HES1125

Mechanics of Structures

Lecturer Name Saravana Kannan Thangavelu

Student Name/ ID Muaid Abdul Kareem Alnazir (4207114)
Lab Date 21/10/2009
Submission Date 05/11/2009
Lab Report (BENDING STRESS IN A BEAM)
1. Objective
1.1 To investigate bending stress in a beam

2. Equipment
2.1 Test Frame
2.2 Loading frame and STR8A Load Cell
2.3 An inverted T-shaped aluminum beam fitted with nine strain gauges resting
on two roller support.
2.4 Digital force and strain display units

3. Theory

In this experiment, we are going to use the bending moment apparatus as shown in Figure 1. By
using STR8A load cell, we are able to control the load that we apply to the T beam resting on the
roller supports. By using the strain gauges and digital strain display that is connected to the PC,
we are able to obtain the load reading at nine different gauge positions. From the readings, we
are able to observe the bending moment and relationship between strain and bending moment.

4. Experimental Procedure
4.1 Ensure the beam and Load Cell are properly aligned. Turn the thumbwheel on the Load Cell
to apply a (positive downward) preload to the beam of about 100 N. Zero the Load Cell using the
control equipment provided.
4.2 Take the nine zero strain readings by choosing the number with the selector switch. Fill in
Table 1 with zero force values.
4.3 Increase the load to 100N and note all nine of strain readings. Repeat the procedure in 100N
to 500N. Finally; gradually release the load and preload.
4.4 Correct the strain reading values to zero and convert the load to a bending moment then fill
in Table 2
4.5 From your results, plot a graph of strain against bending moment for all nine strain gauges
(on the same graph).

5 Data sheet
These are the data obtained from the experiment.

Gauge Load (N)

0 100 200 300 400 500
1 -15.0 -77.5 -145.4 -231.3 -320.6 -423.8
2 -9.4 -48.9 -89.6 -146.4 -210 -280.7
3 -7.7 -51.3 -98.9 -156.3 -219.1 -289.1
4 -5.7 -3.5 -1.2 -7.5 -15.8 -23.7
5 -0.4 1.9 4.0 5.6 7.2 9.1
6 -0.6 30.4 64.7 91.4 118.4 145.3
7 12.2 22.0 39.5 56.3 70.6 88.8
8 8.3 45.6 48.8 51.2 53.3 56.2
9 14.9 38 70.8 104.4 137.5 175.2
Table 1 Results for experiment (uncorrected)
 Gauge Load (N)
0 100 200 300 400 500
1 0 -62.5 -130.4 -216.3 -305.6 -408.8
2 0 -39.5 -80.2 -137.0 -200.6 -271.3
3 0 -43.6 -91.2 -148.6 -211.4 -281.4
4 0 2.2 4.5 -1.8 -10.1 -18
5 0 2.3 4.4 6.0 7.6 9.5
6 0 31.0 65.3 92.0 119.0 145.9
7 0 9.8 27.3 44.1 58.4 76.6
8 0 37.3 40.5 42.9 45.0 47.9
9 0 23.1 55.9 89.5 122.6 160.3
Table 2 Results for experiment (corrected)

6. Model Calculation
Draw SF and BM diagrams.

Figure 2 Free body diagram of the T beam

∑Fy=0, Ay+By- W/2 –W/2 =0

Ay= W-By

∑MA=0, -(W/2)(0.35m) – (W/2)(0.485m) + (0.835m)By=0

By = (0.4175m)W/(0.835m)

By= 0.5W

Ay= 0.5W

Section 1:
M
0 ≤ x < 0.35

V
W/2
 x

∑Fy=0, V= W/2

∑MNA=0, M- (W/2)(x)=0

M= (Wx)/2

At x= 0, V= W/2 and M=0

At x=0.35m V= W/2 and M= 0.175 W

Section 2

0 .35 ≤ x < 0.485

W/2

0.35m x- 0.35m
x V
W/2

∑Fy=0, V= 0

∑MNA=0, M- (W/2)(x) + (W/2)(x-0.35m) =0

M= (Wx)/2 – (Wx)/2 + 0.175W

M= 0.175W

At x= 0.35m, V= 0 and M=0.175W

At x=0.485m , V= 0 and M= 0.175 W

Section 3

0 .485 ≤ x < 0.835

W/2 W/2

0.35m 0.135m x-0.485m

V
x
W/2

∑Fy=0, V= -W/2

∑MNA=0, M- (W/2)(x) + (W/2)(x-0.35m) + (W/2)(x-0.485m)=0

M= (Wx)/2 – (Wx)/2 + 0.175W - (Wx)/2 + 0.2425W

M= -(Wx)/2 + 0.4175W

At x= 0.485m, V= -W/2 and M= -0.2425W + 0.4175W

= 0.175W

At x=0.835m , V= -W/2 and M= -0.4175W +0.4175W

=0

V (N)
W/2

-W/2

M(Nm)
0.175 W

Figure3 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagram

Cross section analysis of the T beam

Figure 4 Cross section of the T beam (dimensions are in millimeters)

Centroid
y = ∑yiAi/ ∑Ai
= [(22.5*202.88)+(3.2*243.84)]mm3/(202.88+243.84)mm2
= 11.852mm
Segment A y dy Ixx= bh3/12 A.dy2
I (31.7)(6.4)mm2 22.5mm (22.25-11.85)mm [(6.4)(31.7)3]/12 (202.88mm2)(10.4mm)2
= 202.88mm2 =10.4mm = 1.6989x104mm4 =21.94x103mm4

II (38.1)(6.4)mm2 3.2mm (3.2-11.85)mm [(38.1)(6.4)3]/12 (243.84mm2)(-8.65mm)2

= 243.84mm2 = -8.65mm =832.3072mm4 =18.2x103mm4
Table 3 Calculation table
Moment of inertia about the neutral axis
Ixo= I I,xo + I II,xo
=[(1.6989x104 + 21.94x103)mm4] + [(832.3072+18.2x103)mm4]
= 58.0x103 mm4
=58.0x10-9 m4

Figure 5 Cross section of the T beam with gauge position (dimensions are in millimeters)
y-distance between neutral axis and gauges
y1 = [38.1 – 11.85] mm = 26.25mm
 y2,3 = [30.1 – 11.85] mm = 18.25mm
y4,5 = [15.1- 11.85] mm = 3.25mm
y6,7 = [11.85 – 6.4] mm = 5.45mm
y8,9 =11.85 mm
Flexure Bending Formula
The bending stress at a cross section at any distance y from the neutral axis is
given as:

where,
M = Bending moment
σ = Bending stress
I = Second moment of area about the neutral axis
According to Hooke’s Law,
σ = Eε
which leads to,

Eε

ε= My/ IE ________________________________________________(i)
where,
ε = Strain
E = Young’s modulus (for aluminium, E= 69×109 Pa)

7. Results and Discussion

Gauge Bending Moment (Nm) y-
0 17.5 35 52.5 70 87.5
position
(m)
1 0 -1.640625 -3.423 -5.677875 -8.022 -10.731 0.02625

2 0 -0.720875 -1.46365 -2.50025 -3.66095 -4.951225 0.01825

3 0 -0.7957 -1.6644 -2.71195 -3.85805 -5.13555 0.01825

4 0 0.00715 0.014625 -0.00585 -0.032825 -0.0585 0.00325

5 0 0.007475 0.0143 0.0195 0.0247 0.030875 0.00325

 6 0 0.16895 0.355885 0.5014 0.64855 0.795155 0.00545

7 0 0.05341 0.148785 0.240345 0.31828 0.41747 0.00545

8 0 0.442005 0.479925 0.508365 0.53325 0.567615 0.01185

9 0 0.273735 0.662415 1.060575 1.45281 1.899555 0.01185

Table4 Results for experiment in terms of bending moment (with y-position included)

Gauge Bending Moment (Nm)

0 17.5 35 52.5 70 87.5

Strain
1 0 -1.07612 x10-5 -2.24522 x10-5 -3.72424 x10-5 -5.26181 x10-5 -7.0387 x10-5

2 0 -3.28735 x10-6 -6.67457 x10-6 -1.14017 x10-5 -1.66947 x10-5 -2.2579 x10-5

3 0 -3.62857 x10-6 -7.59003 x10-6 -1.23671 x10-5 -1.75936 x10-5 -2.3419 x10-5

4 0 5.80647 x10-9 1.18769 x10-8 -4.75075 x10-9 -2.6657 x10-8 -4.7507 x10-8

5 0 6.0704 x10-9 1.16129 x10-8 1.58358 x10-8 2.00587 x10-8 2.50734 x10-8

6 0 2.30079 x10-7 4.84651 x10-7 6.82816 x10-7 8.83208 x10-7 1.08286 x10-6

7 0 7.27348 x10-8 2.02618 x10-7 3.27306 x10-7 4.3344 x10-7 5.68519E-07

8 0 1.30879 x10-6 1.42107 x10-6 1.50528 x10-6 1.57896 x10-6 1.68072 x10-6

9 0 8.10535E-07 1.96142 x10-6 3.14038 x10-6 4.3018 x10-6 5.62462 x10-6

Table5 Strain in different gauges with various bending moment using equation (i)

Gauge Bending Moment

0 17.5 35 52.5 70 87.5

Strain
1 0 -1.07612x10-5 -2.24522 x10-5 -3.72424 x10-5 -5.26181 x10-5 -7.0387 x10-5

2,3 0 -3.45796 x10-6 -7.1323 x10-6 -1.18844 x10-5 -1.71441 x10-5 -2.2999 x10-5

4,5 0 5.93844 x10-9 1.17449 x10-8 5.54254 x10-9 -3.29913 x10-9 -1.1217 x10-9

6,7 0 1.51407 x10-7 3.43635 x10-7 5.05061 x10-7 6.58324 x10-7 8.25688 x10-7

8,9 0 1.05966 x10-6 1.69125 x10-6 2.32283 x10-6 2.94038 x10-6 3.65267 x10-6
 1) What is the relationship between the bending moment and strain at the various
positions?

Graph1 Bending Moment vs Strain

As the moment increases at different positions, the value of the strain also increases
(proportional relationship).

2) What do you notice about the strain gauge reading on the opposite sides of the
section? Should they be identical?

According to the experiment (refer to table 2) and after correcting the values still the opposite
sides are not identical. However according to the theory the opposite sides should be identical.

3) If the readings are not identical give two reasons why?

a) In the theory we assume the distribution of the load is uniform. However, as the opposite sides
have different readings in the experiment which means the load distribution is not uniform as it
should be.

b) Also, the apparatus does not give exact and accurate reading. For example, when the
thumbwheel gives a reading of 100N the computer gives either slightly more or less than 100N
and that will effect negatively on the measurements and calculations.

4) What is the value of the strain reading at neutral axis?

The value of the strain is zero.

5) Calculate the maximum stress in the section by turning the strains into stress values
(at maximum load). Compare this to theoretical value.

Experimentally:

σ= Eε

= (69x109 Pa) (-7.0387 x10-5)

= - 4.857 x106 Pa

Theoretically:

σ= (My)/I

= (-10.731Nm)( 0.02625m) / (58X10-9 m4)

= - 4.857 x106 Pa

The experimental value and theoretical value are the same.

6) Does the bending equation accurately predict the stress in the beam?

Yes, the bending equation predicts accurately the stress in the beam.

8. Conclusion
The strain is directly proportional to the bending moment. As the value of the bending moment increases,
the value of the strain also increases.

The bending equation predicts accurately the stress in the beam.