Unsymmetrical Bending

Charles Seviour
0673045
05/2/08

Summary: The principle axis of an L beam was found

experimentally and theoretically and the results were found to
accuracy of 7.3%.
Contents page

1. Introduction 2
2. Apparatus 2
3. Experiment 3
4. Theory 3
4.1Assumptions 3
4.2 Unsymmetrical Bending Equations 4
4.2.1Solid edge calculation 6
5. Results 7
6. Analysis 7
6.1Theoretical Error 7
6.2Empirical error 7
6.3Accuracy 7
7. Discussion 8
8. Conclusions 8
9. Appendix 8
9.1 Sample number crunching 9
9.2 Dimension 9
9.3 Data 9

1. Introduction
The resulting deflection on a cantilever L beam for different orientations around the
longitudinal axis were found.
2. Apparatus
This experiment consisted of the following items, some are depicted on the next page
(Figures 1 and 2).
 A built in end with bearing
 Protractor mounted on the bearing end
 1 Kg weight
 2 magnetic clock gauges one on the horizontal and one on the vertical plane
 L beam
 Clock gauges
 Micrometer

2
 Figure 1 (left) Figure 2 (below)

Weight

L beam

Clock gauges

3. Experiment
The L beam was set to an initial angle of zero. The micrometer was used to measure
the dimensions used for the theoretical calculations. These were taken three times
along the length and the average value used. The 1 Kg weight was applied and the
resulting deflections measured on the clock gauges were recorded. The beam was then
rotated 10 degrees and the corresponding deflections were recorded. This was
repeated through 180 degrees. The results were graphed and the principle angle was
determined.

4. Theory
4.1 Assumptions

The following assumptions apply to unsymmetrical bending theory of an L beam.

Assumption 1 The loads small enough are such that there is no significant axial or
torsional deformation.

3
 Assumption 2 Squashing action is significantly smaller then bending action.
Assumption 3 Plane sections before deformation remain plane after deformation.
Assumption 4 Plane perpendicular to the axis remain nearly perpendicular after
deformation.
Assumption 5 Strains are small.
Assumption 6 Material is isotropic
Assumption 7 Material is elastic.
Assumption 9 There are no inelastic strain.
Assumption 10 The material is homogenous across the cross-section.
Assumption 11 The average dimensions accurately approximate to those of an
equivalent ideal beam.
Assumption 1-10 are courtesy of:
http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MEEM4150/Slides/Chapter6.pdf
These assumptions mean that the theoretical beam only deflects smoothly and in the
directions predicted by the theory. These assumptions are reviewed in the discussion
section.
4.2 Unsymmetrical Bending Equations
The principle axis is where the neutral axis coincides with the axis of the moment
being applied. The principle axis for the x and y component has been calculated as
follows. In equations the subscripts refer to the axis and member. e.g. I y 2 refers to
the y axis 2nd member. Otherwise nomenclature is as per notes.
The following approach was undertaken to calculate the principle axis.
Centriods
Second moments of area
Principle axis equation

6.53
! 10
11wdf1
1
62.70
X
. C
X
Y
Y
2 . 6.41

44.13
X 12

Figure 3

Centroid:
A1  6.53  62.7  409.4
A2 =44.13  6.41=282.9

4
 A1 x1  A2 x 2
X   12.28
A1  A2
A1 y1  A2 y 2
Y  =19.84
A1  A2
Second moments of area:
bd 3
For a rectangle I around the centre is I  .
12
Using parallel axis theorem the I for each rectangle is found and added. The results
are tabulated below (Figure 4).

I x1  I x2  I xx  I x1  I x 2 I y2 I y1 I yy  I y1  I y 2

16 177 839 373 855 550 124 179 883

55 692

I xy  xyA
I x1 y1 I x2 y2 I xy

42 480 46 048
117 638 186

Figure 4
Principle axis equation

 2 I xy
tan 2 
I xx  I yy

2  tan 1 (227.2)

 =90/2=45

θ=180+45=225

Neutral axis

I uu  117 518 204

I vv  -116482

I uu
tan   tan  =-163
I vv

 =90 degrees

5
4.2.1Solid edge calculation

Figure 5
An illustration of the L beam in
the position of the neutral axis.

This was prompted by the

negative value for the I vv
which doesn’t make sense. An L
beam of the correct geometry
was formed. Solid edge
calculated the physical
properties and then these were
used to give the angle of the
neutral axis.

Figure 6 Property table

X coordinate 0.53
Y coordinate 0.84
XY  tan 1 (53 / 84)  32.2 degrees

6
 I uu
tan   tan  =0.723
I vv
=36degrees
5. Results
Figure 7 shows the experimental results. The table of results is included in section
9.3 Data.

Figure 7 L beam deflections graph

6. Analysis
6.1Theoretical Error
The theoretical error in calculating the neutral axis was due to the measured geometry
error. The dimensions were measured to a precision of ±0.005mm with a micrometer.
These errors should be combined according to standard derivative error treatment.
The theoretical error was not calculated but qualified in the discussion section

6.2Empirical error
The empirical error for deflection (±0.005mm) was due to the level of precision of the
clock gauges. Rotation was measured with a protractor of ±0.5 degrees precision.
The empirical error was included for the graph (Figure 4). This had the limited use of
being able to visually show the magnitude of the errors. To make it more useful
theoretical defection would also have be plotted. It is possible to deduce that the
theoretical value for the principle axis of 36 degrees coincides (within empirical error
margins) with the actual value of 30 degrees.
6.3Accuracy
The Accuracy was given by:

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 theory 32.2
Accuracy  (1  )  (1  )  0.073
Actual 30
This is a reasonable accuracy of 7.3% (the minus sign is irrelevant).
7. Discussion
The experiment was reasonably accurate (<10% discrepancy between theory and
actual). The both of the graphs are clearly sinusoidal; however in particular, the y
deflection graph shows some spurious results. In order to identify the rogue values,
best fitting sine curves should be superimposed. Unfortunately the Excel software
doesn’t have this function. Alternatively, the moment applied by the weight could be
calculated (after measuring the length of the beam) and the theoretical defection
computed. This could then be graphed and compared.
Some of the errors are likely to be human. This could be reduced by repeated
experiments. The assumptions 6, 10 and 11 are slightly dubious. This is because the
beam is old. Over the years it has been corroded and possibly permanently deformed
somewhat. All the assumptions that rely on the fact that the deflection is insignificant
should be valid since the maximum deflection is 3 orders of magnitude less according
to a back of the envelope calculation.
Unfortunately a mistake that can be traced back to the calculation of the x centriod
caused the angle of the principle axis to differ between the two methods. It is unclear
why the calculated value is the wrong value of 12 compared to a 14 given by solid
edge. This small difference was multiplied throughout the calculations resulting in a
54 degree difference. This illustrates the sensitivity of the experiment to errors. All the
theoretical errors have not been quantified; this acts as a useful qualifier.
8. Conclusion
This experiment proved that the simple theory of unsymmetrical bending is valid
(accuracy of 7.3%). The results are within experimental error bounds. The experiment
could be as mentioned in the discussion.
9. Appendix
9.1 Sample number crunching
Average: (62.63 + 62.91 + 62.55) / 3 = 62.6966667

Centroid: (((409.4 * 62.7) / 2) + (282.9 * (6.41 / 2))) / 692.3 = 19.848887

(409.4 + (6.53 / 2) + (282.9 * (6.53 + (44.13 / 2)))) / 692.3 = 12.2810783

I x 2 y 2 : 282.9 * ((44.13 / 2) - 12.28) * (19.84 - (6.41 / 2)) = 46 048.6161

 2 I xy
tan 2  :
I xx  I yy

((-2) * 117 638 186) / (855 550 + 179 883) = -227.225105

I uu  sqrt((((855 550 - 179 883) / 2)^2) + (1.17E8^2)) + 517 716 = 117 518 204

I uu
tan   tan  (11 751 804 / (-116 482)) tan(45) = -163.418215
I vv

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9.1.1Solid edge
I uu 453
tan   tan  = tan(180  32.2)  0.72degrees
I vv 455

 =36degrees
9.2 Dimensions
1 2 3
Fx 50.81 50.49 50.67
Fy 62.63 62.91 62.55
t1 6.56 6.22 6.45
t2 6.50 6.49 6.59
9.3 Data
y rotation x y rotation
x relative relative relative absolute absolute abs
Rotation x y error error error error error error
-
0 -4.1 -15.5 -0.00122 0.00032 0 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
10 -2 -13 -0.0025 0.00038 0.05 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
20 -1 -11.1 -0.005 0.00045 0.025 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
30 0 -11.1 0 0.00045 0.016667 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
40 0.9 -10.8 0.005556 0.00046 0.0125 0.005 0.005 0.5
50 1.7 -12.5 0.002941 -0.0004 0.01 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
60 3 -13.3 0.001667 0.00038 0.008333 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
70 2.8 -14.2 0.001786 0.00035 0.007143 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
80 3 -17.1 0.001667 0.00029 0.00625 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
90 2.5 -18 0.002 0.00028 0.005556 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
100 1.8 -19.1 0.002778 0.00026 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
110 0.8 -18.9 0.00625 0.00026 0.004545 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
120 -0.4 -19.9 -0.0125 0.00025 0.004167 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
130 -1.9 -18.1 -0.00263 0.00028 0.003846 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
140 -2.9 -17.9 -0.00172 0.00028 0.003571 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
150 -3.2 -16.1 -0.00156 0.00031 0.003333 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
160 -4.3 -15 -0.00116 0.00033 0.003125 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
170 -3.8 -13.9 -0.00132 0.00036 0.002941 0.005 0.005 0.5
-
180 -3.9 -12.09 -0.00128 0.00041 0.002778 0.005 0.005 0.5