LABORATORY EXPERIMENT II

Practical Topic : Bending stress in a beam

Surname : Xekelwani

Name : Thabo

Student no : 218059019

Subject : Applied strength of materials IIIA

Experiment no : 02

Date of Practical : 24/04/2019

Due date : 02/05/2019

Group No : 11
1 OBJECTIVE
The aim/objective of this experiment was to verify how accurate the beam equation
on the bending stress apparatus is when various loads are applied and their
respective strains, stresses and bending moments are measured.

2 THEORY
Bending stresses are all stress caused by bending moment in beams. In solving the
beam problems, the beam equation is capable of being turned around. The loaded
diagram of the beam is as follows.

𝑃 𝑃
2 2
135mm
350mm 350mm

𝑃 𝑃
835mm
2 2

The beam formula may be written as follows:

𝑴 𝝈
=
𝑰 𝒚

Where:
M = bending moment (Nm)
I = area moment of inertia about the neutral axis (m4)
𝛔 = bending stress (Pa) at a distance y (m) from the neutral axis
y = element distance from the neutral axis (m)

When the loading is adjusted, different strains can be determined at the various
strain gauge sites. These can then be compared to theoretical strain calculations
from the beam formula.
3 BEAM APPARATUS

4 PROCEDURE
4.1We aligned the beam and Cell load assembly properly and the thumbwheel was
turned in order to apply a positive preload to the beam of about 100 N. The load cell
was set to zero and strain values appearing on the digital strain unit were recorded
for all 9 strain gauges.

4.2 Turn the thumbwheel to apply a positive preload to the beam of about 100N

4.3 Set the load cell to zero again and record the strain values on the digital strain
unit for all 9 strain gauges. These values will be necessary to calibrate the strain value
under load. Note that the negative strain values refer to compression.
4.4 Increase the load to 100N on the digital force unit and record the 9 strain values
from the digital strain unit
4.5 Repeat the repeat the readings for 200N, 300N, 400N, and 500N. Record your
findings in Table 1. The Table 1 values will be what is termed ‘raw’ data
5. Data analysis and Results

5.1 6.4mm

1 31.7mm

6.4mm
2

5.2 38.1mm

𝐴1 = 𝑙 × 𝑏
= (6.4 × 10−3 )(31.7 × 10−3 )
= 202.× 10−6 𝑚2

𝐴2 = 𝑙 × 𝑏
= (6.4 × 10−3 )(31.7 × 10−3 )
= 243.8 × 10−6 𝑚2
𝐴 𝑇 = 𝐴2 + 𝐴1
= 202.88 × 10−6 + 243.8 × 10−6
𝐴 𝑇 = 446.72 × 10−6 𝑚2

6.4×10−3
𝑌1 = = 0.016 m
2
31.7×10−3
𝑌2 = 6.4 × 10−3 + = 0.035 m
2
 𝒀 𝟏 𝑨𝟏 + 𝒀 𝟐 𝑨𝟐
ȳ=
𝑨𝑻

(𝟎.𝟎𝟏𝟔)(𝟐𝟎𝟐.×𝟏𝟎−𝟔 )+(𝟎.𝟎𝟑𝟓)(𝟐𝟒𝟑.𝟖×𝟏𝟎−𝟔 )
=
𝟒𝟒𝟔.𝟕𝟐×𝟏𝟎−𝟔

= 0.0263 𝒎 (from the Top)

𝒃𝒅𝟑
𝑰𝒙𝟏 = + 𝑨𝒉𝟐
𝟏𝟐

(𝟑𝟖.𝟏×𝟏𝟎− 𝟑 )(𝟔.𝟒×𝟏𝟎−𝟑 )𝟑
= + (𝟐𝟎𝟐. 𝟖𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 )(𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟔 − 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟔)𝟐
𝟏𝟐

= 𝟑. 𝟕𝟐𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝒎𝟒
𝒃𝒅𝟑
𝑰𝒙𝟐 = + 𝑨𝒉𝟐
𝟏𝟐
(𝟎.𝟎𝟑𝟖𝟏)(𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟔𝟒)𝟑
= + (𝟐𝟒𝟑. 𝟖𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 )(𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟔𝟑 − 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟓)𝟐
𝟏𝟐

= 𝟐. 𝟎𝟓𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝒎𝟒
Ixx = Ix1 + Ix2
=3.728×10-8 + 2.058×10-8
= 5.786×10-8m4

Iyy = Iy1 + Iy2

𝒃𝒅𝟑 𝒃𝒅𝟑
= +
𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟐
𝟎.𝟎𝟑𝟏𝟕×𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟔𝟒𝟑 𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟔𝟒×𝟎.𝟎𝟑𝟖𝟏𝟑
= +
𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟐
= 3.0189×10-8 m4
5.3
Table 1: Raw (uncorrected) Data

Gauge Raw Data Strain ×10-6 (Micro strain) per Gauge at various Loads
Number 0N 100 N 200 N 300 N 400 N 500 N
1 -82.2 -206.4 -323.4 -450.4 -567.6 -590.4
2 -91.9 -178 -258.5 -346.7 -427.8 -512.7
3 643 643 643 643 643 643
4 34.7 17.4 4.2 -11.5 -26.3 -43
5 32.9 17.5 5.1 -9.7 -22.8 -37.4
6 26.2 48.9 73.5 97.3 120.1 141.2
7 -9.9 16.7 43.6 77.1 103.6 130.3
8 53.8 105.7 158.5 213.1 264 314.4
9 65.8 121.6 176.4 235 288.9 344.1

Table 2: Calibrated (corrected) Data

Gauge Calibrated Strain ×10-6 (Micro strain) /Gauge at various Bending

Number Moments

0 Nm 17.5 Nm 35 Nm 52.5 Nm 70 Nm 87.5 Nm

1 0 -124.2 -241.2 -368.2 -485.4 -508.2
2 0 -86.1 -166.6 -254.8 -335.9 -420.8
3 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 0 -17.3 -30.5 -46.2 -61 -8.3
5 0 -15.4 -27.8 -42.9 -55.7 -4.5
6 0 22.7 47.3 71.1 93.9 115
7 0 26.6 53.9 8.7 113.5 140.2
8 0 51.8 104.7 159.3 210.2 260.6
9 0 55.8 110.6 169.2 223.1 278.3
 5.4

Table 3: Average Data

Gauge y mm Average strain ×10-6 per Gauge at various Bending

Number Moments
0 Nm 17,5 Nm 35 Nm 52,5 Nm 70 Nm 87,5 Nm
1 0 0 -124.2 -241.2 -368.2 -485.4 -508.2

2,3 8 0 -43.05 -83.3 -127.4 -167.95 -210.4

4,5 23 0 -16.35 -29.15 -44.55 -58.35 -6.4
6,7 31,7 0 24.65 50.6 79.05 103.7 127.6
8,9 38,1 0 53.8 107.65 164.25 216.65 269.45

5.5

Bending Moment against strain Graph

400

300

200

100
strain
guuage 1
0 strain guage
2
Strain (εµ)

-100 strain guage

3
-200 strain guage
4
-300 strain guage
5
strain guage
-400
6

-500

-600

-700
0 10 20 30 40 50
Bending Moment 60
(N.m) 70 80 90 100
 5.6

STRAIN AGAINST POSITION OF GUAGES

400
300 Strain Guage 1

200 Strain Guage 2

100 Strain Guage 3

STRAIN (ᵋᶣ)

Strain Guage 4
0
Strain Guage 5
-100
Strain &
-200
Linear (Strain Guage 1)
-300
Linear (Strain Guage 2)
-400
Linear (Strain Guage 3)
-500 Linear (Strain Guage 4)
-600 Linear (Strain Guage 5)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Linear (Strain &)
POSITION OF STRAIN GUAGES (MM)

5.7
Maximum Stress

𝑀 𝜎
2= 𝑦
𝐼

87.5
𝛔 = 5.801×10 −8
× 11.85 ×10-3

𝛔 = 178.74Mpa

5.9

𝑀 𝜎
=𝑦
𝐼
87.5
𝛔 =58×10 3
× 26.24810-3

= 39.598Mpa
6. DISCUSSION

All the data is represented in the graphs and according to that graph
the experimental binging stresses increases the load applied also
increases .According to the first graph the relationship between the
theoretical bending stresses does not change as much as the value of
experimental bending stress. There is huge increase in the value of
the load than the increase in the value of the theoretical bending
stress.

7. CONCLUSION

The aim of the experiment was to verify how accurate it the beam
equation on the bending stresses apparatus when various loads are
applied and their respective strains, stresses and bending moments
and it was achieved.
Actual stress and theoretical are not the same there is a slightly
difference because human errors occur. R Whitlow said when
conducting an experiment human errors are encounted but the
difference between the theoretical and actual values must be less as
possible so I can conclude that the beam formula is accurate
8. References
Book -Strength of materials for technicians
Authos- J.G Drotsky, 4th edition. Published by Heinemann
Publications. ISBN:
ISBN-9781775782421
Book – Materials and structures
Author – Whitlow
ISBN – 0-582 06698-0

Book- Engineering Material 1

Authors- Michael F Ashby and David R. H Jones
ISBN – 7506 3081-7