Deflection of a Cantilever Beam

Learning Objectives:

i. Through this experiment the student will learn about the accuracy of theoretical formulae
regarding beam deflections.
ii. An experience of using deflection gage.

List of Required Equipment & Accessories: It includes the following

i. A Set of Beams
ii. A Clamping Device
iii. Various Loads and a Mechanism for Applying the Required loads
iv. A deflection gage

Fig. 1 The gage used for measuring beam deflections

Procedure:

i. Clamp a beam at one end for making it a cantilever beam.

ii. Touch the needle of the deflection gage at a point at a distance X 1 from the point of load
application and note down the initial reading.
iii. Load the beam in increments and corresponding to each load note the final reading of the
gage. Deflection is the difference of final and initial gage readings.
iv. Repeat the experiment for reading points located at distances X 2 and X3 from the loading
point.

Precautions:

i. Remember that X is measured from the point of load application.

ii. The loading should be kept in elastic range of the material.
Theory: For the cantilever beam shown in following figure theoretical beam deflections are given
by

Here ‘y’ represent the deflection and ‘x’ is measured from the point of load application.

Fig. 2 A cantilever beam loaded through a single point load at free end.

Analysis of Data

Table No. 1 Deflection of various points of beam No. 1

P P (N) y(x1) (mm) y(x2) (mm) y(x3) (mm)

(gram force) Exp, Theo. Exp, Theo. Exp, Theo.

Table No.2 Deflection of various points of beam No. 2

(similar to above)

Following graph is required for each beam.

P vs y(x) containing separate lines for each measuring point.

Points of Discussion in the Lab Report:

The trends of plotted experimental results need to be compared with theoretical ones.