1.0 TITLE : BENDING MOMENT AND SHEAR FORCE ON BEAM.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

 To plot the bending moment at the cut section of the beam when it is subjected to a point
load.

 To plot the shear force at the cut section of the beam where it is subjected to a point load.

3.0 APPARATUS

1. A pair of simple supports

2. Special beam with a cut section

3. A set of weight and hanger

4.0 PROCEDURE

1. The load cell was connect to the digital indicator.

2. The indicator was switch on. For stability of the reading, the indicator must be switch
on 10 minutes before taking reading.

3. The two sample support was fixed to the aluminium based at the distance equal to the
span of the beam to be tested. Screw the support tightly to the base.

4. The load hanger was hang to the beam.

5. The beam was placed on the support.

6. The load hanger was placed at 36 cm from the left support for Bending Moment, and
35 cm from the left support for Shear Force.

7. The indicator reading was noted. If it is not zero press the tare button on the indicator.

8. The load was placed on the hanger.

9. The indicator reading was recorded. This represent the bending moment and shear
force at the cut section.

10. Step 8 to 9 was repeated for load of 5N, 10N, 15N, 20N and 25N or both Bending
Moment and Shear Force.

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5.0 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

BENDING MOMENT

Load
990 mm
360 mm 630 mm

330 mm
VA V
B

Beam span : 990 mm

Distance of the cut section from the left support : 660 mm

Distance of the load cell from the left support : 360 mm

ΣMx = -VB (990) + P (360) = 0, ΣFy = VA + VB = 0,

VB = 360 P / 990 VA = P – VB

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 Load Appllied, P Reaction at Support A, Reaction at Support B,
(N) VA (N) VB (N)
5 3.18 1.82
10 6.36 3.64
15 9.55 5.45
20 12.73 7.27
25 15.91 9.09

M
Mx
A B
990 mm
VA 660 mm 330 mm V
B

Bending moment
Load cell
Load applied, P (Nmm)
reading, F
(N) Experimental Theoretical
(N)
Mx = F x 660 Mx = -VA (660) + P (300)
5 -3.3 -2178 -598.8
10 -6.8 -4488 -1197.6
15 -10.2 -6732 -1803.0
20 -13.6 -8976 -2401.8
25 -17.0 -11220 -3000.6

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SHEAR FORCE

Load
990 mm
350 mm 640 mm

330 mm
VA V
B

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Beam span : 990 mm

Distance of the cut section from the left support : 660 mm

Distance of the load cell from the left support : 350 mm

Using influence line method

ΣMB = VA (990) - 1 ( 990 - x ) = 0, ΣFy = VA + VB = 1,

VA = 1 - 0.01x VB = 0.01x

M
Vc
A B
990 mm C

V 660 330 mm V
A mm B

Bending moment
Load applied, P (Nmm)
(N) Experimental Theoretical
VC VC = 0.34 × P
5 -3.4 1.7
10 -2.8 3.4
15 -2.3 5.1
20 1.0 6.8
25 3.8 8.5

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6
6.0 DISCUSSION

When the load is applied to the beam, the beam will bends and this reaction is called bending
moment. The bending moment at the cut section for experimental and theoretical is different
due to error that occurs during conducting the experiment. The apparatus might be affected
by unnecessary movement or vibration which effecting the sensitive indicator reading that
causing the results to vary with the theoretical results.

For the shear force, the value for both theoretical and experimental is far different. This may
led due to reading error and human error itself when taking the data. As can be seen on the
graph of Shear Force for Experimental and Theoretical in the results, there is a negative value
in theoretical. These kind of error is very dangerous especially when constructing any
construction project on site as the testing data is differ to calculation data.

7.0 CONCLUSION

The bending moment at the cut section is -2178 Nmm when 5N of load is applied, -4488
Nmm for 10N, -6732 Nmm for 15N, -8976 Nmm for 20N, and -11220 Nmm for 25N.

The shear force at the cut section is -3.8N when 5N of load is applied, -2.8N for 10N, -2.3N
for 15N, 1.0N for 20N, and 3.8N for 25N as obtaimed from the experiment.

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8.0 REFERENCES

1. J.M.; Timoshenko, S.P. (1996), Mechanics of Materials: Forth edition, Nelson

Engineering.

2. Johnston, E.R. (1984), Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics.

3. Mechanics of Materials Lab, CIVL 3325, 13th October 2011, Shear and Bending
Moment in Beams Test Procedure.

9.0 APPENDIX

Figure 1 Bending Moment Apparatus