Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Programmes:

BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

BEng (Hons) Man. and Prod. Engineering
BSc (Hons) Product Design
BEng(Hons) Motorsport Engineering
BEng(Hons) Motorcycle Engineering

FdEng Motorcycle Engineering

FdEng Motorsport Engineering
FdSc Mech. and Man. Engineering
FdEng Production Engineering

Module Title:
Module Code:

Applied Scientific Methods

4ME500

Module Leader:

Dr Amal Oraifige

Assignment No.:
Assignment Title:
Weighting:

1
Deflection of Beams
50%

Issue Date:

w/c 23rd September 2013

Hand-in Date:

19th December 2013

Assignment 1

Page 1 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Introduction
The objective of this series of practical sessions and assessment is to
generate an understanding of the theories underpinning the concepts found in
engineering. This will include both analytical and practical applications in
mechanical engineering science, providing a broad foundation of knowledge
required by engineers and preparing for further studies in specific fields.
In order to achieve this, you will engage in small groups working together to
provide the results facilitating further work on an individual basis to complete
the experiments and determine your own discussion and conclusions.
The range of experimental investigations undertaken during these practical
sessions will cover a broad scope of knowledge about the properties of
beams and also utilising equipment arrangements that introduces you to a
variety of measurements systems.

Frame used for the deflection of beams practical

Learning Outcome
At the end of this assignment, you will be able to
4. Explain and discuss practical experimental work carried out on specific
test rigs.

Assignment Brief
Deflection of simply supported and cantilever beams
These two practical sessions will provide you with an ideal visualisation and
proof of the concepts of deflection of beams under various support conditions.
It will also aid in enhancing your understanding of materials properties
including modulus of elasticity, thus providing a more in depth understanding
for future studies including Stress and Strain

Assignment 1

Page 2 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Submission Requirements
A neatly presented word processed report of approximately 1500 words in
length detailing out the following:
A. Report Presentation including: structure of report; contents page; brief,
introduction, use of appropriate referencing (Harvard) and appendices.
B. All calculations and appropriate tables of results.
C. Using the presented tables of results and any additional appropriate
graphs, discuss the variation of achieved result against theoretical
ones.
D. Explain:
i.

Why there is a variation in the results?

ii.

Does the behaviour of the materials fits with your expectation?

E. Present your own conclusions on the achieved results, and make

appropriate recommendations for taking these results forward.

All design relevant information should be extracted from appropriate reference

sources

Marking Criteria: The marking of this assessment will be based on the

following requirements:

Submission Section A

10%

Submission Section B

40%

Submission Section C

20%

Submission Section D

20%

Submission Section E

10%

Total

100%

Submission Date: See front sheet

The assignment report must be handed in

to Britannia Mill
Student Centre LG01 on or before the date of
submission.

Assignment 1

Page 3 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Late Submissions: There are No automatic right to late submission with a

capped mark of 40%. However, the University acknowledges that there may
be circumstances which prevent students from meeting deadlines and there
are now three distinct processes in place to deal with differing student
circumstances:
1) Assessed Extended Deadline (AED): Students with disabilities or long term health
issues are entitled to a Support Plan. The Support Plan will outline any adjustments to
assessments which are required to accommodate an individual students needs. For
further details refer to the link: http://www.derby.ac.uk/studentatozHE/supportplans

2) Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances (EEC): The EEC policy applies to

situations where serious, unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from
completing the assignment on time or to the normal standard. Students who submit a
successful EEC claim will usually be required to complete a different assessment to
that which was originally set. All EEC claims will be considered by Faculty/UDC
panels, which will convene on a monthly basis. For further details refer to the link:
http://www.derby.ac.uk/eec

3) Late Submission up to One Week: Covering unexpected and severe disruption to

study, where circumstances do not require the additional time allowed for by an EEC,
the Late Submission process enables students to complete their existing assessment
up to one week late, without a cap on the grade. Requests for late submission will be
made to the relevant Subject Manager in the School who can authorise an extension
of up to a maximum of one week. The Subject Manager will expect to see compelling
evidence that such an extension is appropriate.

Academic Offences: An "academic offence" has been committed when a

student tries to gain improper advantage for her/himself by breaking, or not
following, the Academic Regulations concerning any part of the assessment
process. This procedure applies to all students engaged in any University
assessment activity whether on or off site including collaborative
programmes.

Reading Materials: Module lecture and support notes; also see module
reading list. Note: These sources are guides only to commonly available
material. Students will also be expected to consult other relevant source
material according to the nature of the project.

Assignment 1

Page 4 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Undergraduate Marking Scale: This scale applies to Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6 in

the University Credit Framework. The descriptors are typical characteristics of
the standard of work associated with each range of marks. The descriptors
are illustrative and for guidance only. They are not comprehensive. A mark of
40% is regarded as a minimum pass.

Assignment 1

Page 5 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Appendix A
Deflection of Beams Practical Experiments

Assignment 1

Page 6 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Deflections in Simply Supported and Cantilevers Beams

Introduction and Description of the Experimental equipment
Introduction
These experiments relate to the deflection of simply supported and cantilever
beams. This guide describes how to set up and perform experiments on the
deflection behaviour of these beams. The equipment clearly demonstrates
the principals involved and gives practical support to your studies.
Description
Figure 1 shows the layout diagram of the equipment that is to be used for the
deflections of simply supported and cantilever beams experiment. It consists
of a backboard with a digital dial test indicator. The digital dial test indicator is
on a sliding bracket which allows it to traverse accurately to any position along
the test beam. Two rigid clamps mount on the backboard and can hold the
beam in any position. Two knife-edge supports also fasten anywhere along
the beam. Scales printed on the backboard allow quick and accurate
positioning of the digital dial test indicator, knife-edges and loads.

Figure 1 Equipment layout on the back panel

Reference information from the backboard of the beam is made available in

the results tables, this information may be useful and you may need it to
complete the experiments.

Assignment 1

Page 7 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Deflection of a Simply Supported Beam Experiment

Setting up the Equipment
The deflections of simply supported and cantilevers beams structural
equipment fits into a Test Frame as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Test Frame Setup to incorporate deflection equipment

I (second Moment of Area)

=

bd
12

(units) m 4
b
Diagram showing the beams cross section

Where:
b = Breadth of the beam (width)
d = Depth of the Beam (height)
Calculate the value of I for each beam and add to the results tables 2 - 4.
(Hint: SI units require the use of meters for calculations.)
You will find the following table useful in converting the masses used in the
experiments from mass in Grams to load in Newtons
Table 1 Conversion for Grams to Newtons
Mass (Grams)
100
200
300
400
500

Assignment 1

Load (Newtons)
0.98
1.96
2.94
3.92
4.9

Page 8 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Experiment:
ln this experiment, you will examine the deflection of three simply supported
beams (brass, aluminium and steel) when subjected to an increasing point
load. (Each beam will be set up independently)

WL3
Theoretical Deflection for a simply supported beam =
48(E)(I)
Where:
W = Load (N) (or force)
L = Distance from support to support (m)
E = Youngs Modulus for cantilever material (Nm-2)
I = Second moment of area (m4)

Experiment Method
The dimensions of the beam have already been determined, but will need to
be confirmed by you and used in tables 2-4. This is to be done using a
Vernier Gauge to measure the width and depth of the test beam. Clamps are
to be removed from the backboard.
The distance between supports is to be set to 400mm as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Simply Supported Beam set-up and Schematic Diagram

(Fixed Beam with variable load)
The digital dial test indicator is to be set in position on the beam and locked
by using the thumbnut at the rear. A knife-edge hanger is to be positioned in
between the supports as shown in figure 3 (represented by W).
The frame is then to be tapped lightly and digital dial test indicator zeroed
using the origin' button.
Masses are then to be applied to the knife-edge hanger in the increments
shown in the results tables (Tables 2, 3 and 4). Each time a new mass (load)
is applied the frame is to be tapped lightly and the digital dial test indicator
reading recorded.
Assignment 1

Page 9 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Results for Simply Supported Beam

Table 2 Simply Supported Brass Beam
Material: Brass
E Value: 105 GNm-2 (1.05 x1011)
I =(2nd Moment of Area, to be calculated) m4

Mass (g)

Force (N)

Actual
Deflection
(mm)

mm

Width b:
Depth d:
Actual
Deflection
(m)

Theoretical
Deflection
(m)

0
100
200
300
400
500

Table 3 Simply Supported Mild Steel Beam

Material: Mild Steel
E Value: 207 GNm-2 (2.07 x1011)
I =(2nd Moment of Area, to be calculated) m4

Mass (g)

Force (N)

Actual
Deflection
(mm)

mm

Width b:
Depth d:
Actual
Deflection
(m)

Theoretical
Deflection
(m)

0
100
200
300
400
500

Table 4 Simply Supported Aluminium Beam

Material: Aluminium
E Value: 69 GNm-2 (69 x109)
I =(2nd Moment of Area, to be calculated) m4

Mass (g)

Force (N)

Actual
Deflection
(mm)

mm

Width b:
Depth d:
Actual
Deflection
(m)

Theoretical
Deflection
(m)

0
100
200
300
400
500

Assignment 1

Page 10 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Deflection of a Cantilever
ln this experiment, you will examine the deflection of a cantilever that is being
subjected to an increasing point load. You will repeat this for three different
materials and monitor their deflection.
As well as the information given on the backboard you will need the following
formulae:

WL3
Deflection =
3EI
Where:
W = Load (N)
L = Distance from support to position of loading (m)
E = Youngs Modulus for cantilever material (Nm-2)
I = Second moment of area of the cantilever (m4)
Using a Vernier Gauge, measure the width and depth of the aluminium, brass
and steel test beams. Record the values next to the results tables for each
material and use them to calculate the second moment of area, I.
Remove the unnecessary clamps and the knife edges from the backboard.
Set up one of the cantilevers as shown in Figure 3.

120 mm
(Max)

Figure 3 Cantilever set-up and Schematic Diagram

Slide the digital dial test indicator to the position on the beam shown in
Figure3, and lock it using the thumbnut at the rear. Slide a knife-edge hanger
to the position shown.
Tap the frame lightly and zero the digital dial test indicator using the origin
button.
Apply masses to the knife-edge hanger in the increments shown in Table 1.
Tap the frame lightly each time you add the masses. Record the digital dial
test indicator reading for each increment of mass.
Repeat the procedure for the other two materials and complete a new table.

Assignment 1

Page 11 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Results for the Cantilever Beam

Table 5 Cantilever Brass Beam
Material: Brass
E Value: Nm-2
I: m4
Mass (g)

Width b: mm
Depth d: mm
Actual Deflection
(mm)

Theoretical Deflection (mm)

0
100
200
300
400
500

Table 6 Cantilever Mild Steel Beam

Material: Mild Steel
E Value: Nm-2
I: m4
Mass (g)

Width b: mm
Depth d: mm
Actual Deflection
(mm)

Theoretical Deflection (mm)

0
100
200
300
400
500

Table 7 Cantilever Aluminium Beam

Material: Aluminium
E Value: Nm-2
I: m4
Mass (g)

Width b: mm
Depth d: mm
Actual Deflection
(mm)

Theoretical Deflection (mm)

0
100
200
300
400
500

Assignment 1

Page 12 of 13

Faculty Of Arts, Design and Technology

School of Engineering and Technology

Deliverables (What you need to do)

1. Complete the experiment
2. Complete the tables above from the experimental procedure
3. For each beam type:
Plot Graphs of load (N on the y axis) against Actual deflection and
Theoretical deflection (m on the x axis):
a. Comment on the proportionality of the results.
b. Do the actual and theoretical values of deflection match to
within a reasonable level of experimental accuracy?
c. Comment on the error in experimental procedure such as
measuring specimens etc. and where the errors are greatest.
4. Calculate the Experimental value of E (the modulus of Elasticity or
Youngs Modulus) for each specimen at the maximum load.
Hint:
Rearranging the Deflection equation will achieve this calculation
a. Comment on any discrepancies in the book value against the
experimental Value.
5. Comment on the behaviour of the material, does it fit with your
expectations, if not why do you think it doesnt.
This will help achieve a good result for your work as the marking is guided by
the following points.
A. Report Presentation including: structure of report; contents page; brief,
introduction, use of appropriate referencing (Harvard) and appendices.
B. All calculations and appropriate tables of results.
C. Using the presented tables of results and any additional appropriate
graphs, discuss the variation of achieved result against theoretical
ones.
D. Explain:
iii.

Why there is a variation in the results?

iv.

Does the behaviour of the materials fits with your expectation?

E. Present your own conclusions on the achieved results, and make

appropriate recommendations for taking these results forward.

Assignment 1

Page 13 of 13