CASHT

Engineering Technology
Lab Manual
 LIST OF EXPERIMENTS

Experiment # 1 TO STUDY THE LAW OF MOMENT AND EQUILIBRIUM

CONDITIONS

Experiment # 2 TO DETERMINE THE REACTION OF A SSB THROUGH A LOAD

CELL

Experiment # 3 TO DETERMINE THE REACTION OF A SST THROUGH A

LOAD CELL

Experiment # 4 TO DETERMINE THE TENSION IN A SIMPLE CABLE THROUGH

LOAD CELL

Experiment # 5 TO STUDY THE NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION

 EXPERIMENT No. 1

TO STUDY THE LAW OF MOMENT AND EQUILIBRIUM CONDITIONS

Objective:
To study the law of moment and the equilibrium conditions.

Apparatus:
1. Principle of moment apparatus
2. Weights & hangers

Related Theory:
Law of moment:
When an object is balanced (in equilibrium) the sum of the clockwise moments is equal to the
sum of the anticlockwise moments.

Force 1 x its distance from pivot = Force 2 x distance from the pivot

F 1 d1 = F 2 d2
Equilibrium:
The state of a body at rest or in uniform motion, the resultant of all forces on which is zero.

Equilibrium conditions:
There are two equilibrium conditions
1. Net Force Must Be Zero
The net force acting on the object must be zero. Therefore, all forces balance in each
direction. For example, a car moving along a highway at a constant speed is in equilibrium,
as it is not accelerating in any forward or vertical direction. Mathematically, this is stated as
Fnet = O.
2. Net Torque Must Be Zero
The second condition of static equilibrium says that the net torque acting on the object must
be zero. In this example including vertical forces, torque is also producing. And for this system
to be in equilibrium the sum of torques i.e. clockwise moments and counterclockwise moments
should be equal.
Procedure:
1. Place unequal weights on each side of the pivot.
2. Move the weights until the metre rule balances.
3. When this occurs take note of the anti-clockwise and clockwise moments.
4. Repeat several times by changing the distances on each side.
Results:
Observations:
Force Distance A.C.W. Force Distance C.W.
(F1) (D1) Moment (F2) (D2) Moment

Calculations:
 EXPERIMENT No. 2

TO DETERMINE THE REACTION OF A SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

THROUGH LOAD CELL

Objective:
Determination of reactions of a simply supported beam.

Apparatus:
i. Simply supported beam assembly
ii. Hangers and weights
iii. Steel scale

Related Theory:
Beam
A beam is a structural member used for bearing loads. It is typically used for resisting vertical
loads, shear forces and bending moments.

Types of Beam
Beams can be classified into many types based on three main criteria. They are as follows:
1. Based on geometry
2. Based on equilibrium conditions
3. Based on type of support

Based on geometry
1. Straight beam – Beam with straight profile
2. Curved beam – Beam with curved profile
3. Tapered beam – Beam with tapered cross section
4. Based on the shape of cross section:
 I-beam – Beam with ‘I’ cross section
 T-beam – Beam with ‘T’ cross section
 C-beam – Beam with ‘C’ cross section

Based on equilibrium conditions

1. Statically determinate beam
For a statically determinate beam, equilibrium conditions alone can be used to solve
reactions.
2. Statically indeterminate beam
For a statically indeterminate beam, equilibrium conditions are not enough to solve
reactions. Additional deflections are needed to solve reactions.

Based on type of support

1. Simply supported beam
A simply supported beam is a type of beam that has pinned support at one end and roller
support at the other end. Depending on the load applied, it undergoes shearing and bending.
It is the one of the simplest structural elements in existence.

2. Cantilever beam
A cantilever beam is fixed at one end and free at another end.

3. Overhanging beam
An overhanging beam is a beam that has one or both end portions extending beyond its
supports. It may have any number of supports. If viewed in a different perspective, it appears
as if it is having the features of simply supported beam and cantilever beam.

4. Continuous beam
A continuous beam has more than two supports distributed throughout its length.

5. Fixed beam
As the name suggests, fixed beam is a type of beam whose both ends are fixed.

Procedure:
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram below.
2. Note the readings on the 2 spring balances when the beam is not loaded.
3. Hang the weights W1 and W2 in the hangers at any arbitrary points A and B respectively
and note the corresponding readings of the spring balances.
4. Repeat the above procedure by altering the weights and the distances “a” and “b” as shown in
the diagram to get at least 5 sets of readings.
5. For each set calculate the magnitudes of reactions RA and RB using the conditions of
equilibrium i.e. ぇ Fy = 0 and ぇ Mo = 0.

Figure: Experiment Setup

Results:
Observations:
Weights Distance Ra Rb
% %
W1 W2 a b EXP ANA EXP ANA
difference difference

Calculations:
 EXPERIMENT No. 3

To Determine the Reaction of a Simply Supported Truss Through Load Cell

Objective:
To determine the reactions of a simply supported truss through load cell.

Apparatus:
1. Truss
2. Hangers & Weights

Related Theory:
Truss:
A truss is a structure made of two force members all pin connected to each other.
Types of trusses:
There are different types of trusses. Some of them are shown in the figure.
Assumptions for the analysis of truss:
The assumptions on which the analysis of trusses is based are as follows:
1. The members of the truss are connected at their ends by frictionless pins or hinges
2. The truss is loaded and supported only at its joints.
3. The forces in the members of the truss are purely axial.
Determinacy of a Truss:
Suppose that m is the total number of members in a truss and j the total number of joints. Then,
noting that initially there are three members and three joints, the above relationship may be
written
m - 3 = 2(j- 3)
so that m=2j-3.......................(1)
If Eq. (1) is satisfied, the truss is constructed from a series of statically determinate triangles and
the truss itself is statically determinate. Furthermore, if m 五 2j - 3 the structure is unstable or if
m
> 2j - 3, the structure is statically indeterminate. Note that Eq. (1) applies only to the internal
forces in a truss; the support system must also be statically determinate to enable the analysis to
be come out.
Procedure:
1. Make sure the truss should be statically determinate
2. Hang the truss with the hooks of spring balance inverted at supports
3. Hang the hangers on the joints of truss and load them with weights
4. Note the reading of spring balances on the support
5. Apply error correction on the spring balance readings if required
6. Analyze the truss analytically
7. Find the % difference between the experimental and analytical value
Results:
Observations:
Analytic %
Sr. No Nodes weight Reaction
Value Difference
1 A
2 B
3 C
4 D
5 E
6 F

Calculations:
 EXPERIMENT No. 4

To Determine the Tension in The Simple Cable Through Load Cell

Objective:
To determine the tension in the simple cable through load cell.

Apparatus:
1. Steel cable
2. Spring balance
3. Hangers & weights

Related Theory:
Tension
The tension is defined as:
"The force exerted by a string when it is subjected to pull".
If a person is holding a block of weight W attached to the end of a string, a force is experienced
by him. This force is known as Tension. When the body is at rest, the magnitude of tension is
equal to the weight of the body suspended by the string. Tension and the weight acts in the
opposite direction. Tension is vector quantity, which has both magnitude and direction. Its
magnitude remains constant at all points of the string.

Figure: Cable in tension

Since tension is a force, therefore, it has same units as that of force.

In S.I. system: NEWTON
In C.G.S. system: DYNE
In F.P.S. system: POUND
Procedure:
1. Take a steel cable or any available one and make loops at its both ends
2. Fix the spring balance and put one loop in the hook of spring balance
3. Put another loop down in the weight hanger
4. Check the zero error in the spring balance
5. Load the hanger with weights and read the spring balance reading
6. Apply error correction for the spring balance if required
7. This would be the experimental reading for this test
8. Repeat the procedure four to five times
9. Find the % difference between the experimental and theoretical value

Results:
Observations:
mass of
mass of Exp. Th. %
Sr No. hanger Weight
hanger Reading Reading difference
+
weights

Calculations:
 EXPERIMENT No. 5

To Study Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Objective:
To verify Newton’s second law and study the relationship between force, mass and acceleration

Apparatus:
Meter stick, cart, mass set, ~1.0 m long string, stopwatch, pulley, masking tape, spring scale

Related Theory:
Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion
If the resultant force acting on a particle is not zero, the particle will have an acceleration
proportional to the magnitude of the resultant and in the direction of this resultant force. This law
can be stated as
F = ma
------------------------------------------------------------- (i)
F = resultant force acting on a body
m = mass of the body, a = acceleration of the body
Methodology to find relationship between F, m and a
For this purpose we study two parameters at once by keeping the third parameter constant to find
out the relationship between them. This methodology would be used here to find out the
relationship between them.

Procedure:

4O
cm
6O
cm

Figure: Experimental Setup

 A. Force and Acceleration
1. Set up your cart as shown in the picture above. Loop one end of the string around the
end of your cart. Tie a small loop on the other end to hold masses.

2. Measure 60 cm from the end of the table and place a piece of tape there. This is where
you the front end of your cart will start. Place a second piece of tape 20 cm from the end
of the table. This is the finish line.

3. Add 1,000 grams to your cart and record the total mass of (cart + 1,000 g) in the Data
Table. Your cart’s mass should be written on the cart. If not, your teacher will tell you
the cart’s mass.

4. Hang a 50 g mass from a spring scale to measure its pulling force (in Newtons). Record
this as your first force on the data table.

5. Holding the cart still, place the 5O g mass on the hanging end of the string.

6. In your data table, record the time it takes the cart to move the 40 cm between your
two pieces of tape. Complete a total of three trials.

7. Repeat for the following total masses hanging off the end of the string
 1OO grams total hanging mass
 2OO grams total hanging mass
 3OO grams total hanging mass
 4OO grams total hanging mass

8. Complete three trials for each (more if data is inconsistent) and record forces and
times in your data table. Make a graph between force and acceleration.

B. Mass and Acceleration

Same procedure will be repeated but in this case pulling force will be constant and we will
change the mass on the cart and will note the corresponding acceleration.
 Observations & Calculations:
Force and Acceleration

Net Acceleration
Cart Mass Distance Time (s) Average
Average
Force on Traveled Velocity (cm/s2)
(grams) Time (s)
string (N) (cm) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 (cm/s) a=vavg/t

Mass and Acceleration

Net Acceleration
Cart Mass Distance Time (s) Average
Average
Force on Traveled Velocity (cm/s2)
(grams) Time (s)
string (N) (cm) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 (cm/s) a=vavg/t
 Force ~ Acceleration Graph

For

Acceleration

Mass ~ Acceleration Graph

Ma

Acceleration

Results:
1. As force ……………., acceleration ………………..

2. As force ……………., acceleration ………………..

3. As mass ……………., acceleration ………………..

4. As mass ……………., acceleration ………………..

5. Force and acceleration ARE …………………………………………………

6. Mass and acceleration ARE …………………………………………………