AM2540: STRENGTH OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

CODE G: Spring Test & Measurement of Bending Stress

using
Strain Gauge
Group 47

ME16B175, ME16B176, ME16B177.

SPRING STIFFNESS TEST

Objective: Determining the spring constant of the given sample springs and
comparing them with the theoretical values.

Theory: For helical springs, if the deformation they are subjected to is such that the
stress developed is less than the yield stress, then the spring is expected to regain
the initial configuration after the external force is removed. This also implies a linear
relation between the external force and the deformation in the spring.

F=kLx (Experimental)

F is the force,

x is the deformation in the spring,

kL is the linear spring stiffness(in N/m)

The theoretical spring stiffness can be calculated analytically based on the

geometry of the spring and its material properties. For an linear helical spring the
overall deformation arises from torsional deformation of the wire that makes up the
spring. When the radius of the wire is small compared to the radius of the coil, the
sections of the spring can be considered as cylindrical rods under torsion.

Theoretical spring stiffness,

kL=Gr4/(4nR3) (Theoretical)

G is the shear modulus of the material of the spring

r is the radius of the spring wire

n is the number of turns of the spring

R is the mean radius of the spring coil

 1) Elongation of Linear Helical Spring

Initial Reading(without load)=40.8cm

Load Load Loading Loading Unoading Unloading Mean

Vernier Vernier
N
kg Reading Deflection Reading Deflection Deflection
(in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm)
0.5 4.91 41.3 0.5 41.4 0.6 0.55
1 9.81 42 1.2 42.3 1.5 1.35
1.5 14.72 43.1 2.3 43 2.2 2.25
2 19.62 43.8 3 44.1 3.3 3.15
2.4 24.53 45.1 4.3 45.1 4.3 4.3
 30

25 y = 5.2506x + 2.5366

20

15 Series1
Linear (Series1)
10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5

Force in N along y-axis,

Mean Deflection in cm along

x-axis

From the graph, slope kL=5.25 N/cm

Theoretical Approach

The dimensions of the spring are as follows,

R=1.614cm
r = 0.154cm
n=34
G (mild steel)=80GPa

Based on the above formula, the value of kL=7.87N/cm

 2) Compression of Linear Helical Spring

Experimental Approach

Initial Reading(without load)=11.4cm

Load Load Loading Loading Unoading Unloading Mean

Vernier Vernier
N
kg Reading Deflection Reading Deflection Deflection
(in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm)
0.5 4.91 11 0.4 10.9 0.5 0.45
1 9.81 10.7 0.7 10.6 0.8 0.75
1.5 14.72 10.3 1.1 10.3 1.1 1.1
2 19.62 10 1.4 9.9 1.5 1.45
2.5 24.53 9.7 1.7 9.7 1.7 1.7
 30 Force (in N) along
y-axis
25
y = 15.283x - 1.9407
Mean Deflection in
20
cm along x-axis
15 Series1
Linear (Series1)
10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2

From the graph, slope KL=15.28 N/cm

Theoretical Approach

The dimensions of the spring are as follows,

R=1.932cm
r = 0.140cm
n=11
G (mild steel)=80GPa

Based on the above formula, the value of kL=9.69N/cm

 3) Elongation of a Conical Helical Spring

Initial reading (without load)=10.1

Load Load Loading Loading Unoading Unloading Mean

Vernier Vernier
N
kg Reading Deflection Reading Deflection Deflection
(in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm)
0.5 4.91 10.1 0 9.9 0.2 0.1
1 9.81 10 0.1 9.7 0.4 0.25
1.5 14.72 9.8 0.3 9.5 0.6 0.45
2 19.62 9.5 0.6 9.3 0.8 0.7
2.5 24.53 9.3 0.8 9.3 0.8 0.8

30 Force in N along y-axis

25
Mean Deflection in cm along
20 x-axis
15 Series1
The relation is not linear.
Expon. (Series1)
10

0
0 0.5 1
 Measurement of Bending Stress using
Strain Gauge
Objective: To measure the tensile bending stress at the root of a cantilever beam
using a strain gauge subjected to transverse loading at its tip.

Experimental Setup:

Note that the strain gauge is attached to the aluminium beam on the top surface near
the clamped end. Deflection is produced in the beam by means of a micrometer
attached at the other end.

Theory
Experimental Approach:
Strain gauge fixed at the root of the cantilever beam measures the
strain at that point (top surface) based on the change in resistance of the wires
attached. The deformation in the aluminium beam results in deformation in the
attached wire due to which the resistance in wire changes. The strain in the beam is
calculated from this change in the resistance using Gauge Factor.

SG= R/R
xx

where,

R is resistance of gauge when undeformed,

R is the change in resistance when deformed,

xx represents the strain.

 Thus, from the strain experimentally obtained, the stress can be
calculated from the following relation.

xx = Exx

where,

xx is the stress,

E is the Youngs Modulus of elasticity.

This is the experimental bending stress

Analytical Approach:

Analytically the stress may be calculated from the flexure relations.

Mb= -xx
Izz y

Where,

Mb is the bending moment at the position strain gauge,

Izz is the area moment of the beam cross-section,

y is the distance between centroidal axis and the top surface.

From the load deflection relation of the cantilever beam, the effective
load at the tip can be calculated from the deflection at the tip.

=PL03
3EIzz

is the distance by which the point of action of load on the cantilever beam moves
down,
P is the effective load
L0 is the distance between the clamp and point of action of load

And,
Mb= -PL1
L1 is distance between strain gauge wire and point of action of load.

OBSERVATION

L0=25.3cm,

y=.25cm,

L1=24.5cm,

b=.2.5cm,
h=5cm

Izz=bh3/12=2.6041 x 10-10m4

Deflection P (in N) Mb
(Transverse
mm (Nm)
Load)

0.5 1.688 -0.41

1 3.377 -0.83
1.5 5.065 -1.24
2 6.754 -1.65
2.5 8.442 -2.07
3 10.131 -2.48
3.5 11.819 -2.89
4 13.508 -3.31
4.5 15.196 -3.72
5 16.884 -4.14

Deflectio %Differenc
Display Strain Strain(Based Stress Stress
n e
Experimenta on beam Experimenta (Beam
mm Value
l theory) l Theory)
x 10^-6 N/m^2
0.5 39 39 56.2 2.73 x 10^6 3.936 x 10^6 -30.6
1 95 95 113.8 6.65 x 10^6 7.968 x 10^6 -16.5
11.904 x
1.5 152 152 170 10.64 x 10^6 -10.6
10^6
15.840 x
2 208 208 226.3 14.56 x 10^6 -8.1
10^6
19.873 x
2.5 265 265 283.9 18.55 x 10^6 -6.7
10^6
23.809 x
3 327 327 340.1 22.89 x 10^6 -3.9
10^6
27.745 x
3.5 387 387 396.3 27.09 x 10^6 -2.4
10^6
31.777 x
4 450 450 453.9 31.50 x 10^6 -0.9
10^6
35.713 x
4.5 513 513 510.2 35.91 x 10^6 0.6
10^6
39.745 x
5 576 576 567.8 40.32 x 10^6 1.4
10^6
Inference
For a helical spring, the deformation and the force formed are linearly related.

For a conical spring, the deformation and the force formed are not linearly related.

Transverse loading causes a bending moment which gives rise to bending stress
throughout the cantilever beam.