DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND BUILD ENVIRONMENT

Experiment 2: Bending Stress in a Beam

SURNAME : THOMO
INITIALS : S.J
STUDENT NO : 219034621
COURSE : BEng Tech in Mechanical Engineering
MODULE : APPLIED STRENGTH OF MATERIALS 2B [ASMMIB2]
LECTURER : Dr Tekweme
DATE : 25 September 2022

I confirm that this assignment is my own work, is not copied from any other person's work,
and has not previously submitted for assessment either at University of Johannesburg or
elsewhere.

Signed………………………………………. Date ………………………………………….

Acknowledgement:

I would like to express a profound appreciation to Dr Tekweme, the Applied Strength of

Materials Lecturer, the laboratory instructors and Community of the Department of
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, for giving me the opportunity to conduct an
investigation bending stresses in a beam.

Special thanks and appreciation for my family for supporting me to study at UJ.
Contents

Theory/ Background……………………………………………………………………Page 1

Aim, Assumptions & Apparatus………………………………………………………. Page 2

Procedure……………………………………………………………………………… Page 3

Results………………………………………………………………………………… Page 3

Sample of Calculations………………………………………………………………... Page 4

Analysis of Results & Discussion…………………………………………………...... Page 4

Conclusion & Recommendations……………………………………………………... Page 5

References……………………………………………………………………………... Page 5
Theory/ Background:

When some external load acts on the beam, the shear force and bending moments are set up
at all sections of the beam. The beam will undergo deformation, due to the shear force and
bending moments. The material of the will offer resistance or stresses against the
deformations. These stresses are known as bending stresses, are to be determined.

Experimental Stress will be determined by using the following formula for each bending
moment:
σ
E=
ε
Where:
σ = Stress (Nm-2)
ε =average Strain
E = Young`s modulus (Nm-2) = 69 GPa
And theoretical stress for each bending moment will be determined by using the following
formula:
M / I =σ / y
Where:
M = Bending moment (Nm)
I = Second moment of area of the section (m4)
σ = Stress (Nm-2)
y = Distance from neutral axis (m)
Aim:

To Determine a bending Stress and compare it to the experimental value.

Assumptions:

 The material of the beam is homogeneous and isotopic

 Young’s modulus of elasticity is the same in tension and compression
 Beam is free to expand or contract.

Apparatus:

figure 1: STR3 Hardware (www.tecquipment.com)

1. The STR3 Hardware with the frame.

2. Data acquisition and Laptop computer.

Procedure:

1. Set up the equipment as shown in figure 1 and connect the laptop with a proper data
capture software installed.
2. Put the force gauge scale and strain gauge scale at zero.
3. Load the beam with a force of 50 N and record the bending moment together with
strain values from 1 to 9 on the laptop.
 4. Repeat the same procedure to load a beam with 100 N, 150 N, 200 N, and the 250 N
and record the bending moment and strain values for each load.
5. Tabulate your results.

Results:

Bending
Force moment Gaug Gaug Gaug Gaug Gaug Gauge Gaug Gaug Gaug
(N) s (Nm) e1 e2 e3 e4 e5 6 e7 e8 e9
50 8,7 326,5 218,7 342,5 208,9 113,9 6,8 0,5 -163,4 -187,3
100 17,7 278 179,6 309,3 200 109,5 8,6 19,4 -149,7 -155,5
150 26,2 240,7 149,9 285,2 191,9 106,2 8 35,7 -140,3 -131,1
200 35,2 202,9 121,3 260,3 184,5 103,9 8,7 51,4 -129,5 -105,3
250 44 158,9 88,5 230,7 175,4 98,9 11 69,1 -115,2 -78,3

Gauge Vertical Measured Bending Moment (Nm)

numbe Position (mm)
r from top 0 50 100 150 200 250
1 0 0 326,5 278 240,7 202,9 158,9
2,3 8 0 280,6 244,45 217,55 190,8 159,6
4,5 23 0 161,4 154,75 149,05 144,2 137,15
6,7 31,7 0 3,65 14 21,85 30,05 40,05
8,9 38,1 0 -175,4 -152,6 -135,7 -117,4 -96,75

Analysis of Results:

Gauge Vertical Experimental Stress (TPa)

Numbe Position
r (mm) 8,7 17,7 262 35,2 44
1 0 22,5 19,2 16,6 14 11
2,3 8 19,4 16,9 15,01 13,2 11,01
4,5 23 11,1 10,7 10,3 9,95 9,46
 6,7 31,7 0,25 0,97 1,51 2,07 2,76
8,9 38,1 -12,1 -10,5 -9,36 -8,1 -6,68

Experimental Stress at different vetical position

25

20
Experimental stress (TPa)

15

10
8,7
5
17,7
0 262
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
35,2
-5
44
-10

-15
Vertical position from top (mm)

The graph above summarises the relationship of experimental stress and vertical position of
strain.

Gauge Vertical Theoretical Stress (GPa)

Numbe Position
r (mm) 8,7 17,7 26,2 35,2 44
1 0 0 0 0 0 0
2,3 8 1,2 2,44 3,61 4,86 6,07
4,5 23 3,45 7,02 10,4 14 17,45
6,7 31,7 4,76 9,67 14,32 19,24 24,05
8,9 38,1 5,72 11,6 17,21 23,12 28,9
 Theoretical Stress against Vertical position
35

30

25
Theoretical Stress(GPa)

8,7
20 17,7
26,2
15 35,2
44
10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Vertical position (mm)

The graph above shows the relationship of the theoretical stress and strain experienced by the
strain.

The experimental stress and theoretical stress are way to different compared to each other.
These might have been affected by the value of the second moments of inertia. Based on the
bending moments obtained by experiment it is likely that the experimental stress values are
actually the true stress experienced by the beam. There is slight difference between stresses at
given bending moments since they intersect at a curtained graph as shown on the graph.

Discussion and Conclusion:

The aim of the experiment is to determine the experimental stress and theoretical stress. It as
achieved to find the stress but when comparing them they are totally different. This might be
due to the value of second moments of inertia or there was an error while conducting the
experiment. To improve the results of the experiment and achieve the aim, the experiment
must be conducted more than three times. Also ensure that the right forces are applied on the
beam. From the lab the results recorded were not accurate. This has to be one of the factors
that affected the results of the experiment.
References:

1. Boresi, A.P. and Schmidt, R.J . 1993, Advanced mechanics of materials, John Wiley
and Sons, New York. (www.advancedmechanicsofmaterials.com)
2. Thompson, W.T., 2002, Theory of Vibration with Applications.
(www.bendingstressofabeam/Theoryofvibrationsina.com)