3.

INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION
The deflection of a beam, y, will depend on many factors such as: -
The applied load F (F=mg).
The span .
The width of the beam b, and its thic!ness h.
"ther factors such as position, method of loading, the material of which the beam is
made will also influence the deflection.
#f we wish to find the relationship between y and one of the possible $ariables it is
necessary to !eep all the other possible $ariables constant throughout the
e%periment.
3.1 Length calculation
#n this e%periment the same beam is used throughout and the centrally applied point
load is !ept constant.
Thus !eeping all possible $ariables other than the deflection y and the span L
constant we may in$estigate the relationship between y and L.
et yL
n
where n is to be found
Then y = !
n
where ! is a constant
Ta!ing logarithms:
log y = n log & log ! which is in the straight line form (y = m% & ').
Thus plotting logy against log will gi$e a straight-line graph of slope (n) and (!) may
be determined.
3.2 Width calculation
#n this e%periment beams of the same material but of different width are used. The
span and loading are !ept the same for each beam. *ence !eeping all possible
$ariables other than width and deflection constant the relationship between y and b is
determined.
et yb
n
where n is to be found.
Then y = !b
n
where ! is a constant.
Ta!ing logarithms,
log y = n log b & log ! which is in the straight line from : (y = m% & ').
Thus plotting logy against log b will gi$e a straight line of slope (n) and (+) may be
determined.
.1 !ROC"DUR" #Length calculation$
a) ,ar! the centre of the beam on each side of this point mar! off distances off
-.., /.., 0... mm.
b) 1ith a span of -.. mm measure the height of the central point on the
deflection -measuring de$ice. 2pply a central load of -..g and measure the
new height.
c) 3epeat 4 for spans of /.., 0....
d) 5nter your results in the table below and complete the table
e) 6lot the graph of log y against log with log y on the (y) a%is and log on the
(%) a%is.
f) 7raw the mean straight line of the graph and measure its slope to determine
n.
.1.1 Re%ult%
A&A Width '
#(($
Length L
#(($
De)lection *
#(($
LogL Log*
0
8.
4
8
9
-
/
:"65 = n = y
n

.2 !ROC"DUR" #Width calculation$
a) ,ar! the beams with the same span so that they will be supported near their
ends and also mar! the mid point of the span.
b) Ta!e the beam of largest width, measure the width with the $ernier 'alipers.
c) :upport the beam at the two mar!ed supporting points and measure the
height of the mid-point with the deflection measuring de$ice.
d) 2pply the -.. g load as the mid point and once again measure the height at
the centre.
e) 3epeat 4, 8, and 9 for each beam.
f) 5nter your results in the table below and complete the table.
g) 6lot the graph of logy against logb with logy on the (y) a%is and logb on the (%)
a%is.
h) 7raw the mean straight line of the graph and measure its slope to determine
n.
.2.1 Re%ult%
A&A Length
L #(($
Width '
#(($
De)lection *
#(($
Log' Log*
0
;..
4
8
9
-
/
:"65 = n = yb
n

+. ,U"-TION-
6lot the graph of log y against log with log y on the (y) a%is and log on the
(%) a%is. 7etermine slope n. *ow does your result compare with the generally
accepted relationship<
6lot the graph of logy against logb with logy on the (y) a%is and logb on the (%)
a%is. 7etermine slope n. *ow does your result compare with the generally
accepted relationship<
'alculate the corresponding deflections y, during length calculation (b has
constant $alue), according to the formula shown below.
'alculate the corresponding deflections y, during width calculation (b has
$ariables $alues), according to the formula shown below.
'ompare the obser$ed and calculated $alues of deflections y.
h=0.004 m
=
F =
8
y
9 ; = 5 = #
L = length of beam (m)
y = deflection of beam (m)
F = force (N)
E = Young's Modulus (N/m
2
)
I = moment of inertia of beam (m
4
)
"./e0i(ent 12 De)lection o) 'ea(% #Macaula*3% Method$
1. O45"CTI6"
To determine e%perimentally the deflection at two points on a simply-supported beam
carrying point loads and to chec! the results by ,acaulay>s method.
2. A!!ARATU-
?eam deflection apparatus, steel beam, two dial test-indicators and stands,
micrometer, rule, two hangers, weights.
3. !ROC"DUR" #"./e0i(ental$
2ssemble the apparatus as shown in fig. 0 with the beam simply supported at its
ends 2 and ?. 6lace load hangers at point ' and 7 distant a and b
1
0
1
4
@
0
@
4
2 A ' 7 ?
3
0
b 3
4
l
Figure 1
3especti$ely from end 2. :elect two points B and @ appro%imately in positions
shown in the figure and set up the dial gauges to bear at these points on the upper
surface of the beam. Cero the dial gauges with the hangers in position.
2pply suitable loads 1
0
and 1
4
at ' and 7 respecti$ely and note the deflections at B
and @ as indicated by the dial gauges. 3ecord the $alues of 1
0
and 1
4
and the
corresponding deflections at B and @. :!etch the arrangement and indicate on the
s!etch the distances a, b, and l. 2lso the distances of points B and @ from end 2.
,easure the cross-sectional dimensions of the beam, using a micrometer.
'alculate the deflections at B and @, using ,acaulay>s method and compare the
$alues with the obser$ed results.
. T7"ORY
'onsider the simply-supported beam loaded as shown in fig.4.
1
0
1
4
B
2 A ' 7 ?
3
2
b 3
?
% l
Figure 2
For $alues of % between b and l
( ) ( ) b x W a x W x R M
l A XX
=
2
(i)
For $alues of % between a and b
( ) a x W x R M
l A XX
=
(ii)
For $alues of % between o and a
x R M
A XX
= (iii)
5gn. (i) gi$es the bending moment at any section of the beam pro$ided brac!eted
terms are discarded when they become negati$e. For this reason, the brac!eted
terms are !nown as the (,acaulay Dhost Terms).
:ince M
dx
y d
EI =
2
2
5# ) ( ) (
2 1
2
2
b x W a x W x R
dx
y d
A
= (i$)
#n ,acauley>s method, the brac!eted terms are intergraded as a whole. This is
Eustified since

=
1
) (
x
x
x
dx a x

1
2
) ( ) (
x
x
a x d a x

5# A b x
W
a x
W x
R
dx
dy
A
+ =
2 2
2
) (
2
2
) (
2 2
($)
5#y B AX b x
W
a x
W x
R
A
+ + =
3 3
3
) (
6
2
) (
6
1
6
($i)
?y integrating the brac!eted Fuantities as a whole, the constants 2 and ? ha$e the
same $alues for all $alues of %.
This may be shown to be the case as follows:
6ut % = a in eFn. ($) and omit the term in (%-b) since it is then negati$e.
Then, A a a
WI a
R
dx
dy
EI
A
+ =
2
2
) (
2 2
A
a
R
A
+ =
2
2
For $alues of % between o and a
5# x R
dx
y d
A
=
2
2
#ntegrating
5#
1
2
2
A
x
R
dx
dy
A
+ =
6utting % = a
5#
1
2
2
A
a
R
dx
dy
A
+ =
:ince the two eFuations concern the slope dyGd% at the same point that the constants
2 and 2
0
must be eFual. :imilarly by putting % = b it may be shown that the constant
is again 2.
The actual $alues of the constants 2 and ? are obtained from the boundary
conditions, that is, in eFn. ($i):
y = o when % = o and
y = o when % = 0
#n the particular case considered, ? = o.
+. !ROC"DUR" #Calculation%$
a) :et up an e%pression for the bending moment for any section in the e%treme
right-hand panel of the beam, measuring % from the left-hand end. 6ut in
sFuare brac!ets, the Hghost>
b) #ntegrate to obtain the slope eFuation and again to obtain the deflection
eFuation and again to obtain the deflection eFuation, adding the constants 2
and ? respecti$ely at each stage. #ntegrate the Hghost> terms as a whole.
c) 'alculate the constants 2 and ? from the condition that the deflection y is
Iero at the two $alues of % corresponding with the supports. "mit negati$e
Hghost> terms.
d) To determine slope or deflection at a particular point on the beam substitute
the corresponding $alue of % in the appropriate e%pression and omit any
Hghost> term which may become negati$e.
+.1 Re%ult%
1idth of beam, b (m)
Thic!ness of beam, d (m)
:pan, l (m)
oad 1
0
(g)
oad 1
4
(g)
7istance a (m)
7istance b (m)
7eflection at @
0
(mm)
7eflection at @
4
(mm)
@oung>s ,odulus, 5 = 40. D6a (assumed)
+.2 Calculation%
:econd moment of area of beam cross-section #=
4
3
12
m
bd
=
3eaction 3
2
=JJJJJJJJ 3eaction 3
?
=JJJJJJJJ..
Fle%ural rigidity 5# =
?y means of ,acaulay>s method calculate the deflection at the points B and @ using
the appropriate $alues of % and tabulate the results, as follows:
!oint
O'%e08ed
De)lection
Calculated
De)lection
0
4
9. CONCLU-ION
'ompare the obser$ed and calculated $alues of deflection at the two points and
comment on probable causes of discrepancy.