Experiment 3

Flexural test Experiment

By
Ralph Issa
Lilian Alameddine
Houssam Hijazi

Instructor: Dr. Nicolas saba

University of Balamand
Faculty of Engineering

March 8,2021
Table of contents and figures:

Contents
Experiment 3................................................................................................................................ 1
Abstract:............................................................................................................................................................ 3
Introduction:...................................................................................................................................................... 3
Objectives:......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Theoretical background:.................................................................................................................................... 4
(8) Figure (b)the deflection obtained by bending....................................................................................... 5
Conducting the experiment:.............................................................................................................................. 5
Equipments:................................................................................................................................................... 5
(1) Vernier calliper.................................................................................................................................. 5
(3) Steel beam......................................................................................................................................... 5
Procedure:..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Data:.............................................................................................................................................................. 7
Table 1....................................................................................................................................................... 7
Graph showing the relation between deflection and force........................................................................8
Result analysis:............................................................................................................................................... 8
Error analysis:.................................................................................................................................................... 9
Improvement:.................................................................................................................................................... 9
Conclusion:...................................................................................................................................................... 10
References:...................................................................................................................................................... 10

Abstract:
This experiment works on finding the relation between the strength and the elasticity. The
force to find the bending of a beam is determined by flexural test under three-point loading
conditions. The flexural module is the primary indicator to find the stiffness when bended.
More details and insights about the elasticity and the bending strength can be provided from
the test. This experiment has many advantages the equipment’s are not expensive, the
specimen can be simply prepared, and the test can be applied out by considering the floor as a
reference point and therefore consistency will be obtained. This method has minor
disadvantages the result is sensitive to specimen, loading geometry and strain ratio. This
experiment will find the measure of the elasticity in addition the % of error will be obtained by
subtracting the number of elasticities numerically from the number of elasticity graphically.

Introduction:
The 3 bending test method measure the behavior subjected to a simple bending load where it
involves the bending of a material rather than pushing. The aim is to find the relation between
bending stress and deflection. Flexural test is commonly used on a brittle material such as
stone, glasses and masonry. In addition, this test can be used to examine the behavior of
materials which might bend such as wire insulation and other elastomeric products. The 3-point
bending test can determine the elasticity in bending. The main advantage in this test is its ease
in preparation and testing of specimen. In this experiment the nature of the weight response to
flexural test should be determined and the elasticity will be calculated in two methods
graphically and numerically. The numerical method where it can be calculated easily using the
L1
formula of deflection (Dy= )where, as for the graph method is taking place between
4 E H2
deflection as a function of force and the elasticity will be extracted from the formula of slope
L1
numerically the formula Dy= All can be concluded to find E.
4 E H2

Objectives:
To Determine the elasticity modulus (E) of the steel beam by 2 methods.
And determine the strength of the steel material by the bending test.
Finally, the analysis the behavior of the beam.

Theoretical background:
Bend testing is made to determine the strength of a material by bending the material over a
radius. Following the bend, the sample is inspected for cracks on the outer surface. Bend
testing provides insight into the modulus of elasticity and the bending strength or a material.
There are 3 forces caused by the loads inside the beam : the shear parallel to the lateral loading
,compression from the center of the beam the top , tension is along the bottom of the beam.
Also, there are 2 forces form a couple or moment which they have the same magnitude but
opposite direction. If a beam is simply held up at both ends and carries a condensed load the
bend moves downward. Deflection is the distance between the original of the beam and its
location after bending. Maximum deflection happens at the center of the beam. The physical
properties of many materials vary based on the climate of the environment. The experiment
should be done at a precise temperature.2 forces the compressive and tensile produce stress
on the beam.
The equations used in this experiment are:
Dy=Di−D “1”
Dy L3
= 3 “2”
F 4 h wE
E = Modulus of elasticity in bending
F= load at applied on the beam
W = Width of test beam, (mm)
Di= deflection of the center of the beam before applying any load
Dy= deflection of the center of the beam
L=length of the beam
Height=depth of tested beam
G=gravitation constant

(7) Figure (a)show the strength of the steel material

(9) Figure show the forces acting in the beam during

Conducting the experiment:

(1) Vernier calliper (2) concrete masonry units

(3) Steel beam (4) tape measure

(5) Load
Procedure:

(6) figure
1) The thickness and width of the beam are measured.
2) The loading blocks are measured using a digital balance (in a range of weights from 0 to 100
Kg).
3) The specimen is located between 2 stones, so the upper surface is to the side and centered
in loading assembly.
4) Measure the length of the beam and mark the midpoint which is the length of the beam
measured divided by 2 where the experimenter should apply the load.
5) Measure the distance from the ground to the upper face of the beam before applying any
load.
6) The load recorder is adjusted on the beam.
7) The start point is pressed to start the flexural test.
8) The specimen is observed, as load was gradually applied.
9) The maximum load is recorded and the load is continued until complete failure.
10) Record the data using a notebook.
11) Repeat the experiment with different weights

Data:
Table 1
Beam
Deflec Deflec Force/Defl elastic
Mass positi Force l^3/ Elastic
tion tion ection modulus
(kg) on (N) (h^3*w*4) modulus (pa)
(mm) (m) (N/m) (GPa)
(mm)
157. 7966549
0.00 0.00 0 0 0.00 0.00 0
00 .264
84.0 108. 824. 49.0 16817.1 7966549 133974597 133.974
0.05
0 00 04 0 4 .264 051.15 5971
91.0 100. 892. 57.0 0.06 15661.5 7966549 124768740 124.768
 0 00 71 0 8 .264 236.24 7402
100. 91.0 981. 66.0 14863.6 7966549 118411891 118.411
0.07
00 0 00 0 4 .264 333.09 8913
78.0 112. 765. 45.0 17004.0 7966549 135463203 135.463
0.05
0 00 18 0 0 .264 685.06 2037
61.0 119. 598. 38.0 15747.6 7966549 125454282 125.454
0.04
0 00 41 0 3 .264 765.01 2828
82.0 109. 804. 48.0 16758.7 7966549 133509407 133.509
0.05
0 00 42 0 5 .264 478.06 4075
Aver 113. 695. 7966549. 11022601750 110.226
43.29 0.04 13836.11
age 71 11 26 6.94 0175

2
Length Height h Width w Acceleration g (m/s )
1.53 (m) 0.0112(m) 0.08(m) 9.81(m/s^2)
Graph showing the relation between deflection and force

70
scatterplot show the deflection (mm)versus Force (N)

60
f(x) = 0.06 x − 0.97
50
Deflection

40

30

20

10

0
0.00 200.00 400.00 600.00 800.00 1000.00 1200.00
Force

Result analysis:
This experiment is made by 2 methods theoretical and graphical methods.
The flexure test method measures behavior of materials subjected to simple beam loading. This
is calculated at the surface of the specimen on the convex or tension side. Flexural modulus is
calculated from the slope of deflection vs. the stress. the graph starts to show increasing in
value for both load and deflection. The deflection of specimen increases directly proportional to
the load applied by representing a linear trend line. During the experiment some points deviate
from a linear relationship due to some errors before failure takes place.
Dy/F=Slope= 0.0637mm/N=0.0637 *1000=63.7 *10^-5 m/N
 L3
The constant =7966549.264
4 h3 w
Dy L3 Dy 4 H 3 W 1 1
= 3  3
= = 7.995933734*10^12E=
F 4 h wE FL E 7.995933734∗10−12
=125.06356*10^9 Gpa
After calculations the theoretical method give the average of elastic modulus equal
110.2260175 Gpa < of the graphical value is 125.06356*10^9 Gpa.
As noticed in the table 1 when the greatest load is 981 N, the greatest point the beam has
reached while stretching is 91 mm, therefore it represents the lowest elasticity modulus.
A high elastic modulus is typical for materials that are hard to deform; in other words, materials
that require a high load to achieve a significant strain. In the experiment, the steel beam
requires high load to reach the elastic limit, even although of high load, it did not make any
failure, which give a high elasticity modulus this means that the steel beam is hard to deform.
the percentage error (%) between experiment results with the theory?

%error =  =13.4 %
The relative error is more than 5 % in the experiment which gives inaccurate results.

Error analysis:
The absolute error is the sum of several factors, that are resolution error, parallax error,
misalignment error, and systematic error.
- Where the resolution error is the smallest increment in the measurement scale. The human
limit is considered to be half of this. For example, of the scale measures a 0.1mm the human
eye will read it as 0.05mm.
- Parallax error is an error caused by viewing the measurement at an angle, rather than just
looking straight-on. Parallax is an apparent displacement or difference of orientation of an
object viewed along two different lines of sight. This is why the passenger in a car thinks you
are going over the speed limit, but from the driver’s view, the needle says the car is going the
right speed.
- Misalignment error is when not taking the measurement parallel or perpendicular. The dial
gauge is not vertical, the tape measure is at an angle, the caliper is not perpendicular.
Sometimes some measurements are more difficult than others, but if they are carefully
measured the error can be avoided.
 - Systematic error can be summed up by saying that they are found because of inaccuracy
(involving either the observation or measurement process) inherent to the system. Systematic
error may also refer to an error with a non-zero mean, the effect of which is not reduced when
observations are averaged.

Improvement:
There were several things that improved the experiment and its results. One of these things is
the focus on reading the right measure by two persons (Dr. Nicolas and Dr. Daaboul), hence we
can say that the resolution error is approximately not found. Moreover, when reading the
measurement, the eye of the reader was straight-on what he’s reading, so parallax error was
avoided. Also, taking the measurement was perpendicular while the caliper wasn’t and
everything was carefully measured, so the misalignment error was deflected. Finally, the
observation and measurement parts where round around avoided, and these improvements
were enough to reduce the error.

Conclusion:
The procedure of determining the bending strength is discussed in this experiment. It is performed with
a standardized sample and three pressure points. Bending strength differ from one material to another
material based on its mechanical properties. The force applied is directed by a measuring device and
calculation system, but many errors were found because of them. The main reason is using hooks law
which is only accurate for a small portion and the error increase as the elastic range increase. Therefore,
the experimental results were not precise.
References:
(1) https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Gage-00524001-Stainless-Vernier/dp/B00EKPB6Q8 (1)
(2) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319434457_Numerical_Simulation_of_Masonry-
Infilled_RC_Frames_Using_XFEM/figures?lo=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic(2)
(3)https://buyabeam.com/blogs/steel-beams/uses-for-pfc-steel-beams/ (3)
(4)https://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=ideas-and-advice/tape-measures-guide (4)
(5)https://moodle.balamand.edu.lb/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=57186 (5)
(6)https://www.gom.com/en/topics/bend-test (introduction)
(7) https://labmonk.com/determination-of-bending-strength-of-materials-by-universal-testing-machine
(introduction)
(8) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322896282_Comparison_between_three-
point_and_four-point_flexural_tests_to_determine_wood_strength_of_Eucalyptus_specimens
(conclusion)
(9) https://www.scribd.com/presentation/67170395/Bend-test (theoretical background)
(10) https://www.scribd.com/presentation/67170395/Bend-test (theoretical background)
(11) file:///C:/Users/7User/Downloads/joddd-flextural.pdfnew%20(1).PDF (6)
(12) https://www.scribd.com/presentation/67170395/Bend-test (7) (8)
(13) https://textureanalysisprofessionals.blogspot.com/2018/10/three-point-bend-testing-
using-texture.html (9)