Experiment no.

6
To determine the load point deflection of a simply supported beam
subjected to an eccentric load

6.1 Objective
To determine lad point deflection of beam and compare theoretical and experimental results

6.2 Apparatus
i. Deflection of beam apparatus
ii. Hanger
iii. Weights
iv. Meter rod
v. Vernier calipers
vi. Dial gauge

6.3 What is force?

Force is a interaction with a body which affects body by changing its direction or
acceleration. Force is directly related to momentum change of body. It also causes pressure
variations and can change the shape of body also.

Figure 1: force [1]

6.3.1 Types of force
There are two types of forces
6.3.1.1 Internal forces
When external forces are applied body shows resistance against them, this resistance is
known as internal force.
6.3.1.2 External forces
Applied forces that cause deformation in body are known as external forces. They can be
axial, bending or torsion.
6.3.2 Types of loads on beam
There are three types of loads on beam:

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 Figure 8: types of load son the beam [8]
6.3.2.1 Uniformly distributed load
Load which is distributed uniformly on entire length or some segment of length.
6.3.2.2 Point load/concentrated load
Load which acts on some specific point on the beam is known as point load.
6.3.2.3 Eccentric load
It is a type of point or concentrated load. Load which is not acting at centroid and away from
center is known as eccentric load. It produces shear and bending moment.
6.3.2.4 Triangular load
Load which is uniformly increasing or uniformly decreasing on entire length or some
segment of length, is known as triangular load.

6.4 Stress
Stress is normal force acting on unit surface area.
Ƃ = F/A
Unit of stress is pascal (pa) = N/m2

6.4.1 Types of stress

There are two types of stress:
6.4.1.1 Tangential stress
Stress which acts parallel to the shear area plane is known as tangential stress.
For example, when we apply equal forces parallel and opposite on a cube then plane inside at
center is tangential stress area.
6.4.1.2 Normal stress
Stress which acts normal to the stress area is known as normal stress. Also called pressure
produces tensile strain or compressive strain.

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6.5 Strain
Strain is measure of deformation (change in length, volume or shape) produces when stress is
applied on the body.
change∈length , volume∨shape
Strain =
originallength , shape∨volume

6.6 Beam
Beam is an important structure in mechanics used to bear loads, bending
moments and shear forces, etc. Beam is loaded in such a way that loads are inclined to its axis
(maximum inclination = 90 o).
6.6.1 Classification of beams
There are different types of beams on different basis. For example:
 Type of support
 Type of cross-section
 Type of geometry
 On basis of equilibrium conditions
 On basis of materials

6.6.1.1 Based on the type of support

Following are the different types of beams based on type of supports:
6.6.1.1.1 Simply supported beam:
Beam which has hinge support at one end and roller
support at other end and not restrained to rotation at ends is known as simply supported
beam.

Figure 2 : simply supported beam [2]

6.6.1.1.2 Cantilever beam
Beam which is fixed at one end and free from other end is known as cantilever beam.
Fixed end has no rotation at all.

Figure 3 : cantilever beam [3]

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6.6.1.1.3 Overhanging beam
Beam which is extended beyond one or both supports are known as
overhanging beam.

Figure 4 : overhanging beam [4]

6.6.1.1.4 Continuous beam
Beam with more than one supports are known as continuous beams.

Figure 5: continuous beam [5]

6.6.1.1.5 Fixed beam
Beam fixed at both ends restrained to movement and rotation at both ends is
known as fixed beam.

Figure 6: fixed beam [6]

6.7 Young’s Modulus of Elasticity

Ratio of normal stress to normal strain, which may be compressive or tensile is known as
young’s modulus.
normal stress σ
E= or E=
normal strain ε
Unit of Elastic modulus is pascal. But, in daily life giga pascal (GPa) or mega pascal (MPa)
are used.

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6.8 Deflection of beam
Degree of displacement from original parameter is known as deflection of beam. May be ink
form of change in length o]r change in angle, etc.

Figure 7: defection of beam [7]

6.9 Deflection of beam apparatus

Deflection of beam is an arrangement as shown in which there are two knife-edges supports
which make apparatus a simply supported beam. Knife-edges support allow upward reaction
and no restriction to rotation at the ends.

Figure 8: deflection of beam apparatus [9]

6.10 Procedure
1. Set the deflection of beam apparatus
2. Set the dial indicator to zero
3. Apply a load and measure deflection using dial indicator
4. Take a set of readings while loading and unloading the hanger and find the average
value of experimental deflection
5. Measure the length, width and height of the beam using meter rod and Vernier caliper
and calculate the theoretical value of deflection using the given formula.
6. Compare the experimental and theoretical values of deflections.

6.11 Observations and calculations

Effective length of beam = L = 30 in

Distance of load from one support = a = 18 in
Distance of load from other support = b = 12 in

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Width of beam = w = 1.02 in
Height of beam = h = 0.26 in
Area moment of inertia = I = wh3/12 = 1.5 x 10-3 in4
Modulus of elasticity = E = 14 x 106 psi
Theoretical deflection = δ e, th = Wa2b2/3EIL
δ = Actual Deflection of beam at any point along the length of the beam
δe.e = Experimental deflection of beam subjected to eccentric load
δe.th = Theoretical deflection of beam subjected to eccentric load
The theoretical deflection (δe.th) is given by:
δe.th = Wa2b2/3EIL
Where,
E = Modulus of elasticity for the material of beam
I = Moment of inertia of the beam
L= Effective length of the beam
No. of Applied Experimental Deflection- δe.e Theoretical Percentage
obs. Load-W (in) deflection error
(lb.) (%)
Loading Unloading Averag δe.th =Wa2b2/3EIL
e (in)
1. 0.5 0.013 0.0134 0.0132 0.0123 7.3%
2. 1 0.0265 0.027 0.0267 0.0247 8.09%
3. 1.5 0.0403 0.0405 0.0404 0.037 9.2%
4. 2 0.054 0.055 0.0545 0.0494 10.3%
5. 2.5 0.068 0.068 0.068 0.062 9.7%

The percentage error is found as:

Experimental value−Theoretical value
% error = ×100
Theoretical value
The mean percentage error between actual deflection and theoretical deflection = 8.92 %

6.12 Comments
There are number of factors that cause error or difference in theoretical and experimental
values of deflection:

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  Faulty apparatus
 Negligence of person performing experiment
 Zero error is present in gauge which is one of major causes of error
 Carelessness while loading or unloading weights may cause deviation from correct
value of deflection i.e. weight not placed without disturbing or shaking apparatus.

6.13 References
 Basic Types of Stresses, Relationship between Stress and Strain
 Chemistry Physics https://byjus.com/physics/stress/
 Kirstein (1971). universal testing machine of 12-million-lbf capacity, nbs pub
355 (pdf) (report). nist. retrieved 22 may 2017

EXPERIMENT NO. 7
To determine the central deflection of the propped beam subjected to
eccentric load

7.1 Objective:
To determine the central deflection of the propped beam subjected to eccentric load.

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7.2Apparatus:
i. Deflection of propped beam apparatus
ii. Hanger
iii. Weights
iv. Vernier caliper
v. Steel rule.

7.3 Theory:

7.3.1 Propped beam:

When we add an extra support to minimize the deflection to a
cantilever beam it becomes a propped beam.
W
A C B

a b
(Figure 1)
Propped are used for variety of purposes some of them are
1. Balcony support.
2. Airplane wings

Besides, it is also used in number of other construction applications as well.

7.3.2 Construction of Propped beam
These beams are actually a modification of the cantilever beam with
additional support this additional support is mostly provided by roller support or
hinge support.
7.3.3 Difference between a roller and hinge support
The difference between a roller and hinge support is that hinge
support restrict motion in two directions and provide restrictions to movement in
either x or y-axis direction.
On the other hand, roller support offer no horizontal reaction and body is free to
move horizontally but it provides restriction to vertical movement of the object
hence the reaction of the vertical force is there in roller support while both the
horizontal and vertical reactions are there in hinge support.

7.3.4 Slope and deflection in a beam:

When a beam is loaded it undergoes bending moment and
deflects from its original section, now if we take two points ‘P’ and ‘Q’ on the
deflected beam and draw two tangents at these points at an angle θ with x-axis at
‘P’ and θ−dθ at ‘Q’ and angle between the of the normal to these points is dθ so
slope and deflection equation for the beam is given as

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 d2 y
EI =−M X
dx 2
Where ‘MX’ is the bending moment on the beam, ‘E’ is the elastic modulus of the
material of the beam, ‘I’ is the moment of inertia of the beam and “y” is the
deflection of the beam and dy/dx is the slope of the bend section.

7.3.5 Sign Conventions for the slope and deflection in the beam:
a. “X” is positive from left to right in the beam.
b. Downward deflection is positive.
c. Bending moment is positive when sagging.
d. Slope is positive when beam is moving from left to right in the beam.

7.3.6 Difference between centric and eccentric point load:

When a load is applied at the center of the beam so that the reaction produced at
both ends of the beam are equal then beam is said to undergoing centric load.
When load is applied on a beam such that the reaction at the supports of the beam
are not equal to each other and reaction at one side of beam is greater than other
than the beam is said to be subjected to eccentric load.

7.3.7 Slope and deflection in the propped beam subjected to eccentric load:

Consider the propped beam subjected to load ‘W’ as shown in figure 1.

Then applying the equilibrium conditions to fixed end of the beam, then we get
reaction at support “B” i.e. RB.
wb
R B=
l
Now the bending moment acting on any section XX at distance ‘x’ from fixed end
will be.
M XX=R B ( l−x )−W ( l−x−a )
Applying the equation of slope and deflection we get.
dy 2
EI 2 =−( R¿ ¿ B ( l−x )−W (l−x−a))¿
dx
Now integrating the whole equation, we get an expression of the form
dy −Wb x 2 W x 2
EI = + + C … … … … ..1
dx 2l 2
Where “C” is the constant of integration as at free end distance “x” is zero also
deflection “dy/dx” is zero at this end so putting values in above equation we get,
C=0 so equation can be re-written
dy −Wb x 2 W x 2
EI = +
dx 2l 2
At x=b, the slope will be maximum and its value will be by solving above
equation we, get

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 dy Wab 2
( )
dx max
=
2l
Similarly, integrating equation 1) we get,
−Wb x 3 W x 3
EIy= + +Cx+ C1
6l 6
When x=0 deflection is also zero so, y=0
Then
C 1=0
Above equation becomes.
−Wb x 3 W x 3
EIy= + +Cx
6l 6
Deflection “y” will be maximum when x=b, so putting x=b in above equation and
simplifying we get the deflection of the propped beam.
Wa b 3
y max =
6 lEI
So, the deflection in the propped beam subjected to eccentric load is given as
according to above formula.

7.4 Observations and Calculations:

Effective length of the beam = L = 31.3 inch
Width of the beam = w = 1 inch
Height of the beam = h = 0.2165 inch
Area moment of inertia of beam ¿ I =w h3 /12
So,
Area moment of inertia of beam = I = 8.461×0-04 in4
Modulus of elasticity = E = 29Mpsi

Sr. Applied Experimental deflection (in) Theoretical %error

No load deflection (in)
W(lb.) δl exp 7 W L3
δl th =
Loading Unloadin Average 768 EI
g
1 0.5 0.0055 0.007 0.00625 0.00569 9.8
2 1 0.0135 0.012 0.0127 0.0114 11
3 1.5 0.0215 0.0203 0.0209 0.017 22.9
4 2 0.025 0.028 0.0265 0.023 15
5 2.5 0.0305 0.0305 0.0305 0.0285 7
(Table 1)

7.5 Conclusion:

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 From the theory and results that we have discussed above it is concluded that the
propped beam undergoes more deflection when the load concentrated at mid-point of
the beam is applied than the load is applied at any other position. It is due to load
applied at the center distributes itself uniformly on the beam and hence, large
deflection occurs. On the other hand when a concentrated load is applied the load acts
more in one side than other and hence there is less central deflection.

7.6 Comments:
The errors in the experimental and theoretical calculated values of deflection are may
be due to following reasons.
i. The material of the beam may not behave isotropic manner.
ii. Human error.
iii. Weight of the hanger is ignored which also causes error in the results.
iv. Due to internal resistance of the dial indicator.

7.7 References:
[1]https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-industrial-applications-of-propped-
cantilever-beam
[2] https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-difference-between-pinned-and-fixed-end
[3] https://www.slideshare.net/YatinSingh3/deflection-in-beams\
[4] https://www.mathalino.com/tag/reviewer/propped-beam\

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