EXPERIMENT NO.

2
AIM:
To verify the reactions at the supports of a simply supported beam.
APPARATUS:
A graduated wooden beam, two compression spring balance, slotted weights etc.
THEORY:

Simply supported beam

A horizontal bar supported at the two ends by two spring-loaded vertical supports
can be idealized as a simply supported beam.
A simply supported beam has only two supports and supports multiple loads either
applied external loads or loads from other beams. A horizontal bar supported at
the two ends by two spring loaded vertical supports can be idealized as a simply
supported beam.
The distance b/w the two supports is said to be the span of the beam.
The specific characteristics of an individual beam are:
! length of the beam
"! number of point loads on the beam.
#! the positions and values of the reaction.
Moment of Force
The moment of force or $ust moment is a %uantity that represents the magnitude
of force applied to a rotational system at a distance from the axis of rotation. The
concept of the moment arm, this characteristic distance, is &ey to the operation of
the lever, pulley, gear, and most other simple machines capable of generating
mechanical advantage. The '( unit for moment is the newton meter )*m!.
+oment , +agnitude of force - perpendicular distance to the pivot

TYPES OF LOADS:
./*.0*T1AT02
0ither a force or a moment can be applied as a concentrated load. 3oth are applied
at a single point along the axis of a beam. These loads are shown as a 4$ump4 in the
shear or moment diagrams. The point of application for such a load is indicated in
the diagram above. *ote that this is */T a hinge5 (t is a point of application. This
could be point at which a railing is attached to a bridge, or a lampost on the same.
2('T1(36T02
2istributed loads can be uniformly or non-uniformly distributed. 3oth types are
commonly found on all &inds of structures. 2istributed loads are shown as an angle
or curve in the shear or moment diagram. A uniformly distributed load can evolve
into a non-uniformly distributed load )snow melting to ice at the edge of a roof!,
but are normally assumed to act as given. These loads are often replaced by a
singular resultant force in order to simplify the structural analysis.
7e have to ma&e use of law of e%uilibrium, which states that:
. The algebraic sum of vertical forces must be zero.
ie 89
:
, ;
". The algebraic sum of horizontal forces must be zero.
ie 89
<
, ;
#. The algebraic sum of moments about a point must be zero.
ie 8+
A
, ;
Free Body Diaram of Beam
E!uations "sed :
7e have to ma&e use of law of e%uilibrium, which states that
. The Algebraic sum of vertical forces must be zero.
". The Algebraic sum of horizontal forces must be zero.
#. The Algebraic sum of moments about a point must be zero.
As the beam is in static e%uilibrium then the sum of the cloc&wise moment due to
loads about A , anticloc&wise moment due to reaction about A
89
:
, ;
Therefore, total load applied , total reaction at the ends of the beam
3 2 1
W W W R R
B A
+ + = +
- )i!
3y ta&ing moment about A
- )ii!
9rom the selected values of
3 2 1
& , l l l
=
3 2 1
& , W W W
determine
2 1
&R R
.
'ometimes the moment e%uations of e%uilibrium can offer certain advantage by
way of eliminating an un&nown reaction or a force provided the moment center is
chosen to lie on the line of action of that force.
l
l W l W l W
R
B
3 3 2 2 1 1
+ +
=
Percentae error :
100
'
'

A
A A
R
R R
&
100
'
'

B
B B
R
R R
0xperimentally and compare these values with exact value given by above relation.

PROCEDURE:
! The two springs were calibrated, as they are not accurate. /n each of these
spring dead weight of , " , # , > &gf was put and corresponding to each load the
reading at all the points were ta&en.
"! The beam was placed and the initial reading of both the spring balances was
ta&en, as this is to be deducted from all the readings to ta&e care of mass-less
beam.
#! The weights were suspended at different points of the beam.
>! The spring reading was noted and the distance of weights from one end of the
beam was measured.
?! At least five readings were ta&en by &eeping the weight at different points of
the beam.
@! 0%uation = " were used to calculate 1
A
= 1
3
.

A! 9rom the calibration curve the actual load was found out for the observed load
reading at all the points.
B! 9inally the Cerror in 1
A
= 1
3
, between the calculated load and calibrated load
was calculated.
ASSUMPTIONS :
The following are the &ey assumptions that are used to simplify the experiment.
! The centre of gravity of the beam coincides with the geometric centre.
"! The weights and reaction lie in the same vertical plane.
#! There are only two supports for the beam.
>! There are no external moments.
?! There are no external applied loads except the loads we have ta&en under
consideration.
@! The deflection of beam is negligibly small.
A! The curvature of beam due to loading is negligibly small.
OBSESRVATIONS:
. (nitial reading of left spring , .> &gf
". (nitial reading of right spring , .> &gf
#. Dence weight of the beam , ".B &gf
>. Total length of the beam , ;"cm
7eight for 1
A
1
A
7eight for 1
3
1
3
)gm! )gm!
E#@ .B E>; .B
B?" .@ E .A
"A@; ".> "BB? ".?
#B? ".B #"E> ".E
#@? #. >">@ #.>

S#$o Load in % Distance
from A
Obser&e
d Load
'alculated
(eaction
from )i* + )ii*
'alibrated
(eaction
from
'alibration
'ur&e
,Error
-. -/ L. L/ (A. (B. (A (B (A0 (B0 in (A in (B
1. 936 940 46 56 .6 .6 .938 .938 .650 .650 44 44
2. 1852 1911 46 56 1.6 1.6 1.879 1.884 1.800 1.75 4.3 7.65
3. 2760 2885 46 56 2.4 2.5 2.817 2.828 2.700 2.75 4.3 2.8
4. 3185 3294 46 56 2.6 2.6 3.235 3.244 2.950 2.85 9.6 13.8
5. 3615 4246 46 56 3.2 3.2 3.900 3.961 3.600 3.50 8.3 13.1
Result:
The supports of simply supported beam are nearly e%ual to the calculated
reactions. The percentage errors are as follows:
Average C error in 1
A
, >.C
Average C error in 1
3
, @."C
Precauti!s:
. *ote down the distances to the exact mm.
". *ote down the zero error at the spring balances.
#. 7ooden beam should be horizontal.
>. Fnife edges at the spring balances must be set perpendicular to the axis of
the beam.

Surces " Errr:
a. 'lotted weights may not be calibrated accurately.
b. (f the reactions are different, wooden beam may not remain horizontal due
to uneven compression of springs in spring balances.
c. (naccuracy in the measurement of distances.
d. (naccuracy in the readings of reactions at spring balance
Re"ere!ces:
7rite-ups
0ngineering +echanics Gby 1.F. 1a$put