EXPERIMENT 3

A) EXPERIMENT NAME: Three Point & Four Point Bend Test (Flexture Test)

B) THE AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT:

The bend (flexure) test method measures behavior of materials subjected to simple beam
loading. It is also called a transverse beam test with some materials. The test is used to measure
the Young’s modulus of a material.

C) EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND APPARATUS

The testing equipment is Shimadzu Autograph AG-IS 100 computerized servo hydraulic
universal testing machine (UTM) (Figure 1). The tensile tests are performed according to
ASTM D7264 / D7264M - 15 “Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Polymer Matrix
Composite Materials”. This standard specifies the method for determining the ability of
polymer matrix composite materials to undergo plastic deformation in bending. Applies to the
bend test of test pieces taken from composite materials as specified in the relevant standard.

Figure 1. A photograph of a tensile machine with bending apparatus (Shimadzu Autograph)

If a beam is simply supported at the ends and carries a concentrated load at the center, the beam
bends concave downwards. The distance between the original position of the beam and its
position after bending is different. This difference is called ‘deflection’. In the case which
occurring bending, takes places maximum deflection at the center along the length.

In the flexure (bend) test, maximum stress and maximum strain are calculated for increments
of load. Results are plotted in a stress-strain diagram. Flexural strength is defined as the
maximum stress in the outermost fiber. This is calculated at the surface of the specimen on the
convex or tension side. Flexural modulus is calculated from the slope of the stress vs. deflection
curve. If the curve has no linear region, a secant line is fitted to the curve to determine slope.

There are two test types; three point bent test four point bend test. In a three point test the area
of uniform stress is quite small and concentrated under the center loading point. In a four point
test, the area of uniform stress exists between the inner span loading points (typically half the
outer span length).

The three point bend test (Figure 2) is a classical experiment in mechanics, used to measure the
Young’s modulus of a material in the shape of a beam. The beam, of length L, rests on two
roller supports and is subject to a concentrated load P at its centre (Figure 2).

Figure 2. The three point bend test

The maximum deflection ymax at the centre of the beam can be shown by the following
deflection analysis (Figure 3):

1. cut:

V M
x

Ra=P/2

𝑃
∑𝐹 = 0 − 𝑉=0
2
𝑃
𝑉=
2
𝑃
∑𝑀 = 0 𝑥 − 𝑀=0
2
x=L/2
𝑃 𝑃𝐿
M= 𝑥 M=
2 4
2. cut:

P V M

L/2 x

Ra=P/2

𝑃
∑𝐹 = 0 −𝑃− 𝑉 =0
2

−𝑃
𝑉=
2

𝑃 𝐿
∑𝑀 = 0 𝑥 − 𝑃(𝑥 − ) − 𝑀 = 0
2 2

𝑃𝐿 𝑃𝑥 x=L/2 𝑃𝐿
M= − M=
2 2 4

𝑑2 𝑦 𝑀
=
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐸𝐼

𝑑2 𝑦
𝐸𝐼 2 = 𝑀
𝑑𝑥

1. cut:

𝑑2 𝑦 𝑃𝑥
𝐸𝐼 2 =
𝑑𝑥 2

𝑑𝑦 𝑃𝑥 2
𝐸𝐼 = + 𝑐1
𝑑𝑥 4
𝐿 𝑑𝑦 𝑃𝐿2
(x= , = 0 ; 𝑐1 = − )
2 𝑑𝑥 16

𝑃𝑥 3
𝐸𝐼 𝑦 = + 𝑐1 𝑥 + 𝑐2
12

(x=0 , y=0 ; 𝑐2 = 0)
 𝑃𝑥 3 𝑃𝐿2
𝑦= − 𝑥
12𝐸𝐼 16𝐸𝐼

𝐿
For x= ,
2

𝑃𝐿3 𝑃𝐿3 𝑃𝐿3

2.cut:

𝑑2 𝑦 𝑃𝐿 𝑃𝑥
𝐸𝐼 2 = −
𝑑𝑥 2 2

𝑑𝑦 𝑃𝐿𝑥 𝑃𝑥 2
𝐸𝐼 = − + 𝑐1
𝑑𝑥 2 4
𝐿 𝑑𝑦 3𝑃𝐿2
( x= , = 0 ; 𝑐1 = − )
2 𝑑𝑥 16

𝑃𝐿𝑥 2 𝑃𝑥 3
𝐸𝐼 𝑦 = − + 𝑐1 𝑥 + 𝑐2
4 12
𝑃𝐿3
(x=L , y=0 ; 𝑐2 = )
48

𝑃𝐿𝑥 2 𝑃𝑥 3 3𝑃𝐿2 𝑥 𝑃𝐿3

𝐿
For x= ,
2
𝑃𝐿3 𝑃𝐿3 3𝑃𝐿3 𝑃𝐿3 𝑃𝐿3
𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 = − − + = − (1)
16𝐸𝐼 96𝐸𝐼 32𝐸𝐼 48𝐸𝐼 48𝐸𝐼

where

P = Load acting at the center (N)

and

I is the second moment of area for given crossection (Figure 4) defined by

Figure 4. The beam cross section

Where h is the beam’s height and b is the beam’s width. By measuring the central deflection
ymax and the applied force P, and knowing the geometry of the beam and the experimental
apparatus, it is possible to calculate the Young’s modulus of the material.

If the applied force P is plotted against central displacement y, a straight line is obtained. The
gradient of this line is

𝑑𝑃 48𝐸𝐼
= (3)
𝑑𝑦 𝐿3

E) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

1. Measure the width and thickness of the specimen.

2. Mark on the locations where the load will be applied under three-point bending. Note
the lenght of between support.

3. Place the sample carefully on to the stage of 3-point bending fixture of a universal
testing machine

4. Make sure that the loading point is placed on to the marked location.

5. Carry out the bend test

1. Calculate moment of inertia of bend sample section.

2. Calculate maximum deflection, moment and stress from the given formulas.

3. Draw the load-deflection graph to calculate the flexural bend strength and elastic
modulus of the specimen.

4. On the graph choose any two convenient points in elastic area and between these points
find the corresponding values of P and y.

5. Calculate Young’s modulus by substituting P and y values in the equation 4.

𝑃𝐿3
𝐸 = 48 𝑦𝐼 (4)

6. Draw force and moment diagram then drive the deflection equations for 4 point bending
test specimen (Figure 5 )

Figure 5. 4 point bending test