Abstract

A beam that usually used in construction of building has important facts that being applied by
architecture and engineers. They are most likely to be the shear force and bending moment. A
shear forces is a resistance created in the beam to balance the external load that acts on the beam
to bring equilibrium of the beam. If it doesnt obtain a balance, the bending moment will be
induced to change the shape of the beam. Shear force and bending moment in a beam was being
conducted to investigate how does the position of the load from the left support and the weight of
the load would affect the readings. It was basically done by following the procedure to construct
a shear force and bending moment apparatus. Different type of technic was used to enhance the
new method of solving the difficulties. It was found that having a greater weight would cause the
readings increases. The further the distance away from the support would also cause the readings
increases. The reasons of finding the value were to ensure a consistence forces acting on a beam
to avoid any position to collapse.

1.0 Introduction
Among our surrounding, there is a lot of things happen that couldnt notice it. As engineer
applies their physics to improve things, there is always a mistake being done. In a mechanical
engineering environment, shear force and bending moment taught how a force that being applied
between two supports can cause a bending. As huge and tall buildings being built by engineer,
some collapse due to these phenomena. To learn more details about the problems, engineers
apply their knowledge to investigate the problem through experiment. The apparatus of shear
force and bending moment allow us to know the readings when load is applied on a certain
distance measured from the left side beam. Shear force is an internal force that acts perpendicular
to the beam. As the load in the experiment represents the force acting on that beam, the shear
force tends to move at the same direction. Based on the newtons first law of motion, it state that
wherever the sum of forces is acting on the beam, it is always equivalent to zero. Bending
moment is about the cut-off section where
. The direction of the bending moment move
depends on the force acting on the beam. The bending moment can also be define as the torque
that keeps the beam stay together when a force is acting on the center of the beam. Having the
readings of shear force and bending moment tells what would happen when greater load is apply
along the beam based on the distance and weight and how is going to affect and help in
engineering construction side.

2.0 Experimental Design

Figure 1: Shear force & Bending Moment Apparatus

Legend
A

- Aluminum profile frame

- Simple supported beam

- Shear force load cell

- Bending moment load cell

- Loading point holder

- Pin joint

- Console box

2.1 Materials
The following materials below are used to build the apparatus of shear force and
bending moment for study purpose.
I.

Aluminum profile frame

To support the whole apparatus from being fall or break.

II.

Simple supported beam

To support the apparatus when load is being placed on each holder.

III.

Shear force load cell

To measure the shear force value when load is applied on the holder.

IV.

Bending moment load cell

To measure the bending moment of the beam when load is applied on the holder.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

Loading point holder

To hold a certain load on different length along the simple supported beam.
Pin joint
Connections between two beams that can be bend when heavy load is applied.
Console box
It shows the readings of shear force load and bending moment load values.
Metal load
Each load is weighted 1N.
Spirit level
A device used to place on top of the supported beam making sure it is horizontal before
proceed the experiment.

2.2 Methods
When conducting the experiment to investigate the shear force and the bending moment, there is
two type of procedure will be applied for single point load and two point loads. Having an error
sometimes occurs and there is always a precaution needed to minimize the mistake done during
the experiment. The distance of loading point holder measured from the left side of the beam
should be correct for the position needed for the weight to be put on based on the procedure.
While having a pin joint on the middle of the beam, there will be a bending as it is moveable at
the center. It is concerned to use a spirit level placed on top the beam to indicate a horizontal
surface where the bubble should stay on the center top. Besides that, the console box should
always have a zero reading before conducting a new experiment to avoid any zero error. It can be
reset by pressing the UP button on the digital meters.
Moreover, the readings of shear force and bending moment can be calculated by applying

equilibrium conditions using

to find the external reaction
at the supports. The readings calculated would be theoretical different from the experimental
values. It is always important to repeat few times while conducting the experiment to find the
average value as the console box doesnt show a consistent value. Other than that, plotting the
shear force and bending moment diagram of the beam is based on the different position of the
load.

2.3 Procedure
a) EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
1. Connected the shear force load cell and the bending moment load cell at the pin joint of
the simply supported beam.
2. The console box is being plug to the main power supply and is switched on.
3. The reading that shown on the console box should be reset it to zero by pressing the UP
button on the digital force meter before proceeding to the experiment.
4. The pin joint on the center of the beam should be moveable to allows bending moment
occur.
5. The apparatus can be used as long all the materials fit perfectly.

b) EXPERIMENT 1 SHEAR FORCE & BENDING MOMENT FOR SINGLE POINT

LOAD
1. The main power is switch on to power up the console box.
2. Readings shown on the console box is reset to zero before proceeding any further.
3. The simple supported beam is being measured with a spirit level to ensure that the beam
is horizontal.
4. Place the 2N weight hanger into the loading point holder which has a distance of 9.5cm
measured from the left side of the beam.
5. The readings of shear force and bending moment that shown on the console box is being
recorded down.
6. The weight is then increases to 4N and 6N with the same distance of 9.5cm to obtain the
readings.
7. The experiment is repeated three times again with 2N, 4N and 6N weight hanger but with
different distance of 24.5cm measured from the left side of the beam.
8. The results are recorded in a table form.

c) EXPERIMENT 2 SHEAR FORCE FOR TWO POINT LOADS

1. The mail power is switch on to power up the console box.
2. The readings are reset to zero and the beam is measured with a spirit level to ensuring it
is horizontal.
3. Two hangers with weight of 2N is being hanged on two different position where the first
one is 9.5cm measured from the left beam and the second is 24.5cm measured from the
left beam.
4. The readings of the force and moment are recorded down.
5. Step 3 is repeated two more times with the weight of 4N and 6N on both side of the
loading point holder.

3.0 Result and discussion

The following shows the variables of the experiment 1.
Manipulated variable : The position (cm) & the weight (N)
Responding variable : The force reading (N) and the moment (Nm)
Constant variable

: The weight of one load (N)

Table 1: Experiment 1 shear force & bending moment for single point load
Position
9.5cm from the left

24.5cm from the left

Weight (N)
2
4
6
2
4
6

Force reading (N)

0.212
0.412
0.609
0.517
1.039
1.555

Moment (Nm)
0.04
0.06
0.30
0.13
0.35
0.50

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
EXPERIMENT 1
1. Calculate the shear force and bending moment at the center using theory, and compare it
with the experimental values.
Find the shear force and bending moment by using the formula of

.
Notes:

9.5cm from the left

When weight is 2N:
=
=
()
= ( )
Another shear force:
)
( )
= (
=
=
Bending moment:
( )
(
)
=
=
Based on the pre-lab assignment, it has calculated that the shear force is 1.7625N and
-0.2375N. The bending moment is 0.1674Nm.

When weight is 4N:

The value of calculated shear force is 3.525N and -0.475N. The bending moment is
0.335Nm.
When weight is 6N:
The value of calculated shear force is 5.2875N and -0.7125N. The bending moment is
0.5023Nm.
24.5cm from the left
When weight is 2N:
=
=
()
= ( )
Another shear force:
)
( )
= (
=
=
Bending moment:
( )
(
)
=
=
The value of calculated shear force is 1.3875N and -0.6125N. The bending moment is
0.340Nm.
When weight is 4N:
The value of calculated shear force is 2.775N and -1.225N. The bending moment is
0.680Nm.
When weight is 6N:
The value of calculated shear force is 4.1625N and -1.8375N. The bending moment is
1.02Nm.

2. Plot the shear force and bending moment diagram of the beam for the different positions
of load.
1.8

Shear force, (N)

1.6
1.4
1.2
1

2N Load

0.8
0.6

4N Load

0.4

6N Load

0.2
0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

Position, (m)

Figure 2: Shear force against position of load graph

0.3

Bending moment, (Nm)

0.6
0.5
0.4
2N Load

0.3

4N Load

0.2

6N Load
0.1
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Position, (x)

Figure 3: Bending moment against position of load graph

Table 2: Experiment 2 shear force for two point loads

Weight 1 (N)
2
4
6

Weight 2 (N)
2
4
6

Shear force (N)

0.719
1.454
2.174

Moment (Nm)
0.28
0.46
0.70

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
EXPERIMENT 2
1. Calculate the shear force and bending moment at the center using theory, and compare it
with experimental values.
When two 2N loads is hang at 9.5cm and another at 24.5cm measured from the left:
=
( )
()
a) = ( )
)
(
)
( )
= (
=
=
( )
=

b) =

=
=
=
=
=

( )
(

(
)

)
(

c) =
=
=
()
(
)
=
(
)
( )
(
)
=
(
)
=
The value of calculated shear force is 3.15N, 1.15N and -0.85N. The bending moment is
0.299Nm and 0.472Nm.
When two 4N loads is used:
The value of calculated shear force is 6.3N, 2.3N and -1.7N. The bending moment is
0.599Nm and 1.244Nm.
When two 6N loads is used:
The value of calculated shear force is 9.45N, 3.45N and -2.55N. The bending moment is
0.898Nm and 1.415Nm.

2. Plot the shear force and bending moment diagram of the beam, for the different positions
of load.
12

Shear force, (N)

10
8
6

2N Load

4N Load

6N Load

0
-2
-4

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Position, (m)

Figure 4: Shear force against position of load graph

0.9

1.6

Bending moment, (Nm)

1.4
1.2
1
0.8

2N Load

0.6

4N Load

0.4

6N Load

0.2
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Position, (m)

Figure 5: Bending moment against position of load graph

3. How does the shear force in this experiment differ from the shear force in experiment 1?
There are two shear forces acting on the beam while only one force acts on the beam in
experiment 1. When two weights are hanged on both positions, it provides more forces
acting downward where it create a greater bending moment.

4. What would happen if a uniformly distributed load (UDL) is placed on the beam instead?
Discuss.
Basically, uniformly distributed load (UDL) is a distributed load that acts along the
horizontal beam. It is different from the experiment as the load acts in all direction
perpendicular to the beam.

When UDL is used on the beam, the shear force and bending moment diagram will
change. As for the shear force diagram, the line would not be a consistent horizontal line
as it will be a straight line with a positive or negative gradient. In the other hand, the
bending moment diagram will provided a parabolic graph instead rather than a triangle
graph.

4.0 Conclusion and recommendations

In experiment 1, 2N weight was being hang onto the beam which is 9.5cm measured from the
left support. It shows the readings of shear force and bending moment on the console box. The
experiment is continuing by increasing the weight of 4N and 6N to see the responding of the
readings. The shear force and bending moment increases as weight is greater. Moreover, the
whole experiment was repeated but with a distance of 24.5cm measured from the left support. It
shows higher readings of the previous experiment. In conclusion, it was proven that the weight
and the position of the load affect the readings of shear force and bending moment. It was
calculated theoretically whether the position and weight does affect the readings and is proven
right. In experiment 2, two 2N weights was being hanged on both side of the beam that have a
distance of 9.5cm and 24.5cm away from the left side. Its weight is then increases to 4N and 6N.
The responding of shear force and bending moment was obviously greater as both side forces are
pulling the beam downward causing a greater bending moment. It can said that the center of the
beam have a greater force and moment acting on it.
In figure 2, 3, 4 and 5, it shows the graph of how different weight of load could effect on the
shear force and bending moment. It is recommended that having the average value by repeating
could improve the readings and the graph. The readings shows on the console box should also be
reset every experiment conducted. Besides that, always make sure the beam is horizontal due to
the pulling weight of the load would cause the pin joint to bend.

References
Bendingmomentdiagram.com 2014, How to find a shear force Diagram (SFD) of a simple beam,
viewed 26 September 2014,
http://bendingmomentdiagram.com/tutorials/calculation-shear-force/.

Codecogs.com 2011, Shear force and bending moment, viewed 28 September 2014,
http://www.codecogs.com/library/engineering/materials/shear-force-and-bending-moment.php.

Hamza Momade 2014, Shear force, bending moment, deflection beams, strut apparatus test,
viewed 27 September 2014,
http://www.academia.edu/3671106/Shear_Force_Bending_Moment_Deflection_Beams_Strut_A
pparatus_Test.

Learn Engineering 2011, Analysis of beams | Shear force & bending moment diagram, viewed
28 September 2014,
http://www.learnengineering.org/2013/08/shear-force-bending-moment-diagram.html.

Learneasy.info 2014, bending moment, viewed 29 September 2014,

http://www.learneasy.info/MDME/MEMmods/MEM30006A/Bending_Moment/Bending_Mome
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