(N)
RB
(N)
Theoretical
Bending
Moment
2 400 0 -1.4 -0.175 1.962 1.962 0.432
3 400 100 2.6 0.350 2.363 2.542 0.520
4 400 100 2.7 0.338 1.873 3.032 0.464

Table 2













6.0 DISCUSSION

Part 1
1. Derive equation 1

MR = 0 ML = 0

MR = - W ( x a ) + RBx

MR ML
-W ( x a ) + RBx = -RAx
-W ( x a ) = -RAx RBx
W ( x a ) = ( RA + RB )x
SC = W ( L a )
L
2. Comment on the shape of the graph. What does it tell you about how bending moment varies due
to an increased load?
The result of the bending moment varies due to an increased load is directly proportional. This is
because when the weight of load is added. The load of weight affects the value of force and the
value of bending moment. The bending moment will get higher either in theoretical bending or
experimental bending result but the two of the value slightly different value when calculated and
sketch on the graph because the theoretical bending is higher than experimental bending moment.

3. Does the equation you used accurately predict the behavior of the beam?
Yes. It is because when the weight of load is added, the bending moment of beam will increased
too and it will deflect when reach the maximum point load


PART 2
1. Comment on how the results of the experiments compare with those calculated using the theory.
The result of the experimental is lower than the theoretical. When applied loads act along a
beam, an internal bending moment which varies from point along the axis of the beam is
developed. A bending moment is an internal force that is induced in a restrained structural
element when external forces are applied. This may be due to some problem that affect our
experiment :





1. The readings we take maybe affected by surrounding. This is because the digital force are
very sensitive and our member group was touched the apparatus during the experiment
happen. So, the reading has an error value each of them.
2. There can be error in the practical readings, possible instruments error, reading error since the
values keep on changing for all the members.
3. The reading of the distance of load from support not taken accurately.

2. Does the experiment proof that the moment at the cut is equal to the algebraic sum of the
moment of force acting to the left or right of the cut. If not, why?
Tests carried out has proved the thesis which states that the moment at a cut section of a beam
is equal to the algebraic sum of the forces acting to the left or right of the section.

3. Plot the moment force diagram for load cases in Figure 2, 3 and 4

4. Comment on the shape of the graph. What does it tell you about how Bending Moment varies
due to an increased load?
From the shape of the graph, we know the value of bending moment depend on the location of
the imposed load were placed. Different value of load will get different value of bending moment
also and when the load was added, the bending moment value will increased too.


7.0 CONCLUSION
By doing this experiment, we able to prove that the theory of the bending moment at the cut section
either the right or the left and the value of x will be same. Moreover, we will be able to know about
the relationship between point load deflection and bending moment. The relationships bending moment
is directly proportional to the point load.


















8.0 APPENDIX