CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

Lab 2: Flexural Stresses in Beams

Christopher Morgan
6605934

Lab Date: March 2nd, 2012

Report Date: March 16th, 2012
T.A.: hanva075@uottawa.ca
Lab Group: 62
Group Members: Mahabal, Mikaelian, Najafali, Najam

Table of Contents
Objectives
2

Theoretical Background.
2
Materials and
Equipment
.2
Experimental
Procedure
2
Collected
Data
..3
Experimental
Results
5
Data Analysis..
..
5
Discussion
...8
Conclusions and
Recommendations....8
References
.
9

Objectives
The objective of this experiment is to determine the flexural stresses at
various points on a simply supported beam subjected to two concentrated
loads.

Theoretical Background
A beam is a structural member whose length is large compared to its cross
sectional area which is loaded and supported in the direction transverse to
its axis. Lateral loads acting on the beam cause the beam to bend or flex,
thereby deforming the axis of the beam into a curved line.
The equation below gives the bending normal stress, and is also commonly
called the flexure formula. The y term is the distance from the neutral axis.
The I term is the moment of inertia about the neutral axis. M is the maximum
bending moment along the beam. The maximum moment along the beam
can be found from the bending moment diagram
=

M max y
I

Materials and Equipment

Hollow aluminum beam (2438 mm length) with rectangular cross section.
Loads (weights) 20lbs each (8 weights for a total of 80lbs x 2)
Strain gauges attached at 5 specific points along the beam.
Deformation indicator
2

Experimental Procedure
1. First step is to locate and measure the location of the stress gauges.
2. Once located, two equivalent concentrated loads are applied at 1/3 of the
span length from the supports. The corresponding strain was then read
for each gauge.
3. The loads were then increased from 20-80 lb at each point, recording the
data for each interval.
4. Finally, unloading the loads at the same interval of loading, once again
recording the data for each load change.

Collected Data
The moment of inertia with respect to the neutral axis was calculated.
Theoretically, the neutral axis is situated at the centroidal axis, marked z on
figure 1. Due to the cross section of the beam being hollow, the moment of
inertia of shape 2 (inner cross-section) was subtracted from the moment of
inertia of shape 1 (outer cross-section) demonstrated below.

Table 1: Beam dimensions

Outer
(mm)
76

Inner
(mm)
52.875

25

18.75

I Z =I z 1I z 2
3

b 1 h1 3 b 2 23
I Z=

12
12 =
3

25 763 ( 2523.125 ) ( 7623.125 )

=914533530215=384318 mm4
12
12
Since the loads are applied symmetrically on the beam, the reactions at the
supports are equal to each other and have the same value as the applied
loads.
R A =RB =P

The maximum bending moment is equal to the area under the shear force
diagram as shown in figure 2. It can be calculated using the equation below.
M max=812mmR A

Shear Force (N)

0

500

1000 1500 2000 2500

Length (mm)

Figure 2: Shear force diagrams for the beam under the experimental loading

The bending normal stresses at the different strain gauges can be calculated
using the flexural equation presented in the introduction and shown below.
=

M max y
M maxy
=
I
384 418 mm4

The estimated Youngs modulus at the different strain gauges can be

calculated using Hookes law as shown below.
E=

Experimental Results
Table 2: Experimental Strains

Load
lb

0
20
40
80
40
20
0

0
88.99
177.98
355.97
177.98
88.99
0

Strain (x10-6)
S.G.1
S.G.2

S.G.3

S.G.4

S.G.5

-29
-132
-237
-443
-236
-133
-29

-28
-52
-72
-116
-72
-51
-28

-27
51
129
285
131
52
-26

-19
83
186
392
186
84
-19

-26
-103
-181
-334
-179
-102
-26

Data Analysis
Table 3: Calculated stress corresponding to gauges position

Load
(lb)
0
20
40
80
40
20
0

Calculated Stresses (MPa)

S.G.1
S.G.2
S.G.3
S.G.4
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
7.14
5.37
1.79
5.37
14.27
10.73
3.58
10.73
28.54
21.46
7.15
21.46
14.27
10.73
3.58
10.73
7.14
5.37
1.79
5.37
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

S.G.5
0.00
7.14
14.27
28.54
14.27
7.14
0.00

Table 4: Estimated Young's modulus from the measured strains and calculated stresses

Load
(lb)
0
20
40
80
40
20
0

Estimated Youngs Modulus (GPa)

S.G.1
S.G.2
S.G.3
S.G.4
S.G.5
0.00
58.55
62.94
65.99
63.22
58.08
0.00

0.00
57.76
62.83
66.32
63.57
58.39
0.00

0.00
42.63
57.76
67.57
57.76
43.67
0.00

0.00
88.06
77.29
72.84
76.19
86.64
0.00

0.00
76.81
72.89
71.08
72.89
75.99
0.00

Bending Moment Diagrams

80000

72264

72264

70000
60000
50000
M (Nmm)

40000
30000
20000
10000
0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

Length (mm)
Figure 3: Bending moment diagram for P=20 lb

160000

144530

144530

140000
120000
100000
M (Nmm)

80000
60000
40000
20000
0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

Length (mm)
Figure 4: Bending moment diagram for P=40 lb

350000
300000

289050

289050

250000
200000
M (Nmm)

150000
100000
50000
0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

Length (mm)
Figure 5: Bending moment diagram for P=80 lb

40
f(x) -=1.14
- f(x)
181621.32x
- 2.63 - 5.5
f(x) = - 91647.92x
= - 359408.92x
30
20
10
Y (mm)

P=20 lb
Linear (P=20 lb)
0

-10

P=40lb
Linear (P=40lb)
P=80 lb

-20

Linear (P=80 lb)

-30
-40
Axial Strain

Figure 6: Neutral axis determination

Discussion
Determining the flexural stresses of a beam is an important technique used
in real life in order to assure the safety of the beams when subjected to
various loads. The results obtained from this experiment were compared to
the theoretical calculations obtained from derived formulas. After analysing
these results, it can be stated that the experimental data coincides with the
theoretical data fairly accurately. The apply loads in this experiment were
applied in a hanging manner from under the beam therefore this created a
tensile stress below the neutral axis of the beam and a compressive stress
above the neural axis of the beam. The neutral axis of this beam was
experimentally located just above the center point along the z axis,
compared to the theoretical location being in the direct center. That being
said, the experimental values as well as the theoretical values prove just this
by having negative stress at stress gauges 1, 2 and 3 and positive stress
values at stress gauges 4 and 5. From this information, the modulus of
elasticity was experimentally calculated as seen in table 4 and compared to
the theoretical value of aluminum of about 70 GPa. The experimental values
fall well within range of the theoretical value therefore in can be said that
this beam was indeed reacting appropriately.

Conclusions and recommendations

In conclusion, the laboratory experiment was successful and the objective of
determining the flexural stresses at various points on a simply supported
beam subjected to two concentrated loads was established. According to the
experimental and theoretical values, a small margin of error was accounted
for, however within reasonable range to conclude that the theory with
respect to the stress of the beam was indeed acting according to the applied
loads applied to it.

References
Hibbeler, R.C. (2008). Mechanics of Material. Pearson Prentice Hall.
Martin-Prez, B. (Winter 2012). Flexural Stresses in Beams. CVG 2140
Laboratory Manual.
"The University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences | Home." The
University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences | Home. Web. 8 Mar.
2012.
<http://www.optics.arizona.edu/optomech/references/opti_222/opti_22
2_w9.pdf>.

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