1

Bending Moment in a Beam

Name: ODarie Hunter - 1203600
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering (CIVIL)
Course Name: Engineering Mechanics Lab 1 (MEE 2018)
Lecturers Name: Jovan Ledgister
Date Due: October 28, 2013


2

Table of Contents

Objectives..3
Theory..4
Apparatus5
Procedure6
Results7 -8
Discussion.9
Conclusion10
References11
Raw Data Sheet12
Sample Calculations.13






3

Objectives



1. To understand the moment of resistance in a beam
2. To measure the bending moment at an area of a loaded beam and to compare
it to the theoretical value.
3. To convert strain readings to force readings













4

Theory

The bending moment is the force at a point which causes a body to rotate at that
point. The bending moment can be calculated as the algebraic sum of the moments
of the forces to one side of the point.
To calculate bending moment in abeam the equation
Experimental Shear Force:

is used. Bending moment: (shear force* distance

to cut section)














5

Apparatus

Weights and hanger
Short beam
Long beam
Cantilever
Supports with U brackets
Underslung adjuster
P4121 Data Acquisition Interface
Spirit level











6

Procedure

Part 1
The apparatus was set up with the weight hangers at the appropriate positions and
the beams were leveled. A reading was taken on the P4121 with no weights on the
weight hangers. A 10N weight was added to the first weight hanger and a reading
taken. The weight was removed and the beams leveled. The 10N weight was put
on the second weight hanger and a reading taken. The weight was removed and the
beams leveled again. The weight was then added to the third weight hanger and a
reading was taken. The beam was leveled and steps were repeated using a 20N
weight.
Part 2
The load hangers were kept in the same position as part one and the beams were
leveled. A zero reading was taken using the P4121. A 5N weight was placed on the
second weight hanger, the beams were leveled and a new strain reading recorded.
A 10N weight was placed on the first and second weight hangers. The beams were
leveled and the new strain reading recorded.
Part 3
All loads were removed from the hangers and the hangers arrange with each
having a span of: W1-100; W2- 300; W3- 500. The beams were leveled and the
P4121 strain readings recorded in table 3.
Two load arrangements of the same total loading were set up by placing 5N on the
leftmost hanger (W1) and 12N on the rightmost hanger (W3), followed by 5N on
the leftmost hanger, 10N on the middle hanger and 2N on the rightmost hanger.
For each arrangement the beams were leveled and the strain reading recorded.


7

Results

Load Strain Reading Bending Force (N) for load
(N) W1 Bending Force W2 Bending Force W3 Bending
Force
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 196 3.8MN 588 11.4MN 313 6.1MN
20 378 7.4MN 1224 23.8MN 606 11.8MN
Bending Moment Nmm/ Theoretical Values
10 570MNmm 1710MNmm 915MNmm
20 1100NMmm 3750MNmm 1770MNmm
Table1

Loading Strain Reading Bending Force Bending Moment
0 0 0 0
W2 = 5 315 6.1MN 915MNmm
W1 = W3 = 10N
W2 = 5N
874 17MNmm 1550MNmm
Table2




8

Loading Strain Reading Bending Force Bending Moment
0 0 0 0
W1 = 5N, W3 =
12N
608 11.8MN 1770MNmm
W1 = 5N, W2
=10N, W3 = 2
803 15.6MN 2340MNmm
Table 3


















9

Discussion

During the experiment when the weights were doubled, the strain reading also
doubled. In table 3 where the overall mass of the loads in the system were constant,
the bending moment and strain readings were not the same. This is due to the
positioning of the weights and the distance they were from the cut section of the
beams.
When the weights were doubled the strain reading did not double exactly but there
was a slight deviation. This might have been cause by errors in the experiment.
One major error throughout the experiment was the process of levelling the beams.
To check if the beams were levelled a spirit level was used and different persons
were used to level the beams. To minimize this error, one person is to be made
responsible for levelling the beams to allow the error to be constant.











10

Conclusion

It can be concluded that the experimental results are in line with the theoretical values.




















11

References

Structural Beam Deflection and Stress Formula and Calculation - Engineers Edge. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.engineersedge.com/beam_calc_menu.shtml











12

Sample Calculations

Part1
10N on hanger W1; P4121 reading: 196
Experimental Shear Force:

Shear force =

Shear Force = 3.8MN
Theoretical qc

Part2
5N on hanger 2; P4121 reading: 315
Experimental Shear Force:

Shear force =

Shear Force = 6.1MN