1.

0 OBJECTIVE

1) To determine shear force on a simply supported beam

2) To identify how to plot shear force graph

2.0 INTRODUCTION

This experiment is about understanding the effect of change in force magnitude on

shear stresses produce in beam due to that force. Moreover, understanding how to
identify shear force influence line on a simply supported beam. And, plotting the shear
force influence line.

Theory used:-
In beam designing shear force is one which is perpendicular to the longitudinal x axis
of beam. Shear force is more important that axial force in beam designing.

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 3.0 MATERIALS AND APPARATUS

Ra Rb

Figure 1: Apparatus for Shear Force in Beam

500g

300g

100g
400g

200g

Figure 2: The Loader

Figure 3: The Dimension for the Apparatus Figure 4:Digital Force Display

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4.0 PROCEDURES

Part A

1) The Digital Force Display meter was checked the reading showed zero value
when there is no load.
2) A hanger with a 100 g mass placed to the left of the cut (40 mm away). The
Digital Force Display reading was recorded in a table. The experiment was
repeated using different masses of 200 g, 300 g, 400 g and 500 g.

Figure 5:Force Diagram

3) The mass was converted into a Newton unit as show in the table below.

Mass (Grams) Load (Newtons)

100 0.98
200 1.96
300 2.94
400 3.92
500 4.90

Table 1:Mass to Newton conversion

4) The theoretical shear force was calculated and comparison was made at with
the experimental value obtained for the lab test.

Part B

1) For Part B, the procedure was similar as Part A, the Digital Force Display meter was
checked and must read as zero with no load.

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2) The beam was loaded with the hangers such follows in the figure (load of 3.92N),
with the distance between the load and RA is 140mm. The reading was then recorded
in the table. (Note : Shear force at the cut (N) = Displayed force.

Figure 6:Force Diagram with 3.92 N at W1

3) The support reactions (RA and RB) were calculated with the shear force obtained
from the lab test. Comparison was then made for the theoretical and experimental
value.
4) The test was repeated with different length of load to the reaction and variable
loads. Refer figure below. Reading was then recorded in the table.

Figure 7:Force Diagram with 1.96 N at W1 and 3.92 N at W2

Figure 8:Force Diagram with 4.91 N at W1 and 3.92 N at W2

6) The comparison of the result between the theoretical and the experimental value
and discussion will be made regarding the experiment.

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 5.0 RESULT

Part A

Shear Force Variation with an Increasing Point Load

Mass (g) Load(N) Experimental Shear Theoretical Shear

Force (N) Force (N)

0 0 0 0

100 0.98 0.60 0.58

200 1.96 0.90 1.16

300 2.94 1.50 1.74

400 3.92 2.30 2.32

500 4.90 2.80 2.90

Table 2: Results for Lab Test Part A

Part B
Shear Force Variation for Variation Loading Conditions

Figure W1 W2 Force Experimental RA(N) RB(N) Theoretical

(N) (N) (N) Shear Force (N) Shear Force (N)

4 3.92 -1.2 -1.2 5.17 -1.25 -1.25

5 1.96 3.92 3.1 3.1 2.58 3.30 3.30

6 4.90 3.92 2.4 2.4 2.59 6.24 2.32

Table 3: Results for Lab Test Part 2

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6.0 ANALYSIS OF DATA

PART A

Equation of this experiment is:-

Shear force at cut Sc = Wa

l

Mass of 100 g and 200 g are taken as example;

W = 100 g = 0.98 N W = 200 g = 1.96 N
a = 260 mm a = 260 mm
l = 440 mm l = 440 mm
0.98 ( 260 ) 1.96 ( 260 )
Sc = 440 Sc = 440

= 0.58 N = 1.16 N

Graph 6.1: Shear Force vs Load

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Part B (Refer Table 3 in Result Section)

1) Figure 6 calculation;
Fx = 0
Fy = 0
RA + RB 3.92 = 0 RA + RB 3.92 = 0
MA = 0 RA 1.25 - 3.92 = 0
RB (400) 3.92 (140) = 0 RA = 5.17 N
RB = 1.25 N
Sc = 0
Sc 3.92 + 5.17 = 0
Sc = 1.25 N

2) Figure 7 calculation;
Fx = 0
Fy = 0
RA + RB 3.92 1.96= 0 RA + RB 5.88 = 0
MA = 0 RA + 3.30 5.88 = 0
1.96(220) + 3.92(260) RB(440) = 0 RA = 2.58 N
RB = 3.30 N
Sc = 0
Sc + 2.58 1.96 3.92 = 0
Sc = 3.30 N

3) Figure 8 calculation;
Fx = 0
Fy = 0
RA + RB 4.91 3.92= 0 RA + RB 8.83 = 0
MA = 0 RA + 6.24 8.83 = 0
4.91(240) + 3.92(400) RB(440) = 0 RA = 2.59 N
RB = 6.24 N
Sc = 0
Sc + 2.59 4.91 = 0
Sc = 2.32 N

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7.0 DISCUSSION

Based on the results above, it can be deduced that the load is directly proportional to the
shear force. Which means, if the number of load increased, the shear force in the beam
increase as well. This experiment clearly show that, when the load increased from 0.98 N
until 4.90 N, the experimental shear force also keep increasing from 0.6Nm until 2.8Nm
and the theoretical shear force also increasing.
From table above, when the experimental and theoretical shear force results are
compared, it can be seen that there is negligible difference between their values. For
example, for load 0.98N, the experimental shear force is 0.6Nm and the theoretical shear
force 0.58Nm. This results show small difference between theoretical and experimental
value of shear force with percentage of difference is only 3.4%. This show that, the
experiment are conducted carefully with minimum errors. Besides that, all the possible
error that might happen are given to a consideration such as the condition of surrounding
and the digital detector always set to zero before taking the reading.
Based on the graph above, the shape of graph that have been plotted is linear. This
show that the relationship between load and shear force is linear. From the graph also it
can be seen that the values started from the origin and increase as the load and shear
force are increases. Hence, this results clearly show the relationship between various
numbers of load and the shear force that acting on the beam
For the second part of this experiment, it is to find the relationship of shear force and
the distance of load that acting on the beam. Based on the table, various distance of where
the loading act will give a different value of shear force. In addition, the difference in
values of experimental and theoretical shear force are also negligible. The reaction at
support A and B also different with different loading and distance. Hence, the behaviour of
the beam are predicted accurately.

8.0 CONCLUSIONS

The objectives were achieved; we identified that the shear force is inversely
proportional to the load. As the load increases, the shear force decreases. And the
shear force graph was successfully plotted.

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9.0 REFERENCES

Atta, E. T. (n.d.). Sgear Force in a Beam Lab Report. Retrieved on September 29,
2017, from http://www.green-mechanic.com/2017/02/bending-stresses-in-beam-
lab-report.html

T.H.G Megson. (2014). Structural and Stress Analysis. Third Edition.

Ye, J. (2008). Structural and stress analysis: Theories, tutorials and examples. London:
Taylor & Francis.