TABLE OF CONTENT

No

Title

Objective

Apparatus & Procedure

Result & Analysis

Discussion

Conclusion

References & Appendices

Page

OBJECTIVE
To prove the theoretical equation of shear centre for semi-circle,Z-section,L-shape and C-section
in the laboratory and to discover the position of the shear centre for each sections by comparing
theoretical and experimental vaue

APPARATUS
1. Ruler
2. A set of weights
3. Digital verniercalliper
4. Ellen key
5. Set of steel beam section
6. Digital dial gauge

PROCEDURE

1. The two rearward facing thumbscrews on the indicator bosses was loosen and the indicators
was turned outward to contact the inner two datum pegs and the thumbscrews was locked
off. This sets the two indicators parallel.
2. The U section was fitted into the bottom chuck
3. The top of the specimen was fitted into the top chuck in the same relative position. This is to
ensure that the specimen is set squarely and all of the screws are tight.
4. The top chuck hand wheel was undo and rotated so that it is oriented. When heard the chuck
clicked into the correct position, the hand wheel was tightened.
5. The shear centre beam was fitted to the bottom chuck and secured with the extension piece.
6. The indicator was ensured roughly equal travel forward and backward on the shear arm pegs.
If not, the indicator top screw was loosen up and slide to the correct position and tightened
the screw.
7. The frame was tapped sharply to reduce the effect of friction and zero indicators.
8. A load of 500g was applied to the left-hand notch. With the cord over the pulley, the pulley
and cord was ensured remain parallel to the lines on the plate below.
9. The resulting indicator was recorded and tabulated.
10. The other notch with the same load was repeated by ensuring the cord remains parallel at all
times.

RESULT
1.1 C-shape beam.

d = dL- dR

Location

dL

dR

0.08

0.02

0.06

0.06

0.01

0.05

0.05

0.01

0.04

0.02

0.01

0.01

0.02

0.00

0.02

0.01

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.00

0.00

-0.01

-0.01

0.00

0.00

-0.01

0.01

10

0.01

-0.01

0.02

11

0.03

-0.02

0.05

12

0.05

-0.02

0.07

13

0.08

-0.02

0.10

Sample calculation :
d= dR- dL
= 0.08 0.02
= 0.06 mm

1.2 Semi-circle beam.

d = dL- dR

Location

dL

dR

0.16

-0.32

0.48

0.13

-0.25

0.38

0.11

-0.17

0.28

0.07

-0.09

0.16

0.04

-0.04

0.08

0.02

0.03

-0.01

-0.02

0.09

-0.11

-0.05

0.18

-0.23

-0.11

0.25

-0.36

10

0.90

0.33

-0.45

11

-0.15

0.39

-0.54

12

-0.19

0.47

-0.66

13

-0.22

0.54

-0.76

Sample calculation :
d= dR- dL
= 0.02 0.03
= - 0.01 mm

1.3 Z-shape beam.

Location

dL

dR

d = dL- dR

0.24

-0.26

0.50

0.18

-0.21

0.39

0.15

-0.18

0.33

0.11

-0.14

0.25

0.10

-0.11

0.21

0.07

-0.08

0.15

0.13

-0.04

0.17

-0.01

-0.01

0.00

-0.5

0.02

-0.07

10

-0.10

0.06

-0.16

11

-0.16

0.11

-0.27

12

-0.21

0.15

-0.36

13

-0.28

0.19

-0.47

Sample calculation :
d= dR- dL
= -0.01 (-0.01)
= 0.00 mm

1.4 L-shape beam.

d = dL- dR

Location

dL

dR

2.71

-0.62

3.33

2.32

-0.54

2.86

1.94

-0.46

2.40

1.63

-0.38

2.01

1.27

-0.36

1.64

0.96

-0.26

1.22

0.61

-0.20

0.81

0.26

-0.14

0.40

-0.05

-0.07

0.02

10

-0.33

0.00

-0.33

11

-0.67

0.07

-0.74

12

-0.98

0.13

-1.11

13

-1.37

0.21

-1.58

Sample calculation :
d= dL- dR
= - 0.05 (-0.07)
= 0.02 mm

ANALYSIS
SHEAR CENTER FOR SEMI C-SECTION
Graph of (L-R V.S. Hole Position)

C-Shaped Beam
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06

0.04
0.02
0
0

10

12

14

From the graph, the shear centre is at point 7 and point 8 of the beam.

THEORETICAL
e= b1/2[ 1 + Aw/6Af]
= 5 / 2 [1 + 25/6(9.3)]
= 2 cm

EXPERIMENTAL (obtained from graph)

e= 7

PERCENTAGE ERROR = (THEORETICAL VALUE - EXPERIMENTAL VALUE) )/

(THEORETICAL VALUE) X 100%
= (2- 7)/(2) X 100%
= 71.23 %

SHEAR CENTER FOR SEMI CIRCLE-SECTION

Graph of (L-R V.S. Hole Position)

Semicircle-section
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

10

12

14

-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1

From the graph, the shear centre is at point 6 of the beam.

THEORETICAL
e= 4r/
= 4(5)/
= 6cm

EXPERIMENTAL (obtained from graph)

e= 6

PERCENTAGE ERROR = (THEORETICAL VALUE - EXPERIMENTAL VALUE) )/

(THEORETICAL VALUE) X 100%
= (6 - 6)/(6) x 100%
= 0%

SHEAR CENTER FOR Z-SECTION

Graph of (L-R V.S. Hole Position)

Z-section
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

10

12

14

-0.2
-0.4
-0.6

From the graph, the shear centre is at point 8 of the beam.

THEORETICAL
using pythagora's theorem
h= 10cm
A to B and D to E = 4.8cm

e = 4.82 + 102 = 11cm

= 11/2
=6

EXPERIMENTAL (obtained from graph)

e= 8

PERCENTAGE ERROR = (THEORETICAL VALUE - EXPERIMENTAL VALUE)/

(THEORETICAL VALUE) X 100%
= (6 - 8)/ (6) x 100%
= 33.33%

SHEAR CENTER FOR AN ANGLE SECTION

Graph of (L-R V.S. Hole Position)

Angle-section
4
3
2
1
0
-1

-2

From the graph, the shear centre is at point 9 of the beam.

10

12

14

THEORETICAL

Point
1
2
3
4
5
6

Length
2.72
70.93
76.62
2.72
79.34
73.65
= 305.98

x
0
35.47
70.93
72.29
73.65
36.83

y
1.36
2.72
41.03
79.34
39.67
0

xL, mm2
0
2516
5435
197
5843
2713
=16704

yL, mm2
4
193
3144
216
3147
0
=6704

=
X=54.59 (hole number 9)

EXPERIMENTAL (obtained from graph)

e= 9

PERCENTAGE ERROR = (THEORETICAL VALUE - EXPERIMENTAL VALUE)/

(THEORETICAL VALUE) X 100%
= ( 9 - 9)/9 x 100%
=0 %

DISCUSSION
From the result and analysis that we have made above,it shows that the value for shear centre for
each types of section beam quite difference between theoretical and experimental which is for cchannel the value for theoretical is 2 cm while experimental is7 cm,for semi-circle is 6cm and 6
cm,for z- section is 6 cm and 8 cm and for angle section is 9 and 9.We have made summarize it
by referring the table below :
shape
C-channel
Semi-circle
Angle section
Z-section

experimental
7th and 8th hole
6th hole
9th hole
8th hole

Theoretical
2th hole
6th hole
9th hole
6th hole

We also has calculated the percentage error for each types of section by using formula :
percentage error = (theoretical value - experimental value)/ (theoretical value) x 100% to get the
percentage error for each section.We have made summarize for it by referring the table below
:
shape
C-channel
Semi-circle
Angle section
Z-section

Percentage error (%)

71.23
0.000
0.000
33.33

The value that we obtained was not accurate due to some error occurring during the experiment.
The errors that occur during the experiment are:
1. Parallax error
Eye position is not parallel to the scale of apparatus that we used that cause our
data that being recorded not accurate.
2. Apparatus error
The apparatus in not set up or being disturb before the experiment started that can
cause the apparatus not perform 100%.
The apparatus is not in great condition that causes the result slightly inaccurate.
3. Decimal places error
During calculation, the decimal places taken are not enough to reduce the zero
error that occurs from the experiment.
There are many steps that we can do to overcome this error such as:
1. Taking more than 3 decimal places that can reduce the zero error problem.
2. Take at least 3 results and take the mean value which is the result error can be reduce.
3. Ensure the apparatus is in good shape so that the result we get is accurate.

CONCLUSION
Based on the experiment above, we can determine the shear centre for the C-shape beam,semicircle shape, Z-shape beam and the L-shape beam by using the formula and compare it with
experimental by referring graph of graph of (L-R V.S. Hole Position).
The value of shear center and its location can be calculated via experimental and theoretical
formulas. The value varies with the type of material, shape and dimension which can relocate the
shear center from one point to another. In this experiment that we conducted, it can be found that
the values of experimental and theoretical are much closer and in a value of a close range to each
other. The table below show the summarize for result that we get from the above experiment:
shape
C-channel
Semi-circle
Angle section
Z-section

shape
C-channel
Semi-circle
Angle section
Z-section

experimental
7th and 8th hole
6th hole
9th hole
8th hole

Theoretical
2th hole
6th hole
9th hole
6th hole

Percentage error (%)

71.23
0.000
0.000
33.33

From the experiment also,we also can determine what will happen to the beam when a load is
applied at the various types of unsemmetrical section of beam which will cause beam to bending
and twist.So in order to avoid twisting,we need to find a point of shear centre so that a load can
applied that point to avoid beam from twisting.
Shear center is important in engineering works as it act as a main supporter for a building or
infrastructure. It has been assumed that the Stress is uniform cross the width (i.e. parallel to the
neutral axis) and that the presence of shear stress does not affect the distribution of Bending
Stress.

REFERENCES

http://soliton.ae.gatech.edu/people/jcraig/classes/ae3145/Lab7/shear-center-theory.pdf
http://www.utem.edu.my/fkm/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=278&Itemid=69
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Shear+centre
http://www.answers.com/topic/center-of-twist
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=277079

APPENDICES

Figure 1 :z-section will dial gauge reading

Figure 2 : set of section beam