Course: Engineering Mechanics Laboratory
Date:
Experiment # 4
Analysis of Shear Leg Structure
: To determine the forces in the legs of a loaded Shear Leg structure experimentally and
Aim
compare with the graphical solution
Apparatus _: Shear Leg apparatus, weights and measuring scale.
Expt Set-up
Figure 4.1 Shear Leg Apparatus
Figure 4.1 shows photograph of the Shear Leg structure. It consists of two rigid bars
shown as AB and AC and a tie bar shown as AD representing the three legs of a Shear
Leg structure. The rigid bars AB and AC are the compression members and the tie is a
tension carrying member. Hence, they are fitted with a compression and tension spring
balances, respectively.
The Shear Leg structure can be loaded by adding weights in a pan which is attached to
joint A. When loaded, the assembly represents a non-coplanar concurrent force system of
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