AM 317

MECHANICS LAB

EXP 2
BEAM DEFLECTIONS

Test performed: September 30, 2016

Report Submitted: October 1, 2016

By
Louis Larios
GROUP 4

Abstract
Deflection of beams can be dangerous if to large and uncomfortable for people walking on
floors that deflect to much even if the floor is not going to fail. In this lab experiment we
determined the experimental and theoretical modulus of elasticity of a simply supported
beam and a cantilever beam of unknown metals. We verified the principle of superposition
and Maxwells Reciprocity theorem. We observed and reported the deflection of the simply
supported and cantilever beams at various load configurations. Some of the key variables
relating to the deflection of the beam included the applied load, load location, beam span,
beam moment of inertia (containing cross sectional dimensions), bending moment and end
support configuration. The experimental modulus of elasticity, E, was determined to be
25Mpsi for the simply supported beam and 29Mpsi for the cantilever beam. Considering
the experimental E, I believe the simply supported beam is iron and the cantilever beam is
steel. The experimental deflection error by superposition was -11%. The % error was
-2.7% and -3.6% for Maxwells reciprocity theorem.

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Introduction
In this lab experiment we determined the experimental and theoretical modulus of elasticity of a simply
supported beam and a cantilever beam of unknown metals. We verified the principle of superposition
and Maxwells Reciprocity theorem. We observed and reported the deflection of the simply supported
and cantilever beams at various load configurations. The experimental modulus of elasticity, E, was
determined to be 25Mpsi for the simply supported beam and 29Mpsi for the cantilever beam.
Considering the experimental E, I believe the simply supported beam is iron and the cantilever beam is
steel. The experimental deflection error by superposition was -11%. The % error was -2.7% and -3.6%
for Maxwells reciprocity theorem.

Theory
Beam deflection. P = concentrated load, L=Beam Span, k= Factor depending on load position (from
Table 1 in the lab manual) and end support configuration, E= modulus of elasticity, I=Moment of
Inertia.

Maximum was calculated by using the equation below. My was maximum shear obtained
from moment diagram. Moment of inertia was canculated from measured dimensions.

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Neutral
Axis

The experimental E was calculated by using equation 1.1 above and solving for E.

The theory of superposition says that the sum of deflections from two load configurations is equal to
the deflection from combining two load configurations.
The theory of Maxwells Reciprocity Theory says given a point load at position one and measured
deflection at point two, point load at position two and measured deflection at point one, the products of
the loads and deflections at the same place are equal.

The equations above are from the lab manual.

Test Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

We measured the dimensions of beams

We calculated the maximum allowable loads
We measured the deflections for several loads
To illustrate superposition, we measured two deflections for two load configurations
To illustrate Maxwells Reciprocity theory, we two deflections for two load configurations

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Results
Tables below show the experimental data collected and theoretical calculated values.
L(in)
= 71.9375
h= 0.389
I (in^3)=
0.00740
table IV Simply Supported Beam Data
Modulus of
Load 1/4 Span
Elasticity, E
Mid-span
(lb)
Deflection (in) (Mpsi)
Deflection (in)
5
0.112 26.3
0.229
10
0.2191 26.9
0.481
15
0.3319 26.6
0.687
20
0.4385 26.9
0.8712
25
0.5455 27.0
1.0781
30
0.655 27.0
1.2645
35
0.7643 27.0
1.4404
Average E
Average E
(Mpsi)
27
(Mpsi)

b= 1.5083

Modulus of
Elasticity, E
(Mpsi)
22.9
21.8
22.9
24.1
24.3
24.9
25.5
24

L(in)
= 42.1875
I (in^3)=

Load
(lb)
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28

h= 0.3775
0.00675
table IV Cantilever Beam Data
Modulus of
Mid-Span
Elasticity, E
End-span
Deflection (in) (Mpsi)
Deflection (in)
0.0313 29.6
0.241
0.0662 28.0
0.5051
0.0984 28.3
0.762
0.1315 28.2
1.0191
0.164 28.3
1.2777
0.196 28.4
1.5384
0.2325 27.9
1.8259
0.2649 28.0
0.2995 27.8
0.332 27.9
0.3655 27.9
0.3988 27.9
0.4309 28.0
0.4645 27.9
Average E
Average E
(Mpsi)
28
(Mpsi)

b= 1.506

Modulus of
Elasticity, E
(Mpsi)
30.8
29.4
29.2
29.1
29.0
28.9
28.4

29
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Superposition

Experimental Deflection (in) =0.8860

Theorectical Deflection (in)=0.7862

% Error = -11%

Maxwells Reciprocity Theory

Experimenta
l

Theoretical

P1 12 =

3.54343

3.6428

P2 21 =
% Error
=

3.512

3.6425

-2.70%

-3.60%

Figure 1 below shows Load (lbs) vs Deflection (in) for a Simply Supported Beam for span and Midspan.

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Fig 1 - Load (lbs) vs Deflection (in)

Simply Supported Beam
40

35

30

25

- Load (lbs)

20

1/4 Span Deflection (in)

Mid-span Deflection (in)

15

10

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

Deflection (in)

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Figure 1 below shows Load (lbs) vs Deflection (in) for a Simply Supported Beam for End- span and
Mid-span.

Fig 2 - Load (lbs) vs Deflection (in)

Cantilever Beam
30

25

20

- Load (lbs)

15

Mid-Span Deflection (in)

End-span Deflection (in)

10

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

Deflection (in)

Discussion and Conclusions

The experimental modulus of elasticity, E, was determined to be 25Mpsi for the simply supported beam
and 29Mpsi for the cantilever beam. Considering the experimental E, I believe the simply supported
beam is iron and the cantilever beam is steel. The experimental deflection error by superposition was
-11%. The error between the deflection sums and the measured deflection from both loads as 1%. The
% error was -2.7% and -3.6% for Maxwells reciprocity theorem.
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1.6

Figures 1 and 2 show the linear relationship between Load and deflection. The figures also show that
the midspan for a simply supported beam has more deflection per load than the span. Figure 2 shows
that the cantilever beam has more deflection per load at end compared to mid-span.

References
AM317 Lab Manuals. (2016, September 16). Retrieved from http://www.csun.edu/engineeringcomputer-science/civil-engineering-construction-management/mechanics-laboratory
Mechanical hysteresis, accessed 9/17/2016,
http://www.nikhef.nl/~h73/kn1c/praktikum/phywe/LEP/Experim/1_2_03.pdf
Aslam Kassimali, Structural Analysis, 5th edition, Cengage Learning, 2014
Hibbeler, R.C., Statics and Strength of Materials, 4th edition, Pearson, 2013.
Popov, E.P., Introduction to Mechanics of Solids, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall, 1998.
Stevens, Karl K., Statics and Strength of Materials, Prentice Hall, 1987.

Appendix

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Hand Calculations

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