STRUCTURAL MECHANICS LABORATORY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, SLIIT

B.SC ENGINEERING – SEMESTER 01

CE 1020 – STATICS AND HYDROSTATICS – LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT

Experiment:

Determination of deflection in a simply supported beam

Introduction:
The objective of the practical is to analyse as simply supported beam which carries concentrated loads.
The analysis is then used to draw load versus deflection behaviour of the steel beam which is then
verified theoretically.

Apparatus:

• Steel beam
• Load hanger
• Dial gauge
• Meter ruler
• Weights

L1 L3

Dial gauge

Weights

Figure 1
Test Procedure:
The test set-up for the deflection of a beam consists of a steel beam which is supported at both
ends using a simply supported mechanism. A dial shows the deflection of the beam at the mid
span.
Load
L1 = 0.300m L2 = 0.300m

Figure 2

Procedure
• Keep the beam on two knife-edges as shown in Figure 2
• Record the required distances L1 and L2
• Fix the dial gauge on top of the beam
• Fix the zero error and take the initial reading
• Apply weight on the correct position
• Take the final reading of the dial gauge
Observations

Load (N) Dial gauge reading Deflection (mm) Dimensions of the beam

0 0.007mm 0 L1 = 0.300m

1.962 -0.078mm 0.085 L2 = 0.300m

2.943 -0.122mm 0.129 Beam section

3.924 -0.16mm 0.167 Width w = 30mm

Height h = 6mm
4.905 -0.2mm 0.207

5.886 -0.244mm 0.251

[30 Marks]
 Load
Calculations: L1 mm L2 mm
Step 1: Calculate the support reactions B
RA C RB
Considering the equilibrium around point C,
L1 . RA – L2 . RB = 0 Span

Considering the equilibrium of vertical forces,

RA + RB – Load = 0

RA + RB = Load

[20 Marks]

Step 2: Determine theoretical deflection for the beam using equation , deflection δ = WL3/48.E.I,
where E = young modulus of elasticity of steel and I = second moment of area. Second moment of
area I can be calculated using I = (1/12).b.d3

Load (W) Second moment Young modulus Deflection δ

of area, I of elasticity, E
0 540 * 10-12 200Gpa 0
1.962 540 * 10-12 200Gpa 81.750 * 10-6 m
2.943 540 * 10-12 200Gpa 122.625 * 10-6m
3.924 540 * 10-12 200Gpa 163.500 * 10-6m
4.905 540 * 10-12 200Gpa 204.375 * 10-6m
5.886 540 * 10-12 200Gpa 245.250 * 10-6m

[20 Marks]

Step 3: Measure the deflection at mid span using dial gauge.

Results:
Deflection at mid span
Load Theoretical Experimental Deviation %
0 0 0 0%
1.962 0.085mm 0.081750mm 3.82%
2.943 0.129mm 0.122625mm 4.94%
3.924 0.167mm 0.163500mm 2.10%
4.905 0.207mm 0.204375mm 1.27%
5.886 0.251mm 0.245250mm 2.29%

[30 Marks]
Calculations:
Step 2

Step 3
Name:
Student Number:
Group: 7
Date: 09-08-2021

Note: Please keep the laboratory clean and order.

OFFICE USE ONLY

The student has successfully completed the laboratory exercise.

...............................................
INSTRUCTOR
 Discussion

It may be concluded from the preceding experimental and theoretical calculations that
theoretical values are always less than experimental values. It means there is a clear
difference between theoretical results and experimental results. Because the value a
scientist predicts from an equation under ideal or near-ideal conditions is known as
theoretical value. The experimental value, on the other hand, is the result of an experiment.
These values are rarely the same. For this difference, there are several causes in this
experiment.

The first major reason for this difference is theoretical values are calculated based on ideal
scenarios. However, in the actual world, there will be many more variables that impact the
experiment than we would normally account for mathematically on paper. Further
Theoretical values are calculated assuming that the material under consideration is flawless
and free of crystalline flaws. Real materials have a range of crystallographic flaws such as
dislocations, grain boundaries, impurities, and so on, all of which have a significant impact
on the mechanical properties of the material. Also, in ideal scenarios, we neglect some
other things such as several kinds of small frictions. These kinds of reasons are the cause
for some errors in experimental results.

Another main reason for this difference is small errors in apparatus or damaged apparatus
and as well as malfunctioning equipment. Error in apparatus is also known as instrument
error. Also, this instrument error can be caused by an imprecise dial gauge, an apparatus
that isn't balanced on a horizontal surface, or an already deformed beam. Most of the time
the measuring equipment will not be accurate as mathematics. Therefore, most of the time
we will get errors due to measuring equipment. This instrument error can easily be
discovered by repeating a specific experiment multiple times. If all of the results are
incorrect, the apparatus is faulty. By calibrating it with a proper standard device, the errors
can be removed.

Another major reason for the difference between theoretical and experimental results is
human error. Observation and computation using the incorrect method, as well as a lack of
experience in experiments, are examples of personal errors. Also, some mistakes can be
done by the person while executing the experiment. The personal error can be discovered
by repeating the experiment with a knowledgeable individual, and it can be eliminated via
practice.

In a conclusion, we can say that many elements of actual life, such as malfunctioning
apparatus, human mistake, and human/machine constraints, are ignored when calculating
theoretical values. But when we do experiments in the real world, all these reasons are
affected. Therefore, most of the time we get different results from experiments than
theoretical results.
References:

1. Quora.com. 2021. What is the difference between experimental and theoretical results? -
Quora. [online] Available at: <https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-
between-experimental-and-theoretical-results> [Accessed 9 August 2021].

2. ResearchGate. 2021. How to explain the difference between simulation and experiment
result?. [online] Available at:
<https://www.researchgate.net/post/how_to_explain_the_difference_between_simul
ation_and_experiment_result> [Accessed 9 August 2021].

3. Quora.com. 2021. Why do the experimental and theoretical values differ in the deflection
of a beam? - Quora. [online] Available at: <https://www.quora.com/Why-do-the-
experimental-and-theoritical-values-differ-in-the-deflection-of-a-beam> [Accessed 9
August 2021].