1.

0 TABLE OF CONTENT
CONTENT

PAGE NUMBER

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH
APPARATUS
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
RESULT
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
CITATION/REFERENCES

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2.0 INTRODUCTION
A beam is a structural member which carries loads. These loads can either be perpendicular or
parallel to the longitudinal axis, but often these loads are perpendicular to the axis. Bending
moment is defined as the algebraic sum of the moments about the section of all forced acting on
either side of the section. A bending moment exists in a structural element when a moment is
applied to the element so that the element bends.
It is very crucial to understand the bending moments in an object because of its importance in
engineering applications as bending moment of any structure decides the capacity of the
structures reaction against flexural action. Bending moments are considered positive when the
moment on the left portion is clockwise and on the right anticlockwise. The direction of the
rotation is very important in order to describe its reaction on the beam, A positive bending
moment is referred to as a sagging moment as it tends to make the beam concave upwards. A
negative bending moment is termed hogging.

2.1: Abstract
Bending of beams is frequently encountered in loading situations. A slender member subject to
transverse loads generates shear and bending moment to maintain equilibrium. In order to use the
object to its full capability, possibilities must be explored by experimenting with the bending and
stress points of the object.
The experiment focuses on determining the bending moment with the movement of load across
the object. Close observation of the behavior of the beam to the different moments is very
informative in the designing of the object.
2.2: Objective
The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate the change in bending moments while varying
the load applied from left to right.
To compare the theoretical and experimental values obtained for moments and to compare the
acquired values for shear force at the cut region X-X.

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3.0 RESEARCH
Bending moment is the algebraic sum of the moments of the forces to the left or to the right of
the section in consideration. Bending moment at any point along the beam is equal to the area
under the shear force diagram up to that point. Bending moment can be calculated by taking the
sum of moment at one of the several points on the beam.
In this particular experiment we have the beam which is being supported by two additional
supports at both ends of the beam, these supports have their respective reaction forces.
Additional weight is added which will be moved throughout the experiment to understand the
change in momentum.
Momentum is either positive or negative, a clockwise rotation is considered positive which in
this case is the momentum caused by the right support if the moment is measured on the left end
of the beam while the added weight will be in an anticlockwise direction. As the added weight
will move from left to right the moment will change. The shear force is the sum of forces acting
on the left or right side of the cut section.

Figure 1: Theory of the Experiment

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4.0 APPARATUS
a) A pair of simple supports
b) A set of weight with load hangers
c) A beam with the cut section
d) Digital indicator to show the readings

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5.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

i) Digital indicator was connected to the load cell
ii) The indicator was switched on and left for ten minutes for the stability of the readings
iii) The two sample supports were fixed to the aluminum base with the distance set according to
the experiment requirements
iv) The beam was placed on the support, followed by the load hangers which were set at
distances starting from 100mm to 900 mm from left support with the difference of 100 mm
v) Indicator readings were notes, tare button is pressed if the reading is not zero
vi) Load was placed on the hanger
vii) Indicator readings were recorded for different lengths.

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6.0 RESULT
Beam Span = 1000 mm
Distance of cut section from the left support = 600 mm
Distance of load from the left support = 300 mm
Distance of the load cell from the center of the beam cross section = 200 mm

Distance from

Load Cell

Shear Force X-X

Shear Force X-

Percentage

the left support

Reading, F (N)

Experimental =

Error (%)

(mm)
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

-2.1
-4.4
-6.5
-8.65
-10.2
-12.5
-9.167
-6.5
-3.2

F*200 (N)
420
880
1300
1730
2040
2500
1833
1300
640

Theory (N)
400
800
1200
1600
2000
2400
1800
1200
600

5.00
10.00
8.00
8.00
2.00
4.17
1.80
8.33
6.67

Table 1: Result for The Experiment

From theory:
Bending moment at section x-x :
B.M x-x = Ra x La W1 x Lx
B.M x-x = RbX x Lb
When load is at the Right:
B.M x-x = Ra x La

Lx (mm)
500
400

Ra (N)
9
8

W1 (N)
10
10

La
600
600

Theory Value(N)
400
800
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300
7
10
200
6
10
100
5
10
0
4
10
100
3
10
200
2
10
300
1
10
Table 2: Value that be used in Theory formula

600
600
600
600
600
600
600

1200
1600
2000
2400
1800
1200
600

CALCULATION THEORY
Example:
Given: Beam Total Length= 1000 mm
Weight Used (W1) = 10 N
Distance Load from A =100 mm
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W1=10 N
100 mm

cut x

RA

RB

L=1000
mm

Figure 2: Free Body Diagram

M = 0, Fx = 0, Fy = 0
MA = 0 ;

-10 (100) + RB (1000) = 0

RB = 1 N
Fy = 0;

RB + RA -10 N = 0
RA = 9 N

From theory: Shear force x-x = RB , thus Theoretical bending Moment is 400 N

To calculate percentage error to show how accurate the values are;

Percentage Error =

ExperimentalTheoretical
Theoretical

Percentage Error =

420400
400

100%

100%

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20
400 100%
Percentage Error = 5%

Percentage Error =

7.0 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

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Graph 1: Bending moment Experimental

Graph 2: Bending Moment for theory

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Comparison Theory vs Experimental

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0

100

200

300

400

500

Bending Moment (EXPERIMENT) (N)

600

700

800

900

1000

Bending Moment (THEORY) (N)

Graph 3: Comparison between Theory and Experimental

From the table above, it can be deduced that the distance form left support is directly
proportional to the bending moment of the beam until it reaches the middle of the beam which
the load cell was located then fall down proportionally. This simply implies that an increase in
distance from left support results in a corresponding increase in the bending moment (both
experimental and theoretical). For Example; A distance of 100 mm results in a theoretical value
of 4000 N/mm and a distance of 200 mm results in theoretical value of 8000 N/mm
The percentage errors range from 1.8 % to 10% which shows that the experiment was done with
a little careless, though the error is lower than 20% which is still acceptable. There is negligible
difference between the experimental values and the calculated theoretical values. For instance;
for a distance of 100 mm from the left support, the experimental value was 420 N/mm and the
theoretical value is 400 N/mm. The difference is 20N/mm which is negligible. This shows that
that the experiment was done with little errors which proves accuracy and reliability of the
values.
The highest percentage error is 10% when the distance from the left support is 200 mm. The
error must be from the reading that were take on the loading cell. The measurement is very
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sensitive as when you put a little force on the table where the experiment was conducted, the
loading cell change significantly. To avoid this kind of error instead of taking 3 average reading,
we could take about 7, 10 readings before getting the average reading. Other than that we also
can be more careful when conducting the experiment. Try to eliminate human error as many as
possible to get accurate reading.
From the graph, it can be noted that from the origin the experimental and theoretical values are
together but as it gets higher they deviate slightly away from each other. Furthermore, the graph
shows that the experimental bending moment is slightly higher than the values of the theoretical
bending moment.

8.0 CONCLUSION

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All in all, from the results obtained during the experiment it can be concluded that the distance
from the support is directly proportional to the bending moment of the beam until it reaches the
load cell, then decrease proportionally. This entails that as the distances increases, the bending
moment increases as well until it reaches the load cell. The percentage errors which ranges from
1.8% to 10.00% proves it is quite reliable and accuracy of the experiment.
Even though, the result of the experiment can be improved to reduce the percentage error to
lower than 5%. The suggestion is that:
i)
ii)

Try to eliminate Human Error as Many as possible

Try not to exert unnecessary force on the table of the experiment, as the reading from

iii)

the load cell are very SENSITIVE.

Instead of taking 3 measurements from the load cells take 7 or 10 reading to increase

iv)

the accuracy of the reading.

Be vary of condition surrounding the experiment.

9.0 CITATION /REFERENCES

Books
1. Hibbeler, R. C. (2005). Mechanics of Material, Sixth Edition, Prentice Hall.
Websites
1. Board, J. (2010). Bending Beam. [Online]. Available:
http://dcomm.cxc.lsu.edu/portfolios/09fall/jboard2/Bending_lab_report_Final.pdf. Last
2. Momade, H.(2011). Bending moment, shear force,
beams.https://www.academia.edu/7955762/Chapter_5_Bending_Moments_and_Shear_F
orce_Diagrams_for_Beams_5.0_SHEAR_FORCE_AND_BENDING_MOMENTS_DIA
GRAMS_FOR_BEAMS
https://www.academia.edu/5569177/Unit_3_Shear_force_and_Bending_moment
(Accessed 28 September 2016)

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