Lab 5: Bending Deflection of Beams

Lab Section
Term:
Your Name: Hassn AlQalaf
Abstract:
In this lab experiment, the deflection of at different conditions and material was studied. The
deflection of beam was measured at each of stated condition. Based on this calculation, the graph
was plotted to calculate the young’s modulus E which was the slope of graph. The measured E
was then compared with the standard value of E of that particular material. The percentage error
was then calculated by comparing the measured value of E with the standard value of E. The five
experiment were performed which included change in load, change in the material of beam,
Change in the cross sectional area of beam, change in the boundary condition of beam, change
in length of beam. At each case, the E was calculated and compared with standard value.
Results:
Experiment 4A: Change the load

𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 = 371𝑚𝑚

Before the Experiment

Material Aluminium
b (mm) 9.5
d (mm) 3
l (mm^4) 21.375
L/2 (mm) 185.5
Type of beam
Simple
supported

Table 1: initial data

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 (𝑁) = × 9.81
1000
𝑏𝑑3
𝐼=
12
9.5 × 33
𝐼=
12
𝐼 = 21.375𝑚𝑚4
 E
Mass (g) Load (N) Deflection (mm) 48ΔI/L3 E measured Error %
expected
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

100 0.981 0.6 1.20553E-11 8.1375E+10 7.00E+10 16.2503

200 1.962 1.18 2.37087E-11 8.2754E+10 7.00E+10 18.22064

300 2.943 1.76 3.53621E-11 8.3225E+10 7.00E+10 18.89235

400 3.924 2.39 4.80202E-11 8.1716E+10 7.00E+10 16.7367

500 4.905 2.93 5.88699E-11 8.3319E+10 7.00E+10 19.02761

Table 2: Experimental data

Figure 1: graph for aluminum

Slope (W/δ), K (units)

% diff*
Beam measured expected
Experiment 4A
82 70 18
Table 3: Result

Beam experiment 4B: Change Material

 Before Experiment

Material 1 Aluminium

Material 2 Brass

Material 3 Steel

b (mm) 9.5

d(mm) 3

I (mm4) 21.375

L/2 (mm) 185.5

Support Simple

Table 4: Initial Data

Slope (WL3/48δI), E (units)

Beam Experiment 4B % diff*
measured expected

Aluminum 82 70 18
Steel 271 190 40

Brass 135 102 33

Table 5: Result

Brass

Mass (g) Load (N) Defelction (mm) 48ΔI/L3 E measured E expected % Error

0 0 0 0 0 0.00E+00 0

100 0.981 0.36 7.23316E-12 1.35625E+11 1.02E+11 32.96603025

200 1.962 0.7 1.40645E-11 1.395E+11 1.02E+11 36.76505968

300 2.943 1.06 2.12976E-11 1.38184E+11 1.02E+11 35.47482327

400 3.924 1.43 2.87317E-11 1.36574E+11 1.02E+11 33.89586263

500 4.905 1.77 3.5563E-11 1.37924E+11 1.02E+11 35.21969178

Table 6: Brass results

 Figure 2: Brass result graph

Steel

Mass (g) Load (N) Defelction (mm) 48ΔI/L3 E measured E expected % Error

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

100 0.981 0.19 3.8175E-12 2.56974E+11 1.90E+11 35.24965736

200 1.962 0.36 7.23316E-12 2.71251E+11 1.90E+11 42.76352721

300 2.943 0.55 1.10507E-11 2.66319E+11 1.90E+11 40.16782672

400 3.924 0.73 1.46672E-11 2.67535E+11 1.90E+11 40.80786246

500 4.905 0.92 1.84847E-11 2.65354E+11 1.90E+11 39.65997227

Table 7: Steel results

 Figure 3: Steel result graph

4C: Changing of cross section

Aluminium
Mass (g) Load (N) (b,d) I Defelction (mm) 48ΔI/L3 E measured E expected % Error
500 4.905 2.7,3.4 8.84 2.09 1.73667E-11 8.20E+10 7.00E+10 17.142857
500 4.905 9.7,6.3 202.121 0.38 7.21962E-11 7.30E+10 7.00E+10 4.2857143
500 4.905 9,3.3 187.53 1.33 2.34446E-10 7.60E+10 7.00E+10 8.5714286

Table 8: Aluminum results for change in cross section

Beam Beam Dimensions (units) Slope (WL3/48δE), I (units)

% diff*
Experiment 4C
b d measured expected

Area #1 2.7 3.4 82 70 17

Area #2 9.7 6.3 73 70 4.28
Area #3 9 3.3 76 70 8.57

Area #4 0 0 0 0 0
Table 9: Final result

Experiment 4D: Change Boundary condition

 Before Experiment
Material Aluminium
b(mm) 9.5
d(mm) 3
I(mm^4) 21.375
L/2 (mm) 185.5
Support1 Simple
Support2 Fixed
Support3 Cantilever
Table 10: Initial Data

Slope (WL3/δEI), 1/C

Beam Experiment 4D % diff*
measured Expected
Simply - Supported 108 70 55

Propped Cantilever 406 70 506

Fixed - Supported 240 70 242

Table 11: Final results

Experiment 4E: Change Length

Mass (g) Load (N) Deflection L 48ΔI/L3 E measured E expected % Error

500 4.905 5.79 250 3.80195E-10 12901289277 7.00E+10 18.430413

500 4.905 4.53 230 3.81999E-10 12840352814 7.00E+10 18.343361

500 4.905 3.57 210 3.9551E-10 12401702786 7.00E+10 17.716718

500 4.905 2.68 190 4.00886E-10 12235385572 7.00E+10 17.479122

500 4.905 1.99 170 4.15579E-10 11802807899 7.00E+10 16.861154

500 4.905 1.36 150 4.1344E-10 11863873839 7.00E+10 16.948391

Table 12: Experimental data

 Slope (W/δ), 1/𝑳𝟑 (units)
Beam
Distance (units) % diff*
Experiment 4E measured expected

Distance #1 250 129 70 18

Distance #2 230 128 70 18

Distance #3 210 124 70 17

Distance #4 190 122 70 17

Distance #5 170 118 70 16

Distance #6 150 118 70 16

Table 13: Final results

Lab Questions:
The value of graph that is independent is chosen on x-axis and the dependent value is chosen on
y-axis. In the graph given in figure 1, 2 and 3, the load is on x axis and the 48 ∆I/L3 is on the y axis.
The variable that has great effect on the calculation the moment of inertia I, so this must be
calculated with great care.
The deformability of a material is known as flexural stiffness. It is based on two properties elastic
modulus and moment of inertia which is function of cross-sectional geometry.
Conclusion:
This lab experiment was related to the study of bending of beam at different conditions including
change in load, change in the material of beam, Change in the cross sectional area of beam,
change in the boundary condition of beam, change in length of beam. The deflection was
recorded at each configuration by applying different loads. Then from the deflection graph was
plotted to find slope for the Young’s modulus calculation. The measured value was then
compared with standard value of E. After than the percentage error was calculated.
Reference:
[1] https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/beam-stress-deflection-d_1312.html
[2] https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/young-modulus-d_417.html
[3] https://www.britannica.com/science/Youngs-modulus
[4] https://www.engineersedge.com/beam_calc_menu.shtml