ME – 216 MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LAB

SEMESTER V

SUBMITTED TO: ENGR. KHAYYAM

SESSION: ME 14 SECTION: A

SUBMITTED BY
SR NO. NAME TRN CMS ID
01. ZEESHAN AMJAD 47 405971

SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

(SMME)

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 LAB REPORT 04: SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT

OBJECTIVES:
Following were the objectives that were discussed during the Lab:
 To understand the practical concepts of shear force and bending moment in a beam subjected to a
transverse load at a specific section.
 To determine the counteracting shear force and bending moment values.
 To compare the theoretical predictions with experimental results.

APPARATUS:
 Shear Force and Bending Moment Apparatus
 Load hanger
 Vernier Calliper
 Loads

Figure 1: Shear Force and Bending Moment Apparatus with hanging loads

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THEORY:

In structural engineering, bending moments and shear forces are critical parameters in understanding how beams
respond to loads. When a load is applied at a specific point along a beam, it causes the beam to bend, generating a
bending moment. The bending moment at a given point is the product of the force applied and its perpendicular
distance from a reference point (pivot).

In static equilibrium, the sum of moments around any point must equal zero. This balance is essential in designing
load-bearing structures to ensure they do not fail under applied forces.

The shear force at any section of the beam represents the force that causes one part of the beam to slide relative to
another. This force is determined by the net forces acting perpendicular to the beam's length

PROCEDURE:

o Place the beam horizontally on supports or pivot points, ensuring it is stable.

o Mark specific points (e.g x1, x2, x3) along the beam where forces will be applied.
o Place masses at the marked points. Record the mass (in grams) for each load applied.
o Convert each mass to force (N) by using

m(g)
F (N) = × 9.81
1000

o Calculate the bending moment by summing the products of each force and its distance from the pivot:

Applied Bending Moment (Nm) = F 1 x 1+ F 2 x2 + F 3 x 2

o Record the calculated bending moment for each load configuration.

o If shear force measurements are part of the setup, record the values or use theoretical calculations.
o Compare calculated bending moments with theoretical values to assess accuracy.

Analyze how varying loads affect the bending moments and shear forces in the beam.

DATA TABULATION:

x 1=15 cm

x 2=10 cm

x 3=5 cm

Applied load at x 1=F 1

Applied load at x 2=F 2
Applied load at x 3=F 3

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Table 1: Data collected after experimental and theoretical calculations

APPLIED
COUNTER COUNTER COUNTER
SR APPLIED LOAD TOTAL BENDING
SHEAR BENDING BENDING
NO. (G) LOAD (G) MOMENT
LOAD LOAD(N) MOMENT (NM)
(Nm)

F1 F2 F3 F 1+ F 2 + F3 (g) F 1 x 1+ F 2 x2 + F 3 x 2F b F b × 0.1

1. 50 0 50 100 100 0.098 1.176 0.1176

2. 80 101 101 282 280 0.265 2.568 0.2568

3. 90 101 101 292 290 0.280 2.768 0.2768

4. 90 0 101 191 190 0.181 1.588 0.1588

5. 90 101 0 191 190 0.231 1.961 0.1961

6. 90 0 0 191 190 0.132 0.784 0.078

SPECIMEN CALCULATIONS:
m(g)
F (N) = × 9.81
1000
m(g)
F 1=90 g= × 9.81 = 0.8829N
1000
m(g)
F 2=101 g= × 9.81= 0.99081N
1000
m(g)
F 3=101 g= × 9.81 = 0.99081N
1000
x 1=15 cm= 0.15m

x 2=10 cm = 0.1m

x 3=5 cm = 0.05m
Applied Bending Moment (Nm) = F 1 x 1+ F 2 x2 + F 3 x 2 = 0.8829(0.15) + 0.99081(0.1) + 0.99081(0.05) = 0.280 Nm

DISCUSSION:
The results from the experiment show that applied forces at different points on the beam result in varying bending
moments and counter shear loads, reflecting how load distribution affects structural behavior. The bending moment
increases with greater applied loads, and the counter bending moment follows to maintain equilibrium. Minor
discrepancies in the results may be due to measurement inaccuracies, frictional forces, or assumptions regarding

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material behavior. By examining the trends, we can observe a consistent relationship between applied loads and the
required moments to keep the system balanced.

CONCLUSION:
 Applied load increases result in a higher bending moment.
 Counter bending moment adjusts proportionally to maintain equilibrium.
 Measurement errors and friction could introduce slight variations.
 A linear trend between load and bending moment suggests consistent structural response

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