UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS ENCE 2311, SECTION 602 MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LAB SPRING 2013

LAB REPORT No.4

Beam Bending

Lab Conducted: 03/12/2013 Report submitted: 03/19/2013

Submitted by:

_______________________________________ Johan Dreher

OBJECTIVE:
To compare measured deflections to deflections calculated using the conjugate beam method for the beam shown below. P/2
7.5

P/2
7.5 1.25

1.5 1.5

A
18 0.5

THEORY:
The conjugate beam method is an engineering method, which helps to easily calculate the deflection of a beam. In our case, we are going to analyze a beam with four concentrated load (two external loads and two reactions). For a simple span like this, the conjugate beam is the same as the real beam. The maximum stress in the beam [psi] is defined by the following equation in terms of maximum moment M [lb in] , distance from the neutral axis to the external fiber C [in] and moment of inertia I [in^4].

It is important to remember that according to Hooks Law, the modulus of elasticity E [psi] can be defined as: Where [psi] and [in/in] are normal stress and strain respectively.

The first step in the conjugate beam method is to calculate the reactions in the supports. Then it is necessary to draw the shear and moment diagram for the beam. Below the moment diagram we have to draw the M/EI diagram. This diagram will simplify our calculations in the following manner. The area under the curve of the M/EI diagram is going to be considered as a distributed load in the conjugate beam. The reactions due to that load are to be determined. In our case, the M/EI diagram shows a symmetric shape, and then both reactions are going to be equal. Therefore,

each reaction can be computed as the half of the area under the curve of the M/EI diagram. Shears in the conjugate beam correspond to rotations in the real beam. Moments in the conjugate beam represent the deflections in the real beam. In other words, the sum of moments with respect to a specific point divided by the factor EI is going to be equal to the deflection of that point.

EQUIPMENT
Scott Beam Tester Strain indicator Ruler Dial gages Stationary micrometer Aluminum Beam

PROCEDURE
1. Place the aluminum beam in the Scott Beam Tester. Make sure that the strain gage and pressure gage are well calibrated. 2. The specimen is going to be loaded as shown in the figure below the objectives. 3. Begin with a load of P=150 lb and measure the displacement of the beam 6, 9 and 4 inches from the left support. Write down these values along with the strain value given by the strain gage. 4. Repeat step 3 with loads of 300 and 400 lb. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4. This will be a second run just to make sure the values are accurate.

DATA AND RESULTS:

E1= Modulus of elasticity based on the strain data. P (lb)
0 150 300 450 0 150 300 450 1st Run

0 458 895 1313 0 468 894 1313

9 (in)
0 0.025 0.049 0.0714 0 0.025 0.0485 0.071

6 (in)
0 0.021 0.042 0.061 0 0.022 0.0415 0.061

4 (in)
0 0.0155 0.031 0.046 0 0.0155 0.0305 0.045

M (lb in)
0 562.5 1125 1687.5 0 562.5 1125 1687.5

(psi)
0 4318.94963 8637.89926 12956.8489 0 4318.94963 8637.89926 12956.8489 E average:

E1 (psi)
0 9430021.029 9651284.093 9868125.586 0 9228524.854 9662079.712 9868125.586 9618026.81

2nd Run

Calculated deflections (Conjugate Beam Method) and error compared to the 2nd Run observed deflections P (lb)
0 150 300 450

9 (in)
0 0.02236 0.04472 0.06708

Error: 0% 11.8068% 8.4526% 5.8438%

6 (in)
0 0.01918 0.03836 0.05754

Error: 0% 14.7028% 8.1856% 6.0132%

4 (in)
0 0.01407 0.02814 0.04221

Error: 0% 10.1635% 8.3866% 6.6098%

Calculation of E based in the observed deflections P (lb) 9 (in) 0 0 150 0.025 300 0.049 450 0.0714 0 0 150 0.025 300 0.0485 450 0.071 M (lb 4 (in) in) 0 0 0.0155 11012.5 0.031 22025 0.046 33037.5 0 0 0.0155 11012.5 0.0305 22025 0.045 33037.5

M (lb in) 0 17507.8125 35015.625 52523.4375 0 17507.8125 35015.625 52523.4375

E2 (psi) 0 8603347.67 8778926.19 9037129.9 0 8603347.67 8869430.58 9088043.31

6 (in) M (lb in) 0 0 0.021 15018.75 0.042 30037.5 0.061 45056.25 0 0 0.022 15018.75 0.0415 30037.5 0.061 45056.25

E2 (psi) 0 8785977.54 8785977.54 9074042.37 0 8386614.92 8891832.69 9074042.37

E2 (psi) 0 8728303.08 8728303.08 8823175.94 0 8728303.08 8871390.02 9019246.52

2nd Run

1st Run

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The deflections in the beam were successfully calculated using the conjugate beam method. The exact values along with their errors compared with the measured deflections are shown in the previous section. This error values are relatively acceptable and may be cause by an improper calibration of the strain gage or pressure gage in the test machine. The modulus of elasticity was calculated in two different ways. Based on the strain data (E1) and using the observed deflections (E2). The values of E1 turned to be more accurate than E2, considering the theoretical E as 10,000,000 psi. This fact leads me to the conclusion that there is definitely a problem with the measurement of the deflections, because the only source of error for the values of E2 is the measured deflections. Maybe the stationary micrometers are not well calibrated.