Problem Statement:

Beams can carry vertical gravitational forces but are primarily used to carry horizontal
loads like, loads due to an earthquake or wind or in tension to resist rafter thrust as a tie
beam or usually compression as a collar beam. Typical practical applications of simply
supported beams with point loadings include bridges, beams in buildings, and beds of
machine tools.
Shear and bending moment diagrams are analytical tool used in conjunction with
structural analysis to help perform structural design by determining the value of shear
force and bending moment at a given point of structural element such as beam.
Bending moment and deflection tells us about the strength of a material to bear the load
in safe way or to support the structure in same manners.

Figure 1: Application of beam

 Experiment # 06
Title:
“To determine central deflection of simply supported beam by a
concentrated load at the mid-point and determine the modulus of elasticity of the
material of the beam.”

Objectives:
1. To determine the deflection in the supported beam that is loaded by a
concentrated load at the center.
2. To determine the modulus of elasticity of the material of beam.
3. To compare the behavior of beam of two different materials.

Apparatus:
1. Deflection of beam apparatus with clamps
2. Hanger
3. Weights
4. Meter rod
5. Dial indicator
6. Vernier Caliper.

Deflection of beam apparatus contains a metal beam and two knife-edge supports upon
which the beam is supported for this experiment. With the help of clamps arrangement
at ends it can be made fixed type of beam.

Figure 2: Simply supported beam apparatus

Procedure:
1. Set the deflection of beam apparatus on a horizontal surface.
2. Set the dial indicator at zero.
3. Apply a load of 0.5N and measure the deflection using dial indicator.
4. Take a set of at least five readings of increasing value of load and then take
readings on unloading.
5. Calculate the modulus of elasticity (E) of the material of the beam.

Theory:
Beams:
It is structural members supporting loads applied at various points along the members.
A beam undergoes bending by the loads applied perpendicular to their axis of the
structure.

This load is transverse to its axis whereas the member which bears the load along its
axis it is called the column because the load is parallel to its axis. Beam has the
minimum moment of inertia at its center and it has maximum bending at the center.[1]

Figure 3: Beam

Beam has two types one is I beam and other one is H beam. In I beam the flange length
is shorter than the web and the deformation in I beam called the deflection where as in
the H beam flange length is greater than web length. The deformation in the column
called the buckling.

Load:
It can be defined as the force which produce the effect like stresses, deformation and
displacement called the load.

Types of Beam:
We uses the beams that has different types like simply supported beam, cantilever beam,
overhanging beam and the continuous beam etc. [2]
Simply supported beam:
If the supports are at the ends such that one of them is pin and other is roller then such
a beam is called simply supported beam. The supports can be considered as simple
wedges at the ends.
Consider a simply supported beam AB of length “2L” and carrying a point load “F” at
the center of beam C.
The maximum deflection for simply supported beam will occur at half the distance
from either support (mid-point).

Figure 4: Simply supported beam

Simply supported beam is the most useful type of the beam. The beam that we used in
simply supported beam experiment is of two material i.e steel and Aluminum and we
know that both of them have different physical properties. From this, we compare the
behavior of beam of different materials.

Cantilever beam:
Cantilever beam has one side that is totally fixed and the other side is free to move it has
two reaction forces as well as the moment across the axis.

Figure 5: Cantilever beam

Overhanging beam:
Overhanging beam is similar to the simply supported beam it also has the pin joint at
one side and also it has the roller joint. It has long length from its roller side beyond the
support.
Continuous beam:
Continuous beam has the continuous support, the distance between two supports called
the spans.[3]

The formula used to calculate the modulus of elasticity is

𝑊 𝐿3
𝐸= (𝛿𝑐)(48𝐼)

E = Modulus of elasticity for the material of beam

I = Moment of inertia of the beam

Observations & Calculations:

Least count of the dial indicator = 0.001 in
 1 inch = 2.54 cm
Least count of the Vernier Caliper = 0.1 cm = 0.039 in
Effective load of the beam = L = 36.18 in
Breadth of the Beam = b = 2.55cm = 1 in
Height of the beam = h = 0.7 cm = 0.2913 in
1
Moment of Inertia = I = 𝑏 × ℎ3 = 0.002059 in4
12

For Steel:

No. of Effective Central Deflection – δc 𝑾 𝑬

load 𝜹𝒄 𝑾 𝑳𝟑
Obs. (in) = ( )( )
(lb) (lb/inch) 𝜹𝒄 𝟒𝟖𝑰
Loading Unloading Average
(psi)
1. .5 7 11 0.009 55.5 27.3 × 106
2. 1 18 20 0.019 52.63 25.9 × 106
3. 1.5 28.5 31.5 0.030 50 24.6 × 106
4. 2 40 43 0.0415 48.78 24.01 × 106
5. 2.5 51 51 0.051 49.01 24.1 × 106

The average value of modulus of elasticity of steel beam is 𝟐𝟓. 𝟏𝟖𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 psi
For Aluminum:

No. of Effective Central Deflection – δc 𝑾 𝑬

load 𝜹𝒄 𝑾 𝑳𝟑
Obs. (in) = ( )( )
(lb) (lb/inch) 𝜹𝒄 𝟒𝟖𝑰
Loading Unloading Average
(psi)
1. .5 0 0 0 0 0
2. 1 10 7 0.008 38 20.9 × 106
3. 1.5 43 43 0.043 34.88 19.7 × 106
4. 2 81 77 0.079 25.31 14.3 × 106
5. 2.5 106 106 0.106 23.58 13.3 × 106

The average value of modulus of elasticity of Aluminum beam is 𝟏𝟑. 𝟔𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 psi

Graph:
For Steel:

Load VS Deflection
3
2.5
2.5
2
2
1.5
Load (lb)

1.5
1
1
0.5
0.5

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06
δ-C (in)

For Aluminum:
 Load VS Deflection
3
2.5
2.5
2
2
1.5
Load (lb)

1.5
1
1
0.5
0.5

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
δ-C (in)

Comparison between elastic modulus of steel and aluminum:

Steel Aluminum
Elongation Elongation
As the modulus of Elasticity of The elongation of Al is lesser then
steel is more the Al so it that of steel.
elongates more than Al.
Strength Strength
As steel elongates more than Al As steel elongates more than Al so
so its strength is more than Al. Al has lesser strength than steel.

Deflection Deflection

It has more strength so it has Aluminum has less strength so the

less deflection.
Graphical behavior
The graphical behavior shows
that as the load increases the
deflection becomes larger and
deflection should be greater.
Graphical behavior
The graph should be of straight line
but due to some experimental and
human error is occurs.
 the graph is a straight line.
Elasticity
The average value of modulus
of elasticity of steel beam is
𝟐𝟓. 𝟏𝟖𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 psi
Elasticity
The average value of modulus of
elasticity of Aluminum beam is
𝟏𝟑. 𝟔𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 psi

Conclusion:
By the increasing the load on the beam, the deflection within the beam increase. And it
can be shown from the modulus of elasticity graph, shows increase linearly.

Comments:
1. Due to increasing the load the deflection within the material increase and different
material has different elasticity.
2. The material might not be correctly homogenized.
3. Original length of beam might not be measured correctly.
4. Instrumental errors may be consider.

References:
[1]Adwww.primesteeltube.com/Beams/Square_Pipe
[2]https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/load
[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantilever