EXPERIMENT NO-7B

Beam Deflection Test

Abstract

Young’s modulus is a measure of elasticity, equal to the ratio of the stress acting on a substance to the strain
produced. Beam deflection test is one of tests which are used to determine the Young’s modulus of different
materials. The specimens chosen are of Brass, Aluminium and Mild Steel. The dimensions of the beams are
measured using dial gauge vernier caliper with the least count of 0.01 mm. In this experiment, the beam is fixed
at one end called cantilever beam. The hanger and the coins of 10 g are used to load the beam. From specimens
chosen, mild steel is found to have highest value of the Young’s Modulus.

1 Introduction
The Youngs Modulus Apparatus is a bench top setup,
which supports beams of different configurations using
variable span. Use of the hanger and the weights is to
load the beams. A deflection gauges of 0.01 mm resolu-
tions is used to measure the deflection of beam due to dif-
ferent loading. Using the measured deflection value the
Young’s modulus of the specimens of Brass, Aluminium
and Mild Steel is calculated. Figure 1: Vibration of cantilever beam subjected to tip
load

2 Objective The deflection is given by the formula

To determine the Young’s Modulus of Mild Steel, Brass F l3
and Aluminium using the beam deflection test. x= (1)
3EI
where
F = Load (N)
3 Theory l = Length of the beam (m)
E = Young’s Modulus (Pa)
This test is used to measure the Young’s Modulus of I = second moment of area (kg.m2 )
different materials through the deflection of beams under
load. It is based on the Moment of Area (I) method. The
distance from the clamps at which the load is applied
is kept constant for different loads. This deflection of 4 Materials and Equipments
the beams is in the elastic deformation region, because
Machine Specifications
of which there is a linear relationship between the load
applied and the deflection observed, i.e. the stress and • Indenter : Diamond (136◦ )
the strain.
• Machine capacity : 50 kgf

1
 • Maximum test height : 230 mm
Table 2: Table showing the deflection for the Brass beam
• Throat depth : 0.001 mm under different loads.
• Dwell time : 0 - 30 sec Sr. No. Load Deflection Young’s
Specimens used Applied reading (mm) Modulus(GPa)
1 100 0.69 18.69
• Cast iron 2 200 1.34 19.25
• Brass 3 300 2.02 19.15
4 400 2.7 19.77
• Mild Steel 5 500 3.35 19.25

5 Procedure
Table 3: Table showing the deflection for the Mild Steel
The beam is clamped on one side in a horizontal can- beam under different loads.
tilever position and tightened using screws. A scale on
the top of the beam is used to measure the distance of Sr. No. Load Deflection Young’s
the load applied from the clamp. The load is applied at a Applied reading (mm) Modulus(GPa)
distance of 200 mm from the clamp. A deflection gauge is 1 100 0.30 43.40
used to measure the deflection of the beam at the given 2 200 0.62 41.61
distance, under different loads. Initially the reading is 3 300 0.91 42.52
set to zero. Then the weight hanger is hung and slowly 4 400 1.24 41.61
the weights are added. The weight of the hanger is 10 5 500 1.57 41.08
gms so the weights, each of 10 gms, are added accord-
ingly to amount to the required load. The deflection is
measured for the loads 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 gms.
The procedure is repeated for beams of each material. 7 Discussion
It is observed that the load applied and the deflection
It must be ensured that the beam is not initially bent
follow a linear relationship. From the values of load ap-
or curved. The load must be applied statically so as to
plied and the deflection measured, the Young’s Modulus
ensure minimum vibrations in the beam and the reading
is calculated.
form the deflection gauge must only be taken after it
attains a constant, non-fluctuating value. Parallax errors
6 Results have to be prevented while taking the readings in the dial
gauge and the vernier caliper.
6.1 Observations
As the load applied on the beams was increased notable 8 Conclusion
increase in the deflection was observed.
From the Beam Deflection test, we find that in the elastic
deformation region, the load is directly proportional to
Table 1: Table showing the deflection for the Aluminium
the Deflection observed. This test offers a quantitative
beam under different loads.
approach to finding the Young’s Modulus. The average
Sr. No. Load Deflection Young’s value of the Young’s Modulus for Aluminium it is 15.87
Applied reading (mm) Modulus(GPa) GPa, for Brass it is 19.22 GPa and for Mild Steel it is
1 100 0.76 16.97 42.04 GPa.
2 200 1.63 15.82
3 300 2.49 15.54
4 400 3.30 15.63
References
5 500 4.18 15.43 [1] Strength of Materials, R. K. Bansal, Laxmi Publi-
cations.

Dimensions of the side face for different beam
• Aluminium : b = 18.9 mm, h = 3.2 mm.
• Brass : b = 18.9 mm, h = 3.0 mm
• Mild Steel : b = 18.9 mm, h = 3.1 mm
[2] Deflection of the beam. Retrieved October 10th, 2017
from https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/thermal-
expansion/expt1.php