Engineering Mechanical Practical

UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIA FRANCE INSTITUTE

YOUNGS MODULUS EXPERIMENT (A)

OBJECTIVES.
1) The objectives of the experiments are to investigate the relationship between load, span
weight, height and deflection of a simply supported beam.
2) To ascertain the Coefficient of Elasticity (Youngs Modulus) for the given specimen
THEORY.
Simply supported beam with central point load (Experiment 1A).
W
b
t

For this arrangement, if can be shown that the deflection under the load, i.e maximum deflection
3

WL
48 EI

Where
3

I=

or

E=

L3
48 I

bt
12

E=

L W
48 I

* Slope of the deflection curve

Where b is the breadth (width) of the beam and t is the thickness (depth) of the beam

To ascertain the coefficient of elasticity, the free body diagram for simply supported beam are:
F

L
Calculations:
Deflection formula for the load given above:
= WL 3
E = WL 3
48EI
48I
Where:
= Deflection (mm)
E = Coefficient of Elasticity
L = length (mm)
I = Inertia factor (mm4)
W = weight (kg)
F = force (N)

Fixed end beam with a centre point load (Experiment 2A)

In the case of a fixed ended beam the forces acting at the each end of the beams act similar to a
simply supported one with some differences due to the nature of the support
W
b
t

In this case the mid span deflection of a fixed ended beam loaded with a force W at the mid-span
is given by:
3
WL
=
192 EI
Where
3

I=

or

E=

L3
192 I

bt
12

E=

L W
192 I

* Slope of the deflection curve

Cantilever beam with end point load (Experiment 3A)

W

b
t

For this arrangement, it can be shown that the central deflection relative to the supports, i.e
maximum deflection between the supports:
= WL 3
3 EI
Where I = bh 3
12
3
L W
E=
3I
or

E=

L3
3I

* Slope of the deflection curve

Beam compliance =
W

4L 3
Ebh 3

Experiment 1A: Deflection of a Simply Supported Beam (Relationship between Beam

Deflection and the Applied Load)
Objective
The objective of the experiment is to establish the relationship between deflection and applied
load and determine the elastic modulus of the beam specimen from the deflection data.
Apparatus
The apparatus consists of :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

A support frame
A pair of pinned support
A load hanger
A dial gauge with 0.01 mm accuracy to measuring deflection
Beam specimen with constant depth and width through out its length 6. A caliper to
measure the depth and with of the beam specimen
6. A meter ruler or tape measure to measure the span of the beam
7. A set of weights

Procedure
1. Bolt the two knife edge supports to the support frame using the plate and bolt supplied
with the apparatus. The distance between the two supports should be equal to the span of
the beam to be tested.
2. Measure width and depth of specimen and record the readings (take measurement at 3
locations and record the average reading)
3. Place the beam specimen on the knife edge supports.
4. Fix the load hanger at the mid-span of the beam.
5. Position the dial gauge at the mid-span of the beam to measure the resulting deflection.
6. Set the dial gauge reading to zero.
7. Place a suitable load on the load hanger.
8. Record the resulting dial gauge reading.
9. Increase the load on the load hanger.
10. Repeat step 8 and 9 for a few more load increments
11. Repeat the above test to obtain another set of readings.

Results
Span of tested beam, L

mm

Width of beam specimen, b

mm

Depth of beam specimen, d

mm

Moment of inertia of beam specimen, (bd3/12)

mm4

Dial gauge reading, 1 div

= 0.01 mm

Table 1
Experimental Deflection

Applied
Load
N

Theoretical
Deflection
mm
Deflection
Average

Test 1
div

Test 2
mm

div

mm

mm

1. Using the tabulated data in Table 1, plot the graph of load verses experimental deflection.
2. Draw the best fit curve through the plotted point and hence deduce the relationship
between the applied load and the resulting mid span deflection.
3. Calculate the Modulus of Elasticity using the slope of the graph obtained assuming a
linear relationship between load and deflection as shown below.
Conclusion
1. From this experiment what is the relationship between the applied load and the resulting
displacement.
2. What does the slope of the graph represents and how does it varies in relation to the load
position.
3. How does the experimental result differs with the theoretical in terms of accuracy. Briefly
explain the probable cause of errors and how can it be overcome.

Experiment 2A: Deflection of a Fixed End Beam

Objective
The objectives of the experiment are to establish the relationship between deflection and applied
load and determine the elastic modulus of the beam specimen from the deflection data.
Apparatus
1. Equipment for Experiment 1A
2. A pair of clamped support
Procedure
1. Bolt the clamped supports to the support frame using the plate and bolt supplied with the
apparatus.
2. Measure width and depth of specimen and record the readings (take measurement at 3
locations and record the average reading)
3. Place the beam specimen between the clamping plates. Tightened the clamping screw
tightly with the Allen key provided with this apparatus. The tightness of the screw will
affect the fixity of the support and hence the results.
4. Measure the span of the beam (distance between centre to centre of the clamping screws
(maximum fixity)) at the fixed end.
5. Fix the load hanger at the mid-span of the beam.
6. Position the dial gauge at the mid-span of the beam to measure the resulting deflection.
7. Set the dial gauge reading to zero.
8. Place a suitable load on the load hanger.
9. Record the resulting dial gauge reading.
10. Increase the load on the load hanger.
11. Repeat step 8 and 9 for a few more load increments
12. Repeat the above test to obtain another set of readings.
Results
Span of tested beam, L
Width of beam specimen, b
Depth of beam specimen, d
Moment of inertia of beam specimen, (bd3/12)
Dial gauge reading, 1 div

=
=
=
=
= 0.01

mm
mm
mm
mm4
mm

Table 4
Experimental Deflection
Applied
Load
N

Test 1
div

Test 2
mm

div

mm

Average
Deflection
mm

Theoretical
Deflection
mm

1. Using the tabulated data in Table 1, plot the graph of load verses experimental deflection.
2. Draw the best fit curve through the plotted point and hence deduce the relationship
between the applied load and the resulting mid span deflection.
3. Calculate the Modulus of Elasticity using the slope of the graph obtained assuming a
linear relationship between load and deflection as shown below.
Conclusion
1. From this experiment what is the relationship between the applied load and the resulting
displacement.
2. What does the slope of the graph represents and how does it varies in relation to the load
position.
3. How the experimental result does differs with the theoretical in terms of accuracy. Briefly
explain the probable cause of errors and how can it be overcome.

Experiment 3A: Deflection of a Cantilevered Beam

Objective
The objectives of the experiment are to establish the relationship between deflection and applied
load for a cantilever beam and hence determine the elastic modulus of the specimen from the
deflection data.
Apparatus
1. Equipment for experiment 1A
2. A fixed support with clamping facility
Procedure
1. Bolt the clamp supports to the support frame using the plate and bolt supplied with the
apparatus.
2. Measure width and depth of specimen and record the readings (take measurement at 3
locations and record the average reading)
3. Place the beam specimen between the clamping plates.
4. Measure the span of the beam (distance between the centre of the clipped hanger to the
centre of the clamping screw (maximum fixity)) at the fixed end.
5. Fix the load hanger at the free end of the beam.
6. Position the dial gauge at the top of hanger clip of to measure the resulting deflection.
7. Set the dial gauge reading to zero.
8. Place a suitable load on the load hanger.
9. Record the resulting dial gauge reading.
10. Increase the load on the load hanger.
11. Repeat step 8 and 9 for a few more load increments
12. Repeat the above test to obtain another set of readings.

Results
Span of tested beam, L
Width of beam specimen, b
Depth of beam specimen, d
Moment of inertia of beam specimen, (bd3/12)
Dial gauge reading, 1 div

=
=
=
=
= 0.01

mm
mm
mm
mm4
mm

Table 5

Experimental Deflection
Applied
Load
N

Test 1
div

Test 2
mm

div

mm

Average
Deflection
mm

Theoretical
Deflection
mm

1. Using the tabulated data in Table 5, plot the graph of load verses experimental deflection.
2. Draw the best fit curve through the plotted point and hence deduce the relationship
between the applied load and the resulting mid span deflection.
3. Calculate the Modulus of Elasticity using the slope of the graph obtained assuming a
linear relationship between load and deflection as shown below.
Conclusion
1. From this experiment what is the relationship between the applied load and the resulting
displacement.
2. What does the slope of the graph represents and how does it varies in relation to the load
position.
3. How does the experimental result differs with the theoretical in terms of accuracy. Briefly
explain the probable cause of errors and how can it be overcome.