REACTIONS AND MOMENT FOR PROPPED CANTILEVER BEAM SUBJECTED TO

POINT LOAD AND UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LOAD

OBJECTIVES
The objective of the experiment is to determine the reactions and moments for
propped cantilever beam subjected to increasing point loads at any point and
uniformly distributed load.
THEORY
Finding beam deflections using the moment equation or the load-deflection
equation can be tedious and lengthy. An alternative method is to use superposition
to find the deflection. Basically, a complex beam with its loading is simplified to a
series of basic beams (one span) and with only one load. Then the solution to all the
simplified beams are added together to give a final solution. The principle of
superposition is one of the most important tools for solving beam loading problems
allowing simplification of very complicated design problems. While superposition
can be used for many problems in engineering, they are particularly useful for beam
deflections. Most beam configuration and loading can be split into simpler beams
and loading. For example, the beam at the left with a distributed load and a point
moment load can be split into two beams. One with the distributed load and one
with the moment load.
APPARATUS
1. A support that can measure moment and reactions.
2. A steel beam.
3. A set of weights.
PROCEDURES
1. Experimental was set up refer to attachment.
2. Check that the load cell is properly secured to the pivoting plate.
3. Place the ends of the beam between the clamping plates of the supports and
tightened one of screws to fix the beam and the other end must be loosen.
4. Fix the load accordingly to the distance required in the result Table 1 and
Table 2.
5. The indicator was switch on.
6. Press the Tare button to set the digital indicator reading to zero.
7. Place a suitable load on the load hanger and the reading of each load cell was
recorded. (for distributed load place the load specimen along the beam)
8. The procedure by increasing the loads indicated in the result table was
repeated.

RESULT/DATA
Load cell reading/reaction at fixed support = F N
Fixed end moment (experimental) = F 55Nm
Case 1 : Reaction and fix end moment subjected to point load
Length of beam span, L = 540 mm
Distance of load from pinned support, b = 165 mm
Distance of load from fixed support, a = 375mm
Table 1
Applied
Load (N)
P
4
8
12

Reaction at Fixed Support (N)

Experiment/
Cell
Reading, F
2.4
5.0
7.9

Theoretic
al

% error

3.49
6.99
10.49

31.2
28.5
27.6

Moment at Fixed Support (Nmm)

Experime
nt (F
55)
132
275
418

Theoretic
al

% error

388.3
776
1164.9

66
64.9
64

CALCULATION
The end moment at the fixed support of a propped cantilever beam
(a + L)
MA = Pab
2L2
= 4(375)(165)
(375 +
2
2(540)540)
= 388.3 Nmm
The reaction at the fixed support
RA = Pa
(3L2 a2)
2L3
= 4(375)
[3(540)2
2
2(540)
(375)2]
= 3.49 N

Percent the difference in reaction

% error = The difference in reaction
100%
Theoretical reaction
= 3.49 2.4
100%
3.49
= 31.2 %
Percent the difference in fixed end moment
% error = The difference in fixed end moment
100%
Theoretical fixed end moment
= 388.2- 132
100%
132
= 66 %
Case 2: Reaction and fix end moment subjected to distributed load
Length of beam support, L = 300 mm
Table 1
Applied
Load (N)
P
1.2
2.4
3.6

Reaction at Fixed Support (N)

Experiment/
Cell
Reading, F
1.0
1.8
2.8

CALCULATION
W = Load (N)
L (mm)
= 1.2
300
= 4 10-3

Theoretic
al

% error

0.75
1.5
2.25

33.3
20
24.4

Moment at Fixed Support (Nmm)

Experime
nt (F
55)
55
99
154

Theoretic
al

% error

45
90
135

22.2
10
14.1

The moment at the fixed support of a propped cantilever beam

MA = wL2
8
= (4 10-3)(300)2
8
= 45 Nmm
The reaction at the fixed support
RA = 5wL
8
= 5(4 10-3)(300)
8
=8N
Percent the difference in reaction
% error = The difference in reaction
100%
Theoretical reaction
= 1.0 0.75
100%
0.75
= 33.3 %
Percent the difference in fixed end moment
% error = The difference in fixed end moment
100%
Theoretical fixed end moment
= 55 - 45
100%
45
= 22.2 %

DISCUSSION
From the experiment that we have done, there are difference between experimental reactions and
moments compared to the theoretical value. For the Case 1 which is reaction and fixed end
moment subjected to point load, reaction that we got from the experimental by using load

1.2N is 1.0N while theoretical reactions are 0.75N. The theoretical value and the experimental

value may mainly due to human and servicing factors such as parallax error. This error occur
during observer captured the value of the water level. Besides that, error may occur during
adjusting the level gauge to point at the white line on the side of the weight pan. Other than that,
it also maybe because of the water valve. This error may occur because the water valve was not
completely close during collecting the water. This may affect the time taken for the water to be
collected. There are a lot of possibilities for the experiment will having an error. Therefore, the
recommendation to overcome the error is ensure that the position of the observers eye must be
90 perpendicular to the reading or the position. Then, ensure that the apparatus functioning
perfectly in order to get an accurate result.
CONCLUSION
The objectives if this experiment is to verify the momentum equation through impact of jet. As a
conclusion, the experiment that have been carried out were successful, even though the data
collected are a little bit difference compared to the theoretical value. This is because some error
occurred when doing the experiment. For the next experiment, this error can be increase to get
more accurate result. We can conclude, the objective of the experiment was achieved.