UNIVERSITI TENAGA NASIONAL

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MESB 333 ENGINEERING MEASUREMENT & LAB

FINAL REPORT
DEFLECTION OF A BEAM
GROUP NUMBER

SECTION

4A

LECTURER

MS TAN EE SANN

GROUP MEMBER

1.

THARASYAN A/L JANARTHANAN

(ME 091905)

2.

DARVINDER SINGH

(ME 092093)

3.

LEE ENG LOY

(ME 091813)

4.

BAVANI YUNNASOGARAM

(ME 091824)

5.

NG SEK KENG

(ME 091910)

6.

CHIA YONG NAN

(ME 090840)
1

TABLE OF CONTENT
Index Title

Page

Abstract

Objective

Theory

Procedure

Literature Review

Data and Observation

16

Result and Analysis

18

Discussion

29

Conclusion

32

10

Reference

32

11

Appendix

33

ABSTRACT

The main objective of this experiment has been achieved. The main of objective is to
measure the deflection of different materials with certain load applied on it. The deflection of
each material depends on its elasticity. Based on the tabulated data, it is known that wood draws
the highest deflection compared to other materials such as brass, steel and aluminum. One of the
reasons that other materials are said to be stronger is due to the modulus of elasticity of such
material. Modulus of elasticity was calculated and shows that it is 19200N/mm. There were
some errors occurred while conducting the experiment. Due to the error, the percentage error
calculated is more than 50%. Based on the error, it can be concluded that the instruments used
like dial gauge which has high sensitivity may have cause the readings to differ from the
theoretical values of each materials. Assumption is being made for the uncertainty for force and
deflection because the dial gauge instrument could not give 100% accuracy where the readings
does not start at 0mm. Moreover, the weight is not being placed exactly at the center of the beam
due to position of measuring device. The average reading was being taken to calculate the
uncertainty of each material.

Objectives
1. To investigate the relationship between load and deflection of a beam placed on two bear
affected by a concentrated load at the center.
2. To determine the modulus of elasticity of the materials.

Theory
The stress-strain behavior of brittle materials (e.g. ceramic, low toughness composite
material) is not usually ascertained by tensile tests as outline in this project. A more suitable
transverse bending test is most frequently employed, in which a rod specimen either a circular
or rectangular cross section is bent until fracture using a three- or four-point loading technique.
The assessments are conducted according to ASTM Standard C 1161, Standard Test Method
for Flexural Strength of Advanced Ceramics at Ambient Temperature.

Simply supported beam with central point load

For this arrangement, it can be shown that the deflection under the load
i.e. maximum deflection

Wl 3
48 EI

bd 3
Where I
12
Beam compliance

l3

W 4Ebd 3

Determination of coefficient of elasticity

Calculations:

Deflection formula for the load given above:

FL3
48 EI

FL3
48 I

A determination of the flexural stress yields:

Mb
Wb

M b F F1

L
4

Where:
=

Deflection (mm.)

E = Coefficient of Elasticity

L =

Span(mm.)

I =

Mb =

Moment of Flexure (Nmm)

F1 = Load occasioned
=
by weight of load device

Inertia Factor

=2.5N
Wb = Resistance to Flexure (mm3) F = Load occasioned by additional weight (N)
b =

Flexural Stress (N/mm2)

Set of Apparatus
i. Twist and Bend Test Machine MT 3005.
ii. 4 types of materials, brass, copper, aluminium, and wood.
iii. Dial Gauge

Procedure
i. The apparatus is set as shown in the diagram.
ii. Load is placed on the center of the beam.
iii. The dial gauge is then placed on the top of the hook that holds the load.
iv. The load is added in increasing order from 5N, 10N, 15N and 25N.
v. The readings are taken from the deflection of the dial gauge, and tabulated.
vi. The different types of materials are tested on the bending machine (wood, aluminum,
brass and copper.

Literature Review

2.1

Apparatus

The experiment was conducted on an apparatus that is simply designed to support at two separate
ends to enable load to be applied at the centre of the placed material to read the deflection of the
material for analysis.
2.1.1 Twist and Test Machine MT 3005
Realizing that the planned apparatus prototype in progress report 1 has the same general
concept/idea as the one in the Materials Laboratory in UNITEN, we have decided to use the
readily available instead.

MT 3005 Twist and Bend Testing Machine

2.1.2

MT 3005 Utilization

The MT 3005 is a very capable and versatile apparatus that can cater to several specific needs. It
combines twist and bending capabilities and can be used in laboratory exercises in conjunction
with theoretical work on twist and bending.

2.1.3

MT 3005 Specifications

Equipment
Twist and Bending Machine
Loading devices (0.25 Kg)
1 Kg weights
0.5 Kg weights
Dial Gauge
Rectangular cross-section steel test piece
Rectangular cross-section wood test piece
Diameter 8 mm, of resp. steel, aluminium and brass
End fixtures
Laboratory manual

Quantity
1
2
2
4
1
7
1
3
2
1

2.1.4

Bending and Modulus of Elasticity

For this experiment, bending is prioritized. Through bending, the modulus of elasticity of
different materials is able to be determined. The test piece is supported at either end and load (in
a form of weights) is applied in the middle between the supports.

Example of calculation of modulus of elasticity

10

2.2

Materials

A set of materials were chosen as the test specimen for this experiment. Each of which
has 99% similarity in terms of dimensions of 375 mm x 31 mm x 6.3 mm. The following
materials were tested.

Material types: Aluminium, wood, brass & copper (top to bottom)

2.2.1 Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of
thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a
natural composite of cellulose fibers (which are strong in tension) embedded in
a matrix of lignin which resists compression.
The classification of wood has historically always been either hard wood; any leaf
bearing tree, and soft wood; any cone bearing tree. These terms can be confusing since some leaf
bearing trees can have very soft wood and some coniferous trees can have very hard woods. To
make this easier, below you will find a list of different tree types, classification and then
individual wood characteristics.

11

2.2.1.1 Wood Utilization

Pound for pound, wood is stronger than steel. Unlike steel, it is also resilient. This
combination of strength and resiliency gives wood the ability to absorb the shock of heavy loads
providing a greater margin of safety than many other materials.
Wood and wood-based products are the most important of all man's resources for three
main reasons. First, wood is universal. It is a raw material that can satisfy almost every
requirement or existence. It provides food for man and animals. It is one of the world's most
important sources of textile fibers. Wood is capable of producing motor fuels and lubricants. As
a building material, wood yields an astonishing variety of plywoods, plastic and wood fiber
products that can meet any engineering specification.

2.2.2 Aluminium
Aluminium (or aluminum; see spelling differences) is a chemical element in the boron
group with symbol Al and atomic number 13. It is a silvery white, soft, ductile metal. Aluminium
is the third most abundant element (after oxygen and silicon), and the most abundant metal in
the Earth's crust. It makes up about 8% by weight of the Earth's solid surface. Aluminium metal
is so chemically reactive that native specimens are rare and limited to
extreme reducing environments. Instead, it is found combined in over 270 different minerals.
The chief ore of aluminium is bauxite.

2.2.2.1 Aluminium Utilization

Aluminium is remarkable for the metal's low density and for its ability to
resist corrosion due to the phenomenon of passivation. Structural components made from
aluminium and its alloys are vital to the aerospace industry and are important in other areas of
transportation and structural materials. The most useful compounds of aluminium, at least on a
weight basis, are the oxides and sulphates.

12

2.2.3 Brass
Brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be
varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties. It is a sub-stitutional alloy: atoms of
the two constituents may replace each other within the same crystal structure.
By comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin. Bronze does not
necessarily contain tin, and a variety of alloys of copper, including alloys
with arsenic, phosphorus, aluminium, manganese, and silicon, are commonly termed "bronze".
The term is applied to a variety of brasses and the distinction is largely historical, and
modern practice in museums and archaeology is increasingly to avoid both terms for historical
objects in favour of the all-embracing "copper alloy".

2.2.3.1 Brass Utilization

Brass is used for decoration for its bright gold-like appearance; for applications where
low friction is required such as locks, gears, bearings, doorknobs, ammunition casings and
valves; for plumbing and electrical applications; and extensively in brass musical instruments
such as horns and bells for its acoustic properties. It is also used in zippers. Brass is often used in
situations where it is important that sparks not be struck, as in fittings and tools around explosive
gases.

2.2.4 Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from Latin: cuprum) and atomic
number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is
soft and malleable; a freshly exposed surface has a reddish-orange color. It is used as a conductor
of heat and electricity, a building material, and a constituent of various metal alloys.
The metal and its alloys have been used for thousands of years. In the Roman era, copper
was principally mined on Cyprus, hence the origin of the name of the metal as yprium (metal of
Cyprus), later shortened to uprum. Its compounds are commonly encountered as copper (II)
salts, which often impart blue or green colors to minerals such as azurite and turquoise and have
been widely used historically as pigments. Architectural structures built with copper corrode to
give green verdigris (or patina). Decorative art prominently features copper, both by itself and as
part of pigments.

13

2.2.4.1 Copper Utilization

Copper is essential to all living organisms as a trace dietary mineral because it is a key
constituent of the respiratory enzyme complexcytochrome c oxidase.
In molluscs and crustacea copper is a constituent of the blood pigment hemocyanin,
which is replaced by the iron-complexed hemoglobin in fish and other vertebrates. The main
areas where copper is found in humans are liver, muscle and bone. Copper compounds are used
as bacteriostatic substances, fungicides, and wood preservatives.

14

2.3

Material Properties

Properties table including the 4 chosen materials with theoretical modulus of elasticity,

15

DATA & OBSERVATION

Task 1: Load and Deflection

Dimension (Length Width Height)

Material
Wood

375 31 6.4

Aluminum

375 25 6.2

Brass

375 25 6.2

Copper

375 25 6.2
Table 1 Dimension of each material

Load

Deflection (mm)

(N)

Wood

Aluminum

Brass

Copper

1.64

0.42

0.3

0.25

10

3.11

0.84

0.56

0.48

15

4.70

1.27

0.9

0.73

25

8.53

2.10

1.52

1.20

Table 2 Load and Deflection for each material

16

Task 2: Modulus of Elasticity

Material

Wood

Aluminum

Brass

Copper

Moment of

Flexural

Deflection

Coefficient Of Elasticity

Load,

Flexure, Mb

Stress

F (N)

(Nmm)

Eave

(N/mm2)

(mm)

(N/mm2)

(N/mm2)

703.125

3.3225

1.64

18910.7500

10

1171.875

5.5375

3.11

19934.9647

15

1640.625

7.7524

4.70

19786.5128

25

2578.125

12.1824

8.53

18170.4983

703.125

4.3900

0.42

26341.4343

10

1171.875

7.3166

0.84

26341.4343

15

1640.625

10.2432

1.27

26134.0215

25

2578.125

16.0966

2.10

26341.4343

703.125

4.3900

0.3

36878.0081

10

1171.875

7.3166

0.56

39512.1515

15

1640.625

10.2432

0.9

36878.0081

25

2578.125

16.0966

1.52

36392.7711

703.125

4.3900

0.25

44253.6097

10

1171.875

7.3166

0.48

46097.5101

15

1640.625

10.2432

0.73

45466.0374

25

2578.125

16.0966

1.20

46097.5101

19200.5

26289.6

37415.3

45478.7

Table 3 Modulus of Elasticity

17

ANALYSIS & RESULTS

Deflection (mm)

Graph Deflection vs Loading

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
5

10

15

25

Load (N)
Wood

Aluminum

Brass

Copper

Graph 1 Deflection vs Loading

Coefficient Of Elasticity (GPa)

Theoretical vs Experimental for

Coefficient of Elasticity
140
120

100
80
60

40
20
0
Wood

Aluminum

Brass

Copper

Material
Experrimental

Theoretical

Graph 2 Theoretical vs Experimental of Coefficient of Elasticity for each material

18

Calculation:
To calculate the coefficient of elasticity of steel, brass, alumunium and wood, the deflection
formula is:-

FL3
48 EI

FL3
48 I

To determine the flexural stress:-

When rectangular it is

Mb
Wb

bh3
I
12

M b ( F F1 )

and

L
4

bh 2
Wb
6

= Deflection (mm)
L = Span (mm) = 500 mm
Mb = Moment of Flexures (Nmm)
Wb = Resistance to Flexure (mm3)
b = Flexural Stress (N/mm2)
E = Coefficient of Elasticity
I = Inertia Factor
F1 = Load occasioned by weight of Load Device (N) = 2.5 N
F = Load occasioned by additional weight (N)

19

Moment of flexure is the same for every specimen according to the load weight used.
Moment of Flexure: M b ( F F1 )

L
4

5 N M b (5 2.5)

375
703.125 Nmm
4

10 N M b (10 2.5)

375
1171 .875 Nmm
4

15 N M b (15 2.5)

375
1640 .625 Nmm
4

25 N M b (25 2.5)

375
2578 .125 Nmm
4

Flexural stress for wood:Dimension: 31 6.4 mm

bh2 31 6.4 2
Wb

211.6267 mm3
6
6

5 N b

703.125
3.3225 N
mm2
211.6267

10 N b

1171 .875
5.5375 N
mm2
211.6267

15 N b

1640 .625
7.7524 N
mm2
211.6267

20 N b

2578 .125
12.1824 N
mm2
211.6267

20

Flexural stress for Aluminum, Brass and Copper :Dimension: 25 6.2 mm

Wb

bh2 25 6.2 2

160.1667 mm3
6
6

5 N b

703.125
4.3900 N
mm2
160.1667

10 N b

1171 .875
7.3166 N
mm2
160.1667

15 N b

1640 .625
10.2432 N
mm2
160.1667

20 N b

2578 .125
16.0966 N
mm2
160.1667

Inertia Factor for Wood:

bh3 31 6.43
I

677.2053mm4
12
12
Inertia Factor for Aluminum, Brass, and Copper::

bh3 25 6.23
I

496.5167 mm4
12
12

21

Modulus of Elasticity:
Wood:-

FL3
5 375 3
5N E

18901 .7500 N mm2 18.9018GPa

48 I 48 177.2053 1.64
10 N E

FL3
10 3753

19934 .9647 N mm2 19.9350GPa

48I 48 177.2053 3.11

15 N E

FL3
15 375 3

19786 .5128 N mm2 19.7865GPa

48 I 48 177.2053 4.70

25 N E

FL3
25 3753

18170 .4983 N mm2 18.1705GPa

48I 48 177.2053 8.53

Uncertainty:

5 N ()5 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (5)2 + (0.02)2 (1.64)2 ]0.5 = 0.1053

10N ()10 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (10)2 + (0.02)2 (3.11)2 ]0.5 = 0.2095

15N ()15 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (15)2 + (0.02)2 (4.70)2 ]0.5 = 0.3143

25N ()25 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (25)2 + (0.02)2 (8.53)2 ]0.5 = 0.5283

Hence, Eave

18.9018 19.9350 19.7865 18.1765

19.2005GPa
4

Hence, () =

0.1053+0.2095+0.3143+0.5283
4

= 0.2894 GPa

22

 = 19.2005 0.2894

Theoretical Value = 12.5 GPa

% error =

% error =

12.5 19.2005
100 53.604%
12.5

12.5 (19.2005 0.2894 )

12.5

100 51.2888 %

Aluminum:5N E

FL3
5 375 3

26341 .4343 N mm2 26.3414GPa

48 I 48 496.5167 0.42

10 N E

FL3
10 375 3

26341 .4343 N mm2 26.3414GPa

48I 48 496.5167 0.84

15 N E

FL3
15 375 3

26134 .0215 N mm2 26.1340GPa

48 I 48 496.5167 1.27

FL3
25 375 3
25 N E

26341 .4343 N mm2 26.3414GPa

48I 48 496.5167 2.10

23

Uncertainty:

5 N ()5 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (5)2 + (0.02)2 (0.42)2 ]0.5 = 0.1005

10N ()10 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (10)2 + (0.02)2 (0.84)2 ]0.5 = 0.2007

15N ()15 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (15)2 + (0.02)2 (1.27)2 ]0.5 = 0.3010

25N ()25 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (25)2 + (0.02)2 (2.10)2 ]0.5 = 0.5018

Hence, Eave

26.3414 26.3414 26.1340 26.3414

26.2896GPa
4

Hence, () =

0.1005+0.2007+0.3010+0.5018
4

= 0.2760

= 26.2896 0.2760

Theoretical Value = Range of 69 GPa

% error =

% error =

69 26.2896
100 61.8991 %
69
69 (26.2896 0.2760 )
69

100 61.4991 %

24

Brass:5N E

FL3
5 375 3

36878 .0081N mm2 36.8780GPa

48 I 48 496.5167 0.3

10 N E

FL3
10 375 3

39512 .1515 N mm2 39.5122GPa

48I 48 496.5167 0.56

15 N E

FL3
15 3753

36878 .0081 N mm2 36.8780GPa

48I 48 496.5167 0.9

25 N E

FL3
25 375 3

36392 .7711 N mm2 36.3928GPa

48I 48 496.5167 1.52

Uncertainty:

5 N ()5 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (5)2 + (0.02)2 (0.30)2 ]0.5 = 0.1000

10N ()10 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (10)2 + (0.02)2 (0.56)2 ]0.5 =

0.2002

15N ()15 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (15)2 + (0.02)2 (0.90)2 ]0.5 =

0.3005

25N ()25 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (25)2 + (0.02)2 (2.10)2 ]0.5 =

0.5009

Hence, Eave

36.8780 39.5122 36.8780 36.3928

37.4153GPa
4

Hence, () =

0.1000+0.2002+0.3005+0.5009
4

= 0.2754

25

 = 37.4153 0.2754

Theoretical Value = Range of 102 to 125 GPa

% error =

% error =

102 .00 37.4153

102 .00

100 63.3183 %

102.00 (37.4153 0.2754 )

102.00

100 63.0483 %

Copper:5N E

FL3
5 375 3

44253 .6097 N mm2 44.2536GPa

48 I 48 496.5167 0.25

10 N E

FL3
10 375 3

46097 .5101 N mm2 46.0975GPa

48 I 48 496.5167 0.48

15 N E

FL3
15 375 3

45466 .0374 N mm2 45.4660GPa

48I 48 496.5167 0.73

25 N E

FL3
25 375 3

46097 .5101 N mm2 46.0975GPa

48I 48 496.5167 1.20

26

Uncertainty:

5 N ()5 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (5)2 + (0.02)2 (0.25)2 ]0.5 = 0.1000

10N ()10 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (10)2 + (0.02)2 (0.48)2 ]0.5 = 0.2002

15N ()15 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (15)2 + (0.02)2 (0.73)2 ]0.5 = 0.3003

25N ()25 = [ =1( )2 ( )2 ] = [(0.02)2 (25)2 + (0.02)2 (1.20)2 ]0.5 = 0.5006

Hence, Eave

44.2536 46.0975 45.4660 46.0975

45.4787 GPa
4

Hence, () =

0.1000+0.2002+0.3003+0.5006
4

= 0.2753

= 37.4153 0.2753

Theoretical Value = 117 GPa

% error =

% error =

117.00 45.4787
100 61.1293 %
117.00

117 .00 (45.4787 0.2753)

117 .00

100 60.8940 %

27

Standard Deviation:
For 5N:
=

( )

1.64 + 0.42 + 0.3 + 0.25

4

= 0.6525mm

( )

[(1.64 0.6525)2 + (0.42 0.6525)2 + (0.3 0.6525)2 + (0.25 0.6525)2 ]

4

= 0.5734

For 10N:
=

( )

3.11 + 0.84 + 0.56 + 0.48

4

= 1.2475

( )

[(3.11 1.2475)2 + (0.84 1.2475)2 + (0.56 1.2475)2 + (0.48 1.2475)2 ]

4

= 1.0836

28

Discussion
1. Why deflection occurs during the applied of the load?

In the field of engineering, deflection is understood as the degree to which a structural

element is displaced under a load. It may refer to an angle or a distance. [1] To make it
simple, when a force or a load acting towards a point of a bar, where the bar is placed in a
horizontal way, deflection will occur and can be clarified by using naked eye only. The
deflection distance of a member under a load is directly related to the slope of the deflected
shape of the member under that load and can be calculated by integrating the function that
mathematically describes the slope of the member under that load. It can normally be
calculated by using Euler or Bernoulli beam equation.

2. Why different materials will be getting different values from deflection, although the load
applied is the same?

In the graph obtained, there were four types of material used in this experiment,
wood, aluminum, brass and copper; one of the reasons to use different type of material was
to justify the theory of bending was depend on the type of material. From the result
obtained from the experiment, the material which deflection occur the most was wood.
The result is 1.64mm, 3.11mm, 4.70mm and 5.83mm. Wood is a hard, fibrous structural
tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It has been used for
thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material [1], it is an organic material.
It is a very soft type of material compared to other materials, e.g. copper. In this
experiment, copper is the strongest element. This is been proven that the deflection
obtained from the experiment is 0.25mm, 0.48mm, 0.73mm, 1.20mm. In short, it can be
concluding that the stronger the material, the better the resistant towards deflection.

29

3. The comparison of coefficient of elasticity, E.

In the Coefficients of Elasticity, E, of 4 different specimens was determined. Again
the same apparatus as in task 1 is used. After experiments are done and after calculation,
E for copper is obtained as 45478.7 GPa. This count to a percentage error of 61.12%
from the theoretical value which is 117 GPa. E for brass is found to be 37.41 GPa, with
an error of only 63.31% from theoretical value of 102 GPa. Aluminium has a theoretical
E of 69GPa, however, from the experiment, it is 26.28 GPa. The percentage error will be
61.89%. Finally E of wood was found to be 19.2GPa, an error of 53.60% from the actual
value of 12.5 GPa.

4. The uncertainty of the experiment.

In physical experiments uncertainty analysis, or experimental uncertainty

assessment, deals with assessing the uncertainty in a measurement. An experiment
designed to determine an effect, demonstrate a law, or estimate the numerical value of a
physical variable will be affected by errors due to instrumentation, methodology,
presence of confounding effects and so on. Experimental uncertainty estimates are
needed to assess the confidence in the results. [3] In this experiment, the overall
uncertainty is calculated in average of 0.09 ~ 0.1 Pa. This result means that the average
value for modulus of elastic is around 0.09 ~ 0.1 Pa from the experimental value. For
example, the modulus of elastic experimental for wood material was 19.2005 GPa and
around 0.09 ~ 0.1 Pa.

30

5. What are the errors occurred during the experiment?

No measurement can be made perfect accuracy and precision. Therefore, it is

instructive to know the various types of errors and uncertainties that are in general,
associated with measurement system. [2] There are different types of error such as
systematic error, miscellaneous type of gross errors and so on. First of all, the main error
will be the instrument error which under the category of systematic error. The testing
device which is the gauge has zero error. In other words, the measurement will never get
a correct result due to the factor. Also, errors due to faulty adjustment are one of the
factors. During the process of applying load, the equipment itself being touched
unconsciously which will affect the result. Last but not least, the parallax error is also the
reason why the results are not accurate. The way the reading being taken was not in a
correct position where it has affected the result. All this factors will explain why the
percentage error of this experiment is out of charge.

6. Calibration for the experiment.

Calibration is a comparison between measurements between known magnitude

with another device and another experiment made in as similar a way as possible with a
second device. In the experiment, three measuring gauge is in use for calibration purpose.
It is for comparing the results in order to get the accurate value. E.g. the value of
deflection of wood has been measured by three different measuring gauge. The value
difference was only 0.2 0.4mm. So, the in between results have been taken it is the
more accurate result.

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CONCLUSION
This experiment was conducted to observe the deflection of different material when it
experiences applied load. Wood experienced the most deflection in comparison to copper which
experience the least deflection. From analyzing the results obtained copper has the highest
average modulus of elasticity which was 45478.7N/mm2 followed by brass 37415.3 N/mm2,
aluminum 26289.6 N/mm2 and finally wood 19200.5 N/mm2 in decreasing modulus of elasticity.
The experiment conducted reveals high percentage error when compared to the theoretical
modulus of elasticity of studied materials. These errors may have been caused due to reasons
such as human errors as well as instrumental errors that were discussed above; future
experiments should take extra precautions to eliminate these errors to obtain more precise data.
Uncertainty analysis carried out shows that wood has the highest uncertainty value for modulus
of elasticity with 0.289GPa followed by aluminum at 0.2760GPa, Brass 0.2754GPa and Copper
0.2753GPa in decreasing order. Hence the value of uncertainty is too small and hence does not
significantly affect the data obtained.

References

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deflection_(engineering).
[2] B. C. Nakra. and K. K. Chaudhry, Instrumentation Measurement and Analysis, 3rd Ed.,
McGraw Hill Education (India) Private Limited, 2009.
[3] http://user.engineering.uiowa.edu/~cfd/pdfs/References/uncert.pdf

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Appendix

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-p.s: Lee Eng Loy was the photographer.

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