UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL
ENGINEERING
EXPERIMENT NUMBER: 1
LAB GROUP NUMBER: A
GROUP MEMBERS:
DAURE
SAM T.
..
DZAPASI
RUTENDO A.

MAVHIYA
MUNYARADZI
.
KWENDA
MIEGUERY
.................
CHIRIPASHI
ELIJAH
.
MAROWATSANGA RUVARASHE
.
CHIPUNZA
TINOTENDA
.
CHIPANERA
MAKANAKA
.
MUSUNDIRE
TAKUNDA

IRADUKUNDA
CEDRIC
.

R158247X
R158275N
R158264T
R158262B
R138431X
R158255H
R158239B
R047483W
R115048L
R158279J

DATE CARRIED OUT: 24 MARCH 2016

MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMISSION: DZAPASI RUTENDO
A.
SUBMISSION DATE: 07 APRIL 2016
RESPONSIBLE ACADEMIC: ENGINEER MADANHIRE
1. TITLE:
CENTRAL DEFLECTION OF A BEAM SUBJECTED TO FOUR POINT
LOADING
2.OBJECTIVES:
To show that the beam deflection is directly proportional to the load,
to determine the modulus of elasticity E of the beam material from
the central deflection and to compare the values with the standard
ones.
3. THEORY:
In four-point loading, a load system of equal weights is supplied
symmetrically on equal overhangs.
A beam subjected to four-point loading has a constant bending
moment M between supports and is bent into a circle of radius R.
If equal weights of W N are applied at distances x meters from the
supports, the bending moment M is given by:
M = Wx..(1)

Referring to the diagram, the intersecting chords theorem gives;

(AB)(BC) = (DB) (BE).(2)
And if distance between supports is L and central deflection is ,
then:
(L /2) (L / 2) = [R+ (R-)] (3)
And neglecting second orders of small quantities:
(L/ 2)^2= 2R, from which R = L^2 / ..(4)
Considering the pure bending equation:
M/ I =E / R.(5)
Where:
I = second moment of area for the beams section m^4
E= modulus of elasticity of the beams material, N/m^2
Substituting equations (1) and (4) and I =bd^3 /12 into equation
(5), the expression for the load W becomes;
W=[2/3 E /L^2 bd^3], i.e W = k
W =k is a linear function of the beams deflection , and k is the
gradient of the straight line.
Plotting W against gives a straight line passing through the
origin and all the parameters in k are kept constant.
4.APPARATUS:

A-DIAL GUAGE

B-WEGHTS
C-STEEL RULE
D- HANGER
E- TABLE
5.PROCEDURE:
Keeping L and x constant, values of for several loads was
measured using the dial gauge placed vertically at mid span
of the beam and initially set to zero.
The apparatus base was tapped lightly before each gauge
reading was obtained to reduce friction effects in the gauge.
The same procedure was repeated for a variety of beams and
comparative graphs were plotted on the same axis.
6.RESULTS:
Material A: Mild steel
Width
Height
Overhang
Fixed Length

b/ m
d/ m
x/m
L/m

25.10 10^-3
3.9510^-3
0.10
1.00

MASS

LOAD

DEFLECTION

m / kg
0.2

W/N
1.962

1 /mm
1.89

2 / mm
1.96

AV / mm
1.93

0.4

3.924

3.77

3.90

3.84

0.6

5.886

5.76

0.8

7.848

7.66

1.0

9.810

8.54

5.83
7.83
8.54

5.80
7.75
8.54

AV / m
19.310
^-4
38.410
^-4
58.010
^-4
77.510
^-4
85.410
^-4

Material B: Mild steel

Width b/ m
Height d/ m
Overhang x / m
Fixed Length L / m

25.3 10^-3
5.410^-3
0.1
1.00

MASS

LOAD

DEFLECTION

m/kg
0.2

W/N
1.962

1 /mm
0.43

2 / mm
0.44

AV / mm
0.44

0.4

3.924

0.87

0.87

0.87

0.6

5.886

1.33

1.33

1.33

0.8

7.848

1.75

1.75

1.75

1.0

9.810

2.20

2.20

2.20

AV / m
44.010
^-5
87.010
^-5
13.310
^-4
17.510
^-4
22.010
^-4

Material C: Mild steel

Width b/ m
Height d/ m
Overhang x / m
Fixed Length L / m

25.9010^-3
7.3010^-3
0.10
1.00

MASS

LOAD

DEFLECTION

m / kg
0.2

W/N
1.962

1 /mm
0.24

2 / mm
0.25

AV / mm
0.25

0.4

3.924

0.48

0.48

0.48

0.6

5.886

0.73

0.73

0.73

0.8

7.848

0.98

0.99

0.99

1.0

9.810

1.24

1.24

1.24

AV / m
25.010
^-5
48.010
^-5
73.010
^-5
99.010
^-5
12.410

^-4

MATERIAL A

MATERIAL B

MATERIAL C

CALCULATIONS:
For Material A:

W=

2 Eb d
2
3L x

But gradient =

2 Eb d
2
3L x

Gradient =(y2 -y1/x2-x1)

Gradient =

(0.006;6.2)(0.00185;2).

(6.2-2)/0.006-0.00185) =

=1012.05Nm-1
Therefore E = gradient (3L2x)/2bd3
E = 9.811010 Nm-2

For Material B:

W=

2 Eb d
2
3L x

But gradient =

2 Eb d3
3 L2 x

Gradient = (y2 -y1/x2-x1)

Gradient = 4457.14Nm-1

(0.0022; 9.8)(0.00045;2)

Therefore E = gradient (3L2x)/2bd3

E = 1.681011 Nm-2

For Material C:

W=

2 Eb d
2
3L x

But gradient =

2 Eb d
2
3L x

Gradient =(y2 -y1/x2-x1)

Gradient =

(0.0012;9.6)(0.00024;2).

(9.6-2)/(0.0012-0.00024)

=7 916.67Nm-1
Therefore E = gradient (3L2x)/2bd3
E = 1.181011 Nm-2

(8). POSSIBLE ERRORS:

Type of Error
Zero error

Friction effects in the gauge.

How it can be Prevented

The dial gauge should be set to
zero before each set of readings
is done
The apparatus base should be
tapped lightly before each
reading is taken.

Parallax error

By being alert

CONCLUSION:
The graph is linear showing that the weight is directly proportional
to deflection. There is considerable deviation from the standard
values due to the errors in the experiment. Therefore modulus of
elasticity increases with increase in density.