Shear and Moment Distribution

In
Cantilever Beams

Team
Emily DiMartini
Dan Quiroga
Monica Sharobeam
Brandon Simon
Submitted: 04/02/2015

EVALUATION OF THE TECHNICAL REPORT

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Rating and Assessment Sheet.
Abstract.....

Numbering of Pages..

Table of Contents...

List of Tables.....

List of Figures....

Introduction....

Procedure....

Experimental Program...
Experimental Data.

Results....

Discussion....

Conclusions.....

Recommendations.....

Bibliography...

Appendices.....

On Time Submission.....

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Recommendations
Additional experiments
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Other techniques
Assessment completed by Team Members: (Print)
Name: Emily DiMartini
Name: Dan Quiroga
Name: Monica Sharobeam
Name: Brandon Simon

Abstract
In this experiment, a beam was loaded in increments and three different strain measurements
were taken at different points on the beam. This was done to verify the linearity of strain along
the axis of the beam. These strain measurements were subsequently converted to shear stresses,
and further to bending moments along the beam. The shear stresses and moments were graphed
along the length of the beam. The experimental measurements confirmed that the shear stress
was constant along the length of the beam and the bending moment varied linearly, as expected.

Contents
Abstract....................................................................................................................... i
Contents..................................................................................................................... ii
List of Tables.............................................................................................................. iii
List of Figures............................................................................................................. iii
Introduction................................................................................................................ 1
Procedure................................................................................................................... 1
Experimental Program................................................................................................ 2
Experimental Data...................................................................................................... 3
Results........................................................................................................................ 4
Discussion.................................................................................................................. 9
Recommendations.................................................................................................... 10
Conclusion................................................................................................................ 10
Bibliography............................................................................................................. 11
Appendix.................................................................................................................... A

List of Table

Table 1. Collected beam data...........................................................................................................4

Table 2. Three strains associated with each individual loading weight...........................................4
Table 3. Increasing Load Shear Force.............................................................................................5
Table 4. Decreasing Load Shear Force............................................................................................5
Table 5. Calculating Shear Force from Slope of Best Fit Line........................................................7
Table 6. Bending Moment...............................................................................................................8
Table 7. The equation of best fit with the identified shear...............................................................8

List of Figures
Figure 1. Top view of the beam.......................................................................................................3
Figure 2. Front view of the beam.....................................................................................................3
Figure 3. Strain and Distance with Increasing Load........................................................................6
Figure 4. Strain and Distance with Decreasing Load......................................................................6
Figure 5. Free Body Diagram, Shear and Moment Diagrams.........................................................7
Figure 6. Bending Moment in Relation to Distance and Load........................................................8
Figure 7. Schematic of strain indicator setup.................................................................................A

Introduction
This laboratory experiment will introduce students to measurements of axial strain using
three strain gages. Loads were applied to the aluminum beam in cantilever form, causing
deformation in the direction perpendicular to the axis collinear with the beam.
The purpose of the experiment is to determine the shear force and load from strain
measurements, to verify the linearity of strain along the beam axis, and to confirm the shear force
and moment relationships by comparing two different stress determinations. The calculated
stress and bending moment values correlate to a relationship based off the integration of the
shear stress over the length of the bar.

Procedure
The first part of the experiment is to set up the strain indicator. In order to do this, turn
the strain indicator on 15 minutes before use, and then install the beam in the back of the frame.
Record the cross section dimensions, the lengths from the strain gages to the point of application
of the load, and the measurement group, gage type, resolution, gage factor and correction K
specific for the specimen. Attach the wire connections according to the diagram in Appendix A
and connect the strain indicator to the three channels. Then set the gauge factor in the indicator
and zero the strain.
The second part of the lab involved applying loads and taking measurements. Apply
loads with an S hook in increments of 500, 700, 900, 1000, and 1100 and then unload the beam
in those increments. Be careful not to exceed these increments; this risks permanent damage to
the beam. Record the resulting strain in the three channels. Then draw a figure of the test setup,
a free body diagram, a shear diagram and a moment diagram.
1

Experimental Program
The materials and conditions required for this laboratory experiment are:
Tools:

Cantilever flexure frame

High-strength aluminum alloy beam, [with approximated dimensions of: 1/4 x 1 x

12-1/2 ( 6mm x 25mm x 320mm)]

Digital Calipers - capable of measuring 0.001 in

Accurate 12-inch scale ( 1/64 in)

Vishay P3 Strain Indicator

500g mass set (with increments of 100g)

Variables:

Independent Variables: applied load

Dependent Variables: Axial strains 1, 2, and 3; experimental moment, experimental

shear

Control Variables: type of bar used

Extraneous Variables: Temperature, Residual voltage

The procedure consists of measuring the three axial strain values, each a specified distance from
the load. The shear stress and moment were calculated from the given youngs modulus and
measured strain values.
Sources of error and limitations of this experiment include:

hysteresis
2

Room temperature (thermal strain)

Clamp not being tightly secured on prismatic bar

These errors and extraneous variables can be considered negligible. The effect of hysteresis of
the loading process was counteracted with unloading, giving a set of data that includes over and
undervalued points to account for the beam not perfectly following Hookes law. The variation in
temperature would account for some amount of strain, however, because of thermal strains
linearity, it will affect all the strain gauges the same. Temperature variation within the bar would
cause the most notable extraneous error. Vibration through the system can cause a residual
voltage, another extraneous error. Residual voltage caused by a change in voltage would be a
minimal systematic error. The clamp not having the appropriate grip on the bar would cause
minimal systematic error.

Experimental Data
Figures 1 and 2 below illustrate a diagram of the aluminum alloy bar used in
the experiment.
L2
L1

L3

Figure 1. Top view of the beam

L1

L2

L2

Figure 2. Front view of the beam

The measurements t, b, L1, L2, and L3 were measured and can be found in
Table 1. Along with the dimensions are the specimen data used for
reproducability of the experiment. These values were later used in further
calculations.

Table 1. Collected beam data

b
T
L1
L2
L3
MEASUREMENT
GROUP
GAUGE TYPE
RESOLUTION
GAUGE FACTOR
CORRECTION K

VALUE
25.22 mm
6.67 mm
107.95 mm
76.2 mm
76.2 mm
B-105
125AD
120.0
2.1 5%
+1

At point P weights were loaded and then unloaded, and the associated three

axial strains were measured and can be found in Table 2.

Table 2. Three strains associated with each individual loading weight

MASS (G)
500
700
900
1000
1100
1000
900
700
500
0

1
109
153
196
218
240
218
196
153
109
1

2
75
103
131
145
159
143
127
95
62
-15

3
46
65
84
93
102
93
84
65
47
1

Results
The measured strain measurements were used to calculate and x . (All values of
strain are measured in micro strain.) These values were used to calculate the shear force using the
equation below.

Eb t 2

6
V=
X
(1)
E= 68.9 GPa
b=width of the section (m)
t=thickness of the beam (m)
= change in strain (no units)

x = change in distance (m)

The tables show the values for and x

as well as the calculated shear force (V) when

the load was increasing (Table 1) and also for when it was decreasing (Table 2).
Table 3. Increasing Load Shear Force

MASS
(G)
500
700
900
1000
1100

12

-34
-50
-65
-73
-81

x 12

V 12

(M)
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762

(N)
4.61
6.78
8.82
9.90
10.98

Table 4. Decreasing Load Shear Force

MASS
(G)
1100
1000
900
700
500

12

-81
-75
-69
-58
-47

x 12

V 12

(M)
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762

(N)
10.98
10.17
9.35
7.86
6.37

23
-29
-38
-47
-52
-50

23
-57
-50
-43
-30
-15

x 23
(M)
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762

x 23
(M)
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762
-0.762

V 23
(N)
3.93
5.15
6.37
7.05
7.73

V 23
(N)
7.73
6.78
5.83
4.07
2.03

V avg (
N)
4.27
5.97
7.59
8.47
9.35

V avg (
N)
9.35
8.48
7.59
5.97
4.20

The two graphs below show the relationship between the values of strain and distance. Distance
was measured in meters and strain was measured in micro strain.

4.905 N
6.867 N
8.829 N
9.81 N
10.79 N

Figure 3. Strain and Distance with Increasing Load

10.79 N
9.81 N
8.83 N
6.86 N
4.90 N

Figure 4. Strain and Distance with Decreasing Load

Using Figures 1 and 2, as well as a best fit line, the shear force was calculated. The slope of the
line of best fit is equal to the ratio of and x . By multiplying this ratio (slope) to

Eb t 2
6

the shear force was determined.

Table 5. Calculating Shear Force from Slope of Best Fit Line

APPLIED
LOAD(N)

BEST-FIT
LINE
EQUATION

SLOPE FROM
BEST FIT

LINE ( X

Eb t 2
6

V (N)

(M3PA)

4.90

y = -4.13E-4x +
4.13E-4
10,335
4.26
1.23E-6
6.86
y = -5.77E-4x +
5.77E-4
10,335
5.96
1.71E-5
8.83
y = -7.35E-4x +
7.35E-4
10,335
7.59
2.19E-5
9.81
y = -8.20E-4x +
8.20E-4
10,335
8.47
2.31E-5
10.79
y = -9.05E-4x +
9.05E-4
10,335
9.35
2.68E-5
A Free Body Diagram of the beam was drawn. From this the sum of the forces was indicated as
well as the sum of the moments in the beam. From that, the shear and moment diagrams were
determined.

Figure 5. Free Body Diagram, Shear and Moment Diagrams

The bending moment was calculated using the equation determined from the moment diagram.

After this, it was graphed. Moment is measured in N*m.

M =PL+ Px

(2)

Table 6. Bending Moment

LOAD (N):
M( x 1 )

4.905
-1.27

6.86
-1.78

8.82
-2.29

9.81
-2.54

10.79
-2.79

M( x 2 )
M( x 3 )

-0.897

-1.26

-1.61

-1.79

-1.97

-0.523

-0.733

-0.942

-1.04

-1.15

Chart Title
4.905 N
6.86 N
8.82 N
9.81 N
10.79 N

Figure 6. Bending Moment in Relation to Distance and Load

Best fit lines were generated from the bending moment graph (Figure 4.) The slope of these lines
is equal to the load as well as the shear force, as shown in the shear diagram, Figure 3.
Table 7. The equation of best fit with the identified shear

APPLIED LOAD (N)

4.90
6.86
8.82
9.81
10.79

EQUATION OF
LINE OF BEST FIT
y = 4.90x - 1.45
y = 6.86x - 2.02
y = 8.82x - 2.60
y = 9.81x - 2.89
y = 10.79x - 3.18

10

SLOPE

SHEAR FORCE (N)

4.90
6.86
8.82
9.81
10.79

4.90
6.86
8.82
9.81
10.79

Discussion
The objectives of this lab were teach us how to determine shear force and the load from
strain measurments, verify linearity of strain along the beam axis, and confirm shear force and
moment relationships by comparing two difference stress determinations. The lab also allowed
us to better analyze the relationship between shear and moment. Using strain values as well as
distances we were able to calculate the shear force (N) for each of the loads using Equation 1.
Table 1 shows this for increased loading and Table 2 shows this for decreased loading. In
addition to calculating the shear force, we also graphed the three strain values for each load over
the distance. This was done because the strain values are all linearly related to one another for
each load. After this, best fit lines were produced. The slope of these lines is related to Equation

1 because it is equal to X

. With this we multiplied the slopes of each line by 10,335

(m Pa), which comes from calculating

Eb t 2
6

with the appropriate values. This answer was the

shear force. The values for the shear force from the best fit lines all equaled the average shear
force calculated in Tables 1 and 2. This proved the data to be accurate.
In addition to this, we drew a free body diagram, summed the forces in the x and y
direction, as well as summing the moment equal to zero. From this, we created a shear diagram
where the load was equal to the shear force. Along with this and boundary conditions for the
shear force, we created a moment diagram. The equation for the moment diagram can be seen in
equation 2. To further investigate the relation between bending moment and shear force, we
generated best fit lines for Figure 4. The slopes of the best fit lines were equal to the shear forces
11

as well as the corresponding loads, which we concluded would be the case from the shear force
diagram in Figure 3. This also proved that this experiment was successful.
Errors in this lab mainly came from extraneous variables. For instance, a common
problem is that the table is never completely stable. There are many groups working at the same
time, and it is hard for the table to remain still. These vibrations from movement cause error in
strain values, which leads to miscalculations. Lastly, another error in this lab comes from the
loads touching the table. This would alter the amount of load on the beam.

Recommendations
In this experiment, axial strain was measured and used to find the shear force and
bending moment for the beam. This confirmed that strain is linear along the beam, and that the
bending moment is the integral of the shear force. This could be applied in further
experimentation. Different beams could be tested to see how the bending and shear moment
graphs change. Further, by applying multiple loads at different points in the beam, one could
examine how this affects the linearity of strain and the subsequent stress and moment graphs. A
uniformly distributed load would make a more complex and interesting stress and moment graph.
Overall the experiment and procedure were straightforward and led to accurate results.
One issue was can when unloading weight increments, the strain measurements for channel two
were off. This was accounted for with random loading, but multiple trails would be beneficial.
The strain gauges accurately measure strain and yielded successful results.

Conclusion
The goal of this experiment was to determine the relationship between shear stress and
moment. Shear stress remained constant while the moment changed linearly. Procedures

12

completed in this lab to determine shear stress and moment on a beam apply to many concepts
such as diving board or large scale engineering projects, such as steel beam design for expedited
analysis of loads. Understanding how structures resist forces is important when designing. The
experiment was done successfully because the shear stress and moment diagrams followed the
theoretical results expected. The relationship between shear stress and moment was understood
through graphs and shear and moment diagrams.

Bibliography
1. Amirault, S. B. Shear and Moment Diagram. Digital image. Shear and Moment Diagrams.
S.B.A Invent, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.

13

Appendix

Figure 7. Schematic of strain indicator setup