ABSTRACT

Beam is a member of a structure which helps to transfer load to walls or columns which
has internal forces acting against the external force applied to it. Beams can come in all sizes,
shape and materials to cater to the needs and requirements of a structure. The objective of our
study is to identify the relationship between load and displacement, and estimate the modulus of
elasticity of the material which in our laboratory uses steel beam. We estimate the modulus of
elasticity by using the formula derived. For our specimen, we will be using a 3x19mm cross-
section steel beam prepared at the laboratory. We will place the steel beam on the two supports
of the machine and place one hanger hooked with varying mass (100g, 200g, 300g, 400g and
500g) and read the deflection of the steel beam in the middle using the digital dial test indicator.
Our experiment results are about the relationship between the load and the displacement and the
estimated value of the modulus of elasticity of the material which is steel beam. The result of the
relationship between the load and the displacement were as expected. This experiment concludes
that the relationship between the load and the displacement is directly proportional as it can be
shown in the graph after obtaining the test results. The estimated value of modulus of elasticity
of the steel beam is also determined.

48
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Background

Beam plays an important role in transferring load to other structures evenly to

avoid failure at any point of a structure. Beams can come in various size, shape and
materials to fulfill the requirement of the structure in many aspects and conditions.
Different material has different cost which is an important factor when designing
constructing a building. Each material has their own modulus of elasticity so a good
knowledge of the material helps a designer to determine which material is suitable and
sustainable for the building while reducing cost. The deflection of the beam should also
be determined to found out how much load can a beam hold before it starts to experience
failure.

1.2 Goal and Objectives

i To determine the relationship between span and deflection.

ii To compare the analytical and experimental values of deflection in the simply
supported and cantilever beam.
iii To study and understand the effect of beam material on deflection of beam

1.3 Laboratory Scope

i Materials used : Steel bar

Material Type : Steel

Number of specimen :1

49
 d

ii Loads and hanger

Mass of load : 100g, 200g, 300g, 400g and 500g

Position : The hanger and the digital dial test indicator was placed at the midspan

Number of hanger : 1

Type of testing : Deflection

Specify theory / concept used

Concept of equilibrium of forces : ↑+Fx=0, →+Fy=0, +M = 0

Figure 1 : Deflection equipment & Hanger with loads

1.4 Significance of Laboratory Testing

i Obtain fundamental/ experimental knowledge Mechanic of Materials.

ii Enhance learning domains and generic skill.

50
 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEWS

Deformation of beam is normally expressed in in terms of its deflection from its

undisturbed position. The deflection is measured from the undisturbed neutral surface to the
neutral surface of the deformed disturbed beam. The deformed shape of the neutral surface is
known as the elastic curve of the beam where the beam will revert to its original shape when the
load is removed from the beam.

When using different materials, operating with the material has a certain limit. This is due
to the behavior and characteristics of the component. Thus, knowing the limit of stress and
deflection that a component can withstand helps us know when or what condition can cause
failure so that we can avoid it. So, we should study the methods to predict the deflection of the
members under lateral or transverse loads since they are the form of loading which produces the
greatest deflection of beams.

Based on the references, there are multiple methods for determining the deflection of the
beams. They are Macaulay’s method (double integration method), area moment method and
energy principle method.

The double integration method is a powerful tool in solving deflection and slope of a
beam at any point because we will be able to get the equation of the elastic curve. In calculus, the
radius of curvature of a curve is given by

51
In the derivation of flexure formula, the radius of curvature of a beam is given as

Deflection of beam is so small, such that the slope of the elastic curve is very small,

and squaring this expression the value become practically negligible, hence

Thus,

If EI is constant, the equation may be written as:

52
Where,

y = deflection of the beam at any distance x

E = modulus of elasticity of the beam

I = moment of inertia about the neutral axis

M = bending moment at a distance x from the end of the beam

EI = flexural rigidity of the beam

53
When x = 0; dy = 0 A=0

When x = L/2; y = 0;

When x = 0; (mid span; c)

X= L/2; (at support)

Where E can be obtained from backboard

d

54
 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

Figure 2 : Flow Chart From The Beginning To The End Of Laboratory

55
3.1 Procedure

1. The moveable knife-edge supports was positioned so that they were 400mm apart from
each other.
2. The chosen beam was placed on the support.
3. The hanger and the digital dial test indicator was placed at the mid span. The digital
reading were zero at first.
4. An incremental load was applied and the deflection for each increment was recorded in
the table below.
5. The above steps are repeated using span of 300mm, 400mm and 500mm for steel beam.

3.2 Apparatus

Figure 3 : Figure 4 : Hanger Figure 5 : Digital Figure 3 : Steel

Deflection of and Masses Dial Test Strip Beam
span Equipment

56
 CHAPTER 4

RESULTS, DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.1 Result

Specimen beam: Steel

Young’s Modulus,

or 207000 m2

Second moment of area,

Mass of load,

57
 1. Experiment 1: Span = 500 mm
No. Mass Mass (N) Deflection Theoretical % Difference
(g) (experimental) (mm) Def.( ) (mm)
100 0.9810 - 0.29 - 0.514 43.58
200 1.9620 - 0.56 - 1.027 45.47
300 2.9430 - 0.81 -1.541 47.44
400 3.9240 - 1.07 - 2.054 47.91
500 4.9050 - 1.33 - 2.568 48.21
 Use any mass between to g

2. Experiment 2: Span = 400 mm

No. Mass Mass (N) Deflection Theoretical % Difference
(N) (experimental) (mm) Def.( ) (mm)
100 0.9810 - 0.18 - 0.263 31.56
200 1.9620 - 0.31 - 0.526 41.06
300 2.9430 - 0.44 - 0.789 44.23
400 3.9240 - 0.57 - 1.052 45.82
500 4.9050 - 0.71 - 1.315 46.01
 Use any mass between to

3 Experiment 3: Span = 300 mm

No. Mass (N) Mass (N) Deflection Theoretical % Difference
(experimental) (mm) Def.( ) (mm)
100 0.9810 - 0.08 - 0.111 27.93
200 1.9620 - 0.15 - 0.223 32.74
300 2.9430 - 0.20 - 0.333 39.94
400 3.9240 - 0.26 - 0.444 41.44
500 4.9050 - 0.33 - 0.555 40.54
 Use any mass between to

58
4.2 Data Analysis

The negative sign in deflection indicates that the deflection is below the unreformed neutral
axis.

Steel beam for Experiment 1

0.514

4.3 Discussion

Referring to the results from the calculation, we can conclude that, the different between
the theoretical and experimental results are different for all Experiment 1, 2, and 3 using steel
beam. Thus, the percentage (%) of the difference between the theoretical and experimental
results are different also. From the experiment, we can notice that, the span with the shorter
length will give the smaller value of deflection when the load is place at the mid span for
both theoretical and experimental results. While, when the span with the longer length, the
higher the deflection occurs to the span than the shorter span.

For Experiment 1 that used 500mm span using steel beam, when the load of 0.981
N/100g was place at the mid span, test indicator give us the reading of deflection with -0.29.
When the load is increased until the load reach 4.905 N/500g with difference 100g each

59
reading respectively, the deflection recorded by test indicator are until the last one is -1.33
when the load placed at the mid span are 4.905 N/500g. The values of the deflection for both
theoretical and experimental results increase proportionally to the load when the load of
100g, 200g, 300g, 400g and 500g are place on the mid span. For Experiment 2 that used
400mm span using steel beam, the first value of load are same with experiment 1 was place
at the mid span, test indicator give us the reading of deflection with -0.18. When the load is
increased with the same value in experiment 1, the test indicator also show the increasing
reading and the value of deflection for this experiment is smaller than the experiment 1.
Next, for Experiment 3 using 300mm span of steel beam, when the first load was place at the
mid span, test indicator give us the reading of deflection with -0.08. When the load is
increased with the same value with the load used in experiment 1 and 2, the values of the
deflection for both results increase proportionally to the load as the load are increase. The
value of deflection for this experiment is smaller than the experiment 1 and experiment 2
because the length of the span used, 300mm which is shorter than the span used for
experiment 1 that is 500mm and experiment 2 that is 400mm. The values of the deflection
for both theoretical and experimental results increase proportionally to the load when the
load force to the span are increases.

From the results of this experiment, though that the different between the theoretical and
experimental results are very high, but the deflection in the span increase when the load is
increase. Besides that, the value of deflection also increases when the length of span used is
longer. Thus, we conclude that, the deflection of span is proportional to the load and the
length of the span that we used.

60
 CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSIONS

From this experiment, our group managed to determine the relationship between the
deflection happened on the span. To determine the deflections happened when the beams under
load, elasticity theory is used. From the results of this experiment, we knows that, the span with
shorter length will give us the smaller value of deflection when the load is place at the mid span
for both theoretical and experimental results. While for the span with the longer length, the
deflection is higher than the shorter length of the span even though the load used is same for both
of the span. Even the different in percentage between the theoretical and experimental results are
very big, but the deflection in the span also increases when the load is increase. Thus, we
conclude that, the deflection of span is proportional to the length of the span and the load we
place on the span. At the end our objectives was achieved.

61
REFERENCE

[1] Labsheet Lab Structure Span Defelection (Double Intergration Method)

[2] www.wikipedia.com.my
[3] Mechanics Of Materials Second Edition Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.

62