CHAN YON JING A0142967U

ME2113-1: DEFLECTION AND BENDING

STRESSES IN BEAMS

2016/2017
Objective:

To study the application of beam theory in practice, by subjecting a

cantilever to various point loads and examining the resulting stresses and
deflection. From these values, to also determine the Youngs modulus and
Poissons ratio of the beam material. The magnitudes and signs of the
strains and stresses at two locations along the beam are investigated in
terms of their relation to each other and in accordance with beam theory.
An easy hand grip test is also conducted to evaluate handgrip force.

Data, graph and calculation

Dimensions of beam (mm)

L b h X1 X2
250 25.6 6.06 50 150

1 1
Iz = b h3= 25.66.063= 474.76 mm4 = 4.7476 x 10-10 m4
12 12

xx1 () + xx2 () - zz1 () - zz2 () +

Handgrip 1454 718 459 226

All the other data are found in attached Table 1.

Graph 1: Force (P) vs Vertical end deflection (-VL)

Load (P) vs Vertical Load Deflection (V)

f(x) = 5.74x + 0.01

Linear (Load (P) vs Vertical Load Deflection (V))

Linear (Load (P) vs Vertical Load Deflection (V))

The slope T1 = 5.7383 N/mm = 5738.3 N/m

 Graph 2: Transverse strain zz against Axial strain xx

f(x) = - 0.31x + 0.3

strain-zz1 against strain-xx1 Linear (strain-zz1 against strain-xx1 )

f(x) = - 0.32x - 0.35

strain-zz2 against strain-xx2 Linear (strain-zz2 against strain-xx2 )

The slope T2.1 = -0.3171, T2.2 = -0.3102

Graph 3: Load P vs Axial strain 1 xx1

f(x) = 0.05x - 0.01

Load (P) versus Axial Strain 1 xx1 Linear (Load (P) versus Axial Strain 1 xx1 )

The slope T3 = 0.0536

Sample calculation:

From graph 1,

3 E Iz PL 3
T1 = = gradient of P-VL graph, since VL =
L3 3 E Iz

T 1 L3 5738.30.253
E= = =62.95GPa
3 I z 34.74761010

From graph 2,

zz
= = T2.1 = -(-0.3171) = 0.3171
xx

zz
= = T2.2 = -(-0.3102) = 0.3102
xx

0.3171+ 0.3102
Take mean value, = =0.31365=0.314
2

Mxz50 = -P(L x1) = -2.45 x (0.25-0.05) = -0.49 Nm

Mxz150 = -P(L x2) = -2.45 x (0.25-0.15) = -0.245 Nm

Theoretically:

0.49
0.00606
M xz 4.7476 x 10
10
xx 1= y= =3.127 Mpa
Iz 2
0.245
10
0.00606
M xz 4.7476 x 10 Experimentally :
xx 2= y= =1.564 Mpa
Iz 2
xx 1=Exx 1 = 62.95 109 46 10-6 = 2.896 Mpa

xx 2=Exx 2 = 62.95 109 (-22.5) 10-6 = -1.416 Mpa

The other 5 sets are calculated using the same method and filled in Table
1.
Handgrip force

According to graph 1:

2 I z E xx 24.7476101062.951091454106
F= = =71.71 N
( Lx ) h ( 0.250.05 )0.00606
According graph 3 :
F=P=0.0536 xx10.0084=0.053614540.0084=77.926 N

Graph 4: Stress Magnitude (Pa) Against Strain Gauge Location x (m)

P = 0.25 Kg, Theoretical Linear (P = 0.25 Kg, Theoretical)

P = 0.25 Kg, Experimental Linear (P = 0.25 Kg, Experimental)

P = 0.5 Kg, Theoretical Linear (P = 0.5 Kg, Theoretical)

P = 0.5 Kg, Experimental Linear (P = 0.5 Kg, Experimental)

P = 0.75 Kg, Theoretical Linear (P = 0.75 Kg, Theoretical)

P = 0.75 Kg, Experimental Linear (P = 0.75 Kg, Experimental)

P = 1 Kg, Theoretical Linear (P = 1 Kg, Theoretical)

P =1 Kg, Experimental Linear (P =1 Kg, Experimental)

P = 1.25 Kg, Theoretical Linear (P = 1.25 Kg, Theoretical)

P = 1.25 Kg, Experimental Linear (P = 1.25 Kg, Experimental)

P = 1.5 Kg, Theoretical Linear (P = 1.5 Kg, Theoretical)

P = 1.5 Kg, Experimental Linear (P = 1.5 Kg, Experimental)

All the lines almost intersect at (0.25,0), which is the free end and axial
stress is 0.
Discussion

1. Comment on the signs of the strains (xx1, zz1, xx2, zz2) with
respect to the location and orientation of the strain gauges and how the
beam is loaded.

xx1 is positive, zz1 is negative. This is because at x = 0.05m at upper

surface, the beam is under tension, thus the axial stress and its strain
xx1 should be positive. And with respect to zz1 = - xx1, hence zz1
should be negative.
At x=0.15m at lower surface, the beam is under compression, thus normal
stress and strain xx2 should be negative, and the respective transverse
strain zz2 should be positive.
|xx 1| > |xx 2| and |zz 1| > |zz 2| . This is because
xx P(Lx ) h
xx= = ( ) . Hence in each case, P,L,h,Iz and E are constant.
E Iz E 2
So xx is negatively proportional to x. zz is propotional to xx in
magnitude. Thus zz 2 is also negatively proportional to x.

2. With reference to Graph 4, comment on the slopes of the six theoretical

lines and also on how stress varies with beam location.

The slopes of 4 theoretical lines are all negative, because the stress is
xx P(Lx ) h
negatively proportional to x according to xx= = ( ) and they
E Iz E 2
all intersect at point (0.25,0). This point is the free end of the beam, where
both moment and axial stress are 0. As load increases, the slopes also go
steeper.

3. Comment on the accuracy of your handgrip force.

The measurement of the hand grip force is not accurate. As shown in the
sample calculation, the results from two methods are 77.926N and 71.71N
77.92671.71
respectively. The result difference is = =7.98 , which is quite
77.926
prominent.

Also, there are things that affect accuracy:

i) The reading of the strain meter fluctuated a lot, this not indicating the
exact strain.
ii) The force direction may not be exactly vertical.

Conclusion

In this experiment, we have studied some properties of a cantilever beam.

We find the relationship of load against deflection, transverse strain
against axial strain, and load against strain. From these relationships, we
can thus determine the youngs modulus E and Poisson ratio of the
beam. After that, we can hence find out our handgrip force using
equation. However, the measurements to determine handgrip force is not
very accurate, hence the force calculated is also inaccurate.