UNIVERSITY OF EAST

LONDON

Stiffness determination of a beam structure uniform

section.

CE2203: Analysis and design of structure elements.

Written by: Abdullah Sharriff

Student No: 0945251

Module Leader: Iounnou Constantinou

Content
Aim..............................................................................................Page 3
Apparatus...................................................................................Page 3
Observation................................................................................Page 4
Calculation..................................................................................Page 5
Discussion and interpretation...................................................Page 9
Error.............................................................................................Page 9
Conclusion...................................................................................Page 9
Appendix.....................................................................................Graphs

PART 1:

Aim: the aim of this experiment is to determine the stiffness of a beam

structure of uniform section and relationship between moment and
rotation

OBSERVATION

PART ONE
Loading
W
(Kg)
0.000
0.500
1.000
1.500
2.000
2.500
3.000
2.500
2.000
1.500
1.000
0.500
0.000

Distance
(b)between

Dial Gauge
Reading
(mm)

Distance (a)
between load
and

Dial Gauge and

8.200
8.580
9.030
9.490
9.940
10.400
10.840
10.750
10.090
9.640
9.210
8.740
8.230

support B (mm)
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000

support B (mm)
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000

Table 1: shows the measurements results

CALCULATION

PART ONE
Load,
W

Displacemen
t

(N)

0.00
4.91
9.81
14.72
19.62
24.53
29.43
24.53
19.62
14.72
9.81
4.91
0.00

(mm)

Distance (a)
between load
and
support B
(mm)

0.00
0.38
0.83
1.29
1.74
2.20
2.64
2.55
1.89
1.44
1.01
0.54
0.03

150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000
150.000

Moment
(MB )
W * a (N
mm)
0.000
736.500
1471.500
2208.000
2943.000
3679.500
4414.500
3679.500
2943.000
2208.000
1471.500
736.500
0.000

Table 2: shows the calculation of the experiment

Distance (b)

Rotation

between Dial
Gauge and
support
B
(mm)
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000
250.000

( B )
/b
0.000
0.002
0.003
0.005
0.007
0.009
0.011
0.010
0.008
0.006
0.004
0.002
0.000

Momen
t
(MB )
W*a

Rotatio
n
( B )
/b

0.000
736.5
1471.5
2208
2943
3679.5
4414.5
3679.5
2943
2208
1471.5
736.5
0.00

0.000
0.002
0.003
0.005
0.007
0.009
0.011
0.009
0.008
0.006
0.004
0.002
0.000

Table 3: this set of readings will be used to determine the slope of a

straight line plotting moment (y axis) against rotation (x axis).

PART 2:
Loading,
WA

Loading,
Wd

(kg)
0.000
0.500
1.000
1.500
2.000
2.500
3.000
2.500
2.000
1.500
1.000
0.500
0.000

(kg)
0.00
0.26
0.54
0.70
1.00
1.22
1.40
1.19
0.99
0.70
0.50
0.26
0.00

Dial Gauge
Reading 1
(mm)
8.23
8.31
9.60
9.68
9.92
10.11
10.53
10.10
9.84
9.65
8.48
8.28
8.24

TABLE 4: shows the measurements results

Dial Gauge
Reading 2
(mm)
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18

Load, WA
(N)

Displacement
At point 1
1
(mm)

Distance
(a)
(mm)

0.00
4.91
9.81
14.72
19.62
24.53
29.43
24.53
19.62
14.72
9.81
4.91
0.00

0.00
0.08
1.37
1.45
1.69
1.88
2.30
1.87
1.61
1.42
1.25
0.05
0.01

150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0

Distance(b)
Between
dial Gauge
and
support B
(mm)
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0
250.0

Moment,
MB WA * a
(N mm)

000.000
736.500
1471.500
2208.000
2943.000
3679.500
4414.500
3679.000
2943.000
2208.000
1471.500
736.500
000.000

Rotation
B
1/b

0.0000
0.0003
0.0050
0.0060
0.0070
0.0080
0.0092
0.0080
0.0064
0.0060
0.0050
0.0002
0.0000

TABLE 5: Shows the calculation on the experimental stiffness of the

member.

Moment,
MB WA * a
(N mm)
000.000
736.500
1471.500
2208.000
2943.000
3679.500
4414.500
3679.000
2943.000
2208.000
1471.500
736.500
000.000

Rotation
B
1 / b
0.0000
0.0003
0.0050
0.0060
0.0070
0.0080
0.0092
0.0080
0.0064
0.0060
0.0050
0.0002
0.0000

Table 6: this set of readings will be used to determine the slope of a

straight line plotting moment (y axis) against rotation (x axis).

Carry over factor calculations.

Loading,
WA
(N)

Loading,
WD
(N)

0.00
4.91
9.81
14.72
19.62
24.53
29.43
24.53
19.62
14.72
9.81
4.91
0.00

0.00
2.55
5.30
6.87
9.81
12.00
13.73
11.67
9.71
6.87
4.91
2.55
0.00

Dial
Gauge
Reading
2(mm)
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18
17.18

Distance
(a)
(mm)

Distance
(d)
(mm)

150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0

170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0
170.0

Moment,
MB
WA * a
(N mm)
0.00
736.50
1471.50
2208.00
2943.00
3679.50
4414.50
3679.50
2943.00
2208.00
1471.50
736.50
0.00

Moment
Mc
WD* d
(N mm)
0.00
433.50
901.00
1168.00
1667.70
2040.00
2334.10
1984.00
1650.70
1168.00
834.70
433.50
0.000

TABLE 7: Carry over factor calculations.

Moment,
MB
WA a
(N mm)

Moment
Mc
WD* d
(N mm)
0.00
736.50
1471.50
2208.00
2943.00
3679.50
4414.50
3679.50
2943.00
2208.00
1471.50
736.50
0.00

0.00
433.50
901.00
1168.00
1667.70
2040.00
2334.10
1984.00
1650.70
1168.00
834.70
433.50
0.000

TABLE 8: this set of readings will be used to determine the slope of a

straight line plotting MB (y axis) against MC (x axis).

ERROR:
First time when the result were been recorded team members did not read the fully
instruction properly this led to a massive error which did not match with the
experimental tolerance this occur due to the fact that while the load was applied to
the hanger the dial gauge was not tapped therefore every time the reading was
taken few divisions were counterbalance which led to a big difference in tolerance.
However the loading and uploading of the weight has played a major part as great
care did not taken into consideration therefore while putting the weight of slowly the
hand adds weight to it when not letting the weight off accurately.

DISCUSSION:
From research done Hook`s law state that (load is directly proportional to deflection)
which gives linear relationship, loading and unloading are same relationship.
However this experiment was to prove that the stiffness of the steel bar, nevertheless
the stiffness of the bar was calculated by acquire the gradient of the straight line from
the graph which was plotted moment (Mb) against rotation ( B). As the gradient
was 1000/0.0025 = 400000, this was then checked theoretically by using the formula
kBC = 3EI / L. Second moment of area, I = (bd3 / 12) = (25x103 / 12) = 450mm4.
Kbc = 3 (200x103) x (450) / 750 = 360000 Nmm/unit rotation. Therefore
400000 360000 = 40000N/mm or 40kN/mm. Looking at this value one
can tell that this value was over the tolerance allowable for this
experiment and the reason were clearly explained on the error section.
Looking at the three graphs gained in this experiment it clearly shows that
this experiment has relationship between the load and the rotation of the
beam.

CONCLUSION:
The final conclusion to this experiment shows that the relationship is
present between applied load and rotation, therefore the practical and
theoretical corroborate with the experiment analysis. Few errors were also
gained due to different type of reasons including, carelessness and old
equipment used during the laboratory. If chance was given to do the
experiment again, taking more time is really vital and read the information
given and understand it well before undertaking the experiment. Overall
this experiment is very good and can be used and applied in real work.