MECE 204

Strength of Materials I Lab.

Lab # 6: Reaction Forces & Moment Variations in Beams

Part A): Variation of Bending Moment away from the Point of Loading

1. For loading setups 1, 2, and 3; solve symbolically for the expressions of the reactions R A
and RB and the moment at the cut, M in terms of W1 and W2.
2. Tabulate your results in the table below. Show one sample calculation for each loading
setup.
3. Comment on the error and any discrepancy in the results

Note: loading setups 1,2, and 3 are displayed in the data sheet pdf document on MyCourses

Experimental Theoretical Theoretical Theoretical Error in

Force
Loading W1 W2 bending moment reaction reaction bending moment
reading
setup # (g) (g) (N.m) force, RA force, RB moment reading
(N)
(N.m) (%)
1 100 0
1 200 0
1 300 0
1 400 0

2 100 400
2 200 300
2 300 200
2 400 100

3 100 400
3 200 300
3 300 200
3 400 100
Part B: Reaction Forces for Simply Supported Beams

1. Draw a schematic diagram of the beam setup you used / tested

2. Determine the reaction forces
3. Draw the shear diagram symbolically (as in do not substitute values for length and
weight). Use any computer aided tool to construct the diagrams (hand drawn diagram are
unacceptable)
4. Compare the experimental reaction forces measured versus the theoretical ones
5. Compute the percentage error of the above measured reaction force