SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

EAA 204/2 STRUCTURES & STRENGTH OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

(2016/17)
S4: UNSYMMETRICALLY LOADED CANTILEVER EXPERIMENT
Group B3
Group members:
1. HO KAR MENG 128853
2. SUA XING YONG 128909
3. MUHAMMAD IQBAL IZHAR BIN ZAKARIA 128874
4. MUHAMMAD NASRUL ASRAF BIN ROSLI 135523
5. AMARPREET KAUR A/P MAHINDER SINGH 135521

Lecturer Name: Dr. Mustafasanie Bin M Yussof

Date of submission: 4 October 2016
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(Assignment/Project received without this declaration form will not be graded)

Declaration of Academic Honesty

Academic honesty or academic integrity is a very important virtue that all students should uphold
at all times.

We declare that the lab report submitted is not plagiarized and is entirely my/our own works, and
that no part of it has been copied from any work produced by other person(s) / source(s) or provided
by other student(s).

We understand that issuing a false declaration can result in severe penalties and we are willing to
be penalized if any form of copying found valid.

HO KAR MENG
SUA XING YONG
MUHAMMAD IQBAL IZHAR BIN ZAKARIA
MUHAMMAD NASRUL ASRAF BIN ROSLI
AMARPREET KAUR A/P MAHINDER SINGH

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CONTENTS
Aspect Page
1.1 Result And Calculation
1.2 Discussion
1.3 Conclusion

P a g e 2 | 14
1.1Results And Calculation
Specimen: Aluminum

1 2 3 Average
Length, L (mm) 520.00 520.00 520.00 520.00
Width, b (mm) 25.78 25.82 25.67 25.76
Thickness, d (mm) 6.67 6.59 6.75 6.67

Constant Load = 5 N; 10 N
Weight of Load Hanger = 1 N; 1 N
Total Applied Load, P = 6 N; 11 N

Dial Gauge 1 Reading without Loading =0

Dial Gauge 2 Reading without Loading =0

Young Modulus for Aluminum, E = 70 GPa

Value of Moment of Inertia about X- Axis, Ixx and Moment of Inertia about Y- Axis, Iyy:

3 25.76 6.673
= = = 637.00 4
12 12
3 25.763 6.67
= = = 9501.28 4
12 12

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A. Calculation Sheet
The theoretical formula to calculate the deflection in x- axis direction, x and deflection in y-
axis, y are given as below,

=
3

=
3

where Px and Py = Total Applied Load in x and y direction respectively;

Total Applied Load, P = 6 N

Dial Gauge Dial Gauge x y

Angle, (Theory) (Theory)
1, x 2, y Px = P cos Py = P sin
() (mm) (mm)
(x0.01mm) (x0.01mm)
0 57 0 6.000 0.000 0.423 0.000
30 37 513 5.196 3.000 0.366 3.153
60 14 855 3.000 5.196 0.211 5.462
90 -17 872 0.000 6.000 0.000 6.307
120 -40 619 -3.000 5.196 -0.211 5.462
150 -62 268 -5.196 3.000 -0.366 3.153
180 -76 0 -6.000 0.000 -0.423 0.000

Sample of Calculation:
At = 30,
Px = 6 cos (30) = 5.196 N Py = 6 sin (30) = 3.000 N
3
5.196 0.520 3 0.5203
= =
3 70 109 9501.28 1012 3 70 109 637 1012
= 3.66 10-4 m = 3.153 10-3 m
= 0.366 mm = 3.153 mm

P a g e 4 | 14
Total Applied Load, P = 11 N

Dial Gauge Dial Gauge x y

Angle, (Theory) (Theory)
1, x 2, y Px = P cos Py = P sin
() (mm) (mm)
(x0.01mm) (x0.01mm)
0 114 0 11.000 0.000 0.775 0.000
30 81 951 9.526 5.500 0.671 5.781
60 26 1455 5.500 9.526 0.388 10.013
90 -35 1637 0.000 11.000 0.000 11.562
120 -95 1384 -5.500 9.526 -0.388 10.013
150 -109 727 -9.526 5.500 -0.671 5.781
180 -113 0 -11.000 0.000 -0.775 0.000

Sample of Calculation:
At = 30,
Px = 11 cos (30) = 9.526 N Py = 11 sin (30) = 5.500 N
3
9.526 0.520 5.500 0.5203
= =
3 70 109 9501.28 1012 3 70 109 637 1012
= 6.71 10-4 m = 5.781 10-3 m
= 0.671 mm = 5.781 mm

B. Ratio of x/Px and y/Py for a constant load of 6 N (Theory)

x (mm) x / Px (mm/N) y (mm) y / Py (mm/N)

0.423 0.070 0.000
0.366 0.070 3.153 1.051
0.211 0.070 5.462 1.051
0.000 6.307 1.051
-0.211 0.070 5.462 1.051
-0.366 0.070 3.153 1.051
-0.423 0.070 0.000

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C. Ratio of x/Px and y/Py for a constant load of 6 N (Experiment)

x (mm) x / Px (mm/N) y (mm) y / Py (mm/N)

0.57 0.095 0.00
0.37 0.071 5.13 1.710
0.14 0.047 8.55 1.645
-0.17 8.72 1.453
-0.40 0.133 6.19 1.191
-0.62 0.119 2.68 0.893
-0.76 0.127 0.00

D. Ratio of x/Px and y/Py for a constant load of 11 N (Theory)

x (mm) x / Px (mm/N) y (mm) y / Py (mm/N)

0.775 0.070 0.000
0.671 0.070 5.781 1.051
0.388 0.070 10.013 1.051
0.000 11.562 1.051
-0.388 0.070 10.013 1.051
-0.671 0.070 5.781 1.051
-0.775 0.070 0.000

E. Ratio of x/Px and y/Py for a constant load of 11 N (Experiment)

x (mm) x / Px (mm/N) y (mm) y / Py (mm/N)

1.14 0.104 0.00
0.81 0.085 9.51 1.729
0.26 0.047 14.55 1.527
-0.35 16.37 1.488
-0.95 0.173 13.84 1.453
-1.09 0.114 7.27 1.322
-1.13 0.103 0.00

P a g e 6 | 14
F. Average flexibility about x- axis, fx and average flexibility about y- axis, fy for both
theoretical and experimental result

, =


, =

f
=
f
f
=
f
Sample Calculation:
Total Applied Load, P = 6 N
Theoretically Experimentally
Average fx Average fx
0.070 + 0.070 + 0.070 + 0.070 + 0.070 + 0.070 0.095 + 0.071 + 0.047 + 0.133 + 0.119 + 0.127
= =
6 6
= 0.070 1 = 0.099 1

Average fy Average fy
1.051 + 1.051 + 1.051 + 1.051 + 1.051 1.710 + 1.645 + 1.453 + 1.191 + 0.893
= =
5 5
= 1.051 1 = 1.378 1
Total Applied Load, P = 11 N
Theoretically Experimentally
Average fx Average fx
0.070 + 0.070 + 0.070 + 0.070 + 0.070 + 0.070 0.104 + 0.085 + 0.047 + 0.173 + 0.114 + 0.103
= =
6 6
= 0.070 1 = 0.104 1

Average fy Average fy
1.051 + 1.051 + 1.051 + 1.051 + 1.051 1.729 + 1.527 + 1.488 + 1.453 + 1.322
= =
5 5
= 1.051 1 = 1.504 1

Total Applied Load = 6 N Theoretical Value (mm/N) Experimental Value (mm/N)

Average fx 0.070 0.099
Average fy 1.051 1.378
Total Applied Load = 11 N Theoretical Value (mm/N) Experimental Value (mm/N)
Average fx 0.070 0.104
Average fy 1.051 1.504

Table 1: Comparison between theoretical and experimental average flexibility about x- axis and
y- axis.
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 Graph of Deflection in X- Axis Direction against Angle in which
Total Load of 6 N was Applied
0.8
Deflection in x axis direction (mm)

0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Theoretical
-0.2
Experimental
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1
Angle ()

Graph 1: Graph of deflection in x- axis direction against angle in which total load of 6 N was
applied for both theoretical and experimental result.

Graph of Deflection in Y- Axis Direction against Angle in which

Total Load of 6 N was Applied
10
Deflection in y- axis direction (mm)

9
8
7
6
5
Theoretical
4
Experimental
3
2
1
0
0 30 60 90 120 150 180
Angle ()

Graph 2: Graph of deflection in y- axis direction against angle in which total load of 6 N was
applied for both theoretical and experimental result.

P a g e 8 | 14
 Graph of Deflection in X- Axis Direction against Angle in which
Total Load of 11 N was Applied
1.5

1
Defection in x- axis direction

0.5

0 Theoretical
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Experimental
-0.5

-1

-1.5
Angle ()

Graph 3: Graph of deflection in x- axis direction against angle in which total load of 11 N was
applied for both theoretical and experimental result.

Graph of Defelction in Y- Axis Direction agianst Angle in which

Total Load of 11 N was Applied
18
Deflection in y- axis direction (mm)

16
14
12
10
8 Theoretical
6 Experiment
4
2
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Angle ()

Graph 4: Graph of deflection in y- axis direction against angle in which total load of 11 N was
applied for both theoretical and experimental result.

P a g e 9 | 14
 Graph of y/ Py against x/ Px for Total Applied Load of 6 N
1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2
y/ Py (mm/N)

0.8 Theoretical
Experimental
0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14
x / Px (mm/N)

Graph 5: Graph of y /Py against x /Px for total applied load of 6 N (theoretical and
experimental)

Graph of y/ Py against x/ Px for Total Applied Load of 11 N

2
1.8
1.6
1.4
y/ Py (mm/N)

1.2
1
Theoretical
0.8
Experimental
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2
x/ Px (mm/N)

Graph 6: Graph of y /Py against x /Px for total applied load of 11 N (theoretical and
experimental)
P a g e 10 | 14
 x (mm) y (mm)
Angle,
6N 11 N 6N 11 N
()
Experiment Theory % Experiment Theory % Experiment Theory % Experiment Theory %
0 0.57 0.423 34.752 1.14 0.775 47.097 0.00 0.000 - 0.00 0.000 -
30 0.37 0.366 1.093 0.81 0.671 20.715 5.13 3.153 62.702 9.51 5.781 64.504
60 0.14 0.211 33.649 0.26 0.388 32.990 8.55 5.462 56.536 14.55 10.013 45.311
90 -0.17 0.000 - -0.35 0.000 - 8.72 6.307 38.259 16.37 11.562 41.585
120 -0.40 -0.211 89.573 -0.95 -0.388 144.845 6.19 5.462 13.328 13.84 10.013 38.220
150 -0.62 -0.366 69.399 -1.09 -0.671 62.444 2.68 3.153 15.002 7.27 5.781 25.757
180 -0.76 -0.423 79.669 -1.13 -0.775 45.806 0.00 0.000 - 0.00 0.000 -

Table 2: Percentage difference between theoretical and experimental values of deflection in x- axis and y-axis direction.

In order to calculate the percentage difference, %, the formula below is given as below,
| |
% = 100%
|Theoretical Value|
Sample Calculation:
At = 30,
|0.366 0.37|
% = 100%
|0.366|
= 1.093%

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1.2Discussion
Based on the graph of deflection in x- axis and y- axis direction against angle in which the
total load was applied (Graph 1, 2, 3 and 4), the experimental curves plotted for both type of
loads showed the same trend with the theoretical curve. Graph of deflection in x- axis against
angle (Graph 1 and 3) showed the properties of a sine curve, whereas graph of deflection in y-
axis against angle (Graph 2 and 4) showed the properties of a cosine curve. It also showed that
when the magnitude of applied load was increased, the deflection in both axis direction also
increased. However, the theoretical and experimental values for all the 4 graphs were varied by a
large margin.
From the graph of deflection in x- axis against angle (Graph 1 and 3), the theoretical curve
showed that the maximum deflection occurred at 0 and 180 with the same magnitude but in
opposite direction, while minimum deflection which was 0.000 mm occurred at 90. This fact is
true because of the concept of resolution of force. When there is a load acts at 0 and 180, it will
have collinear line of action with the x- axis. Thus, all the force of the load will act solely on the
x-axis and zero magnitude on y- axis, causing a maximum deflection in x- axis direction. On the
other hand, if a load acts at 90, the force will act solely on y- axis and zero magnitude on x-axis,
causing minimum or no deflection to the x- axis. According to the theory explained, the
experimental curve showed that at 90, the defection was of -0.17 mm (Graph 1) and -0.35 mm
(Graph 3) which was theoretically wrong because it should be at a zero deflection. The deflection
at 0 and 180 were 0.57 mm and -0.76 mm respectively (Graph 1) & 1.14 mm and -1.13 mm
respectively (Graph 3). Although maximum deflection occurred at 0 and 180, these readings
were theoretically wrong because they are not of the same magnitude. Based on Table 2, the
percentage deviation of theoretical and experimental values for 6 N load applied ranged from
1.093% to 89.573% while for 11 N load ranged from 20.715% to 144.845%.
From the graph of deflection in y- axis against angle (Graph 2 and 4), the theoretical curve
showed that the maximum deflection occurred at 90, while minimum deflection which was
0.000 mm occurred at 0 and 180. The theory is the same as that above in paragraph 2. The
experimental curve showed that at 0 and 180, the defection was of 0.000 mm for both graphs
and this was theoretically correct as at these angles, the load acted solely on x- axis only. The
deflection at 90 were 8.72 mm (Graph 2) and 16.37 mm (Graph 4). The readings were
theoretically correct as they showed maximum deflection . Based on Table 2, the percentage
P a g e 12 | 14
deviation of theoretical and experimental values for 6 N load applied ranged from 13.328% to
62.702% while for 11 N load ranged from 25.757% to 64.504%.

The average theoretical flexibility calculated for both 6N and 11N at any angle were 0.070
mm/N and 1.051 mm/N for x-direction and y-direction respectively. This implied that magnitude
of the load applied and the angle in which the load was applied did not affect the flexibility of a
specimen. However, from the graph of y /Py against x /Px (Graph 5 and 6), the average
experimental flexibility values were much differ from the average theoretical flexibility values.
Table 3 was made to compare the average theoretical flexibility values with the average
experimental flexibility values.
Average Flexibility Percentage
Load (N) Axis
Theoretical Value (mm/N) Experimental Value (mm/N) error (%)
X 0.070 0.099 41.429
6
Y 1.051 1.378 31.113
X 0.070 0.104 48.571
11
Y 1.051 1.504 43.102
Table 3: Percentage error between theoretical and experimental average flexibility about x- axis
and y- axis for both constant load of 6 N and 11 N.

Some hypothetic explanations can be drawn to address the significant deviation of our
experimental data to the theoretical data which are the defection of the experiment instrument and
human made errors. When the experiment was conducted, the stability of the Cat. No. 151
Unsymmetrically Loaded Cantilever influenced the accuracy of the reading significantly due to
uneven base of the instrument. The alignment of the string with the angle indicator on the top ring
was misaligned due to instrumental flaws, this has no doubt subjected the readings of the
experiment to be inaccurate despite the efforts taken to stabilize the base and retying the string in
order to tackle the issues occurred. Precautionary steps include ensuring the setup and the
condition of the instrument, level the instrument perfectly on ground, laying down the weight on
the hook in a gradual state, minimizing parallax error by aligning our vision at the same level as
the indicator of the instrument and last but not least, resetting the gauge to zero to prevent zero
error.

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1.3Conclusion
The deflection of the cantilever in x- axis and y- axis depends on the angle in which the load
is applied. The maximum deflection in x-axis occurs when load is applied at 0 and 180 while
minimum deflection occurs at 90. Maximum deflection in y- axis occurs when load is applied at
90 while minimum deflection occurs at 0 and 180. This phenomenon happens because the
resolution of force on x- axis and y- axis is not the same due to different angle of applied load.
Besides, it can be observed that the greater the magnitude of applied load, the greater the
deflection of beam in both axis. Theoretically, the flexibility of a specimen about x- axis and y-
axis should remain constant despite varies magnitude of load which is applied at different angles.
The flexibility of a specimen about x- axis and y- axis not necessary equal because they are
dependent to the moment of inertia about x- axis and y- axis. The theoretical and experimental
values of deflection and flexibility of the cantilever are different due to faulty of the instrument
and some errors made during the experiment.

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