4/30/2014

Shearing Force in
Beams Experiment
Experimental Report

Name:

Hosany Bibi Zaiynoumah

Jhundoo Kheshav
Jhurkut Pushkar

1316263
1310489
1312005

Table of Contents

Introduction...............................................................................................................................2
Theory .......................................................................................................................................2
Aims and Objectives .................................................................................................................2
Apparatus ..................................................................................................................................3
Experimental Apparatus...........................................................................................................3
Procedures .............................................................................................................................4
Results and Calculations ...........................................................................................................5
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................8

Introduction
Beams are structural members which are most commonly used in buildings. Beams have
numerous other applications in case of bridges, automobiles or in mechanical systems. In a
beam, transverse load is acted, which in fact comes from the slabs to the column or walls. For
design purpose of beams, analysis of shear force and bending moment induced are at most
importance. Both shear force and bending moment are induced in beam in order to balance
external load acting on it.
Shear force is the internal resistance created in beam cross sections, in order to balance
transverse external load acting on beam. Shear force is induced to bring the section to
equilibrium in vertical direction. It acts parallel to cross section.
Equilibrium of a section is not guaranteed only by balancing of transverse load. If moment acting
on the beam is not balanced, there is a possibility of beam rotation. In this case, a bending
moment is induced in the cross section of the beam to arrest this rotation.

Theory
In this experiment we will deal with the shearing forces that exist in a split beam. A horizontal
beam is split into two parts (A) which is smaller than (B) by a vertical cross section and is then
held together with spring balances which produce a system of forces which is equivalent to those
that exist internally in the beam if it would not have been cut.
The internal forces that occur in a horizontal beam with vertical loading is:

For vertical equilibrium a shearing force in the section plane.

For equilibrium of moments a moment of resistance due to compression in the top half of
the beam section and tension in the bottom half.

Aims and Objectives

To understand the action of shear in a beam

To measure the shearing force at a normal reaction of a loaded beam and to check its
agreement with theory

Apparatus

A beam (in 2 parts: A, which is the smaller one and B, which is the larger one) placed
together on 2 retort stands
A set of mass (10N and 20N)
Spring balance (to measure the force required to keep the 2 beams on the same level)
An overhung balance (which provides the vertical shearing force)
A spirit level (to make sure that the 2 beams are on the same level)

Experimental Apparatus
The two parts of the beam, A and B are joined at the normal section by a pair of ball bearing
rollers. The underslung tension spring develop the internal forces at the section and the ball
bearing rollers resist the bending moment, while the overhung spring provides the vertical
shearing forces. The design of the ball bearing rollers hinders the beam from sliding up or down
at the normal section.
Two end bearings on stands support the beam and several load hangers can be threaded onto the
two parts. A spirit level is also provided to set up the beam or in the re-alignment of the beam by
adjusting the screws on the spring or spring balance.

The experiment will be conducted in two parts. For the first part a 10N weight is hanged and its
position is varied and the experiment is repeated using a 20N weight. For the second part, the
load on the hangers is varied.

Procedures
Part 1
1. The beam is set up so that the face of the normal section is 300mm from the left hand
support and 600 mm to the right hand support.
2. A load hanger is placed on the middle of the smaller part (A) of the beam, one on the
larger part (B) of the beam and a third one threaded on at the joint and just on part (B) (in
the groove provided).
3. The two parts of the beam are realigned by adjusting the spring balance and the
underslung spring, and the value on the spring balance is noted.
4. A load of 10N is placed on part (B), the beam is realigned and the value shown on the
spring balance is noted.
5. The difference between the two readings, which is the effect of applying the 10N weight
on the beam, is calculated.
6. The procedure is repeated using the hanger just to the right of the normal section.
7. The procedure is repeated again by placing the hanger to the left of the normal section.
8. The 10N weight is transferred to the hanger at the middle of part (A) and the change
occurred is noted.
9. The whole procedure from the beginning is repeated using a 20N load and all the results
are noted.
Part 2
1. The middle load hanger is placed to the right of the normal section, the beam is realigned
and the reading on the spring balance and the positions of all load hangers relative to the
supports are noted.
2. Smaller loads up to 10N are placed on all the different load hangers, the beam is
realigned and the value on the spring balance is noted again.
3. The procedure is repeated with a different span between the supports with the load
hangers in different positions and with different loadings.

Results and Calculations

Part 1
Initial Value of spring balance = 2.50 N
Position

Mass

300 mm from left

hand support
600 mm from right
hand support
left of split
150 mm from left
hand support
Position
300 mm from left
hand support
600 mm from right
hand support
left of split
150 mm from left
hand support

Spring balance
reading /N
10 N

Increase in reading
/N
5.50
3.00

10 N

9.50

7.00

10 N
10 N

no alignment
1.00

-1.50

Mass

Spring balance
reading /N
20 N

Increase in reading
/N
9.50
7.00

20 N

15.50

20 N
20 N

no alignment
no alignment

13.00

Data Analysis
At equilibrium, clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment
Load of 10 N applied
300 mm

R1

Taking moment from R2 :

(R1 x 0.9) = (10 x 0.3)
R1 = 3.33 N

300 mm

300 mm

10 N

R2

Taking moment from R1 :

(R2 x 0.9) = (10 x 0.6)
R2 = 6.67 N

At equilibrium, clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

Load of 20 N applied
300 mm

R1

Taking moment from R2 :

(R1 x 0.9) = (20 x 0.3)
R1 = 6.67 N

300 mm

300 mm

20 N

R2

Taking moment from R1 :

(R2 x 0.9) = (20 x 0.6)
R2 = 13.3 N

From the 2 shear force diagrams, it can be noted that when the load doubles, shear force also
doubles.

Part 2
L1
F(x)
L2

R1
F2
F1
Using R1 , clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

F3

R2

F(x) , shear force = [(F1 x y) + (F2 x L1)] / L1

Load on Hangers /
N

F1
5.0
2.0
7.0
2.0
2.0
2.0

F2
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
5.0
2.0

F3
2.0
5.0
2.0
2.0
5.0
2.0

Length between
Hanger and
support / mm
y
150
150
150
150
150
200

Length Theoretical
of
Value / N
section /
mm
L1
285
4.631579
285
3.052632
285
5.684211
400
2.75
200
6.5
450
2.888889

Spring
Balance
reading
/N

Ratio
(Experimental
Value/Theoretical
Value)

5.0
3.0
5.0
3.5
6.25
4.0
Average
Ratio

1.079545
0.982758
0.87963
1.272727
0.961538
1.384615
1.093469

Conclusion
Since the average of the ratios is close to 1, it can be deduced that the experimental results agree
with the theoretical values to some extent.
The experiment was time consuming and some sources of error were identified, mainly:
1. The hangers might be displaced while aligning the arm bar.
2. The concentration of the observer will decrease as time passes thus increase the source of
error.