MECH2610 LAB ASSIGNMENT

Bending virual lab assessment:

1:
Taking moments from both ends

2.
Q3:

A graph of bending moment against strain for various strain

gauges
100
90 Gauge 1
80
Bending moment (Nm)

Gauge 2
70
Gauge 3
60
50 Gauge 4
40 Gauge 5
30
Gauge 6
20
10 Gauge 7
0 Gauge 8
-700 -600 -500 -400 -300 -200 -100 -10 0 100 200 300 400
Gauge 9
Strain  (x10^-6)

The bending moment and strain are directly correlated with any increase in bending moment also
causing the strain to increase proportionally to that. However, each gauge has a different coefficient
of multiplication due to their differing positions on the beam. The gauge positions 1-5 with negative
strain are those which were under compression during loading due to the bending moment, and
those which had positive strain were elongated and hence were upon the sections of beam under
tension. All the locations except the neutral plane upon the beam increases its absolute strain with
respect to increases in the bending moment of that section due to greater pressures in the beam.

Q4.

Vertical strain gauge position against strain under various

loads
45
40
Vertical strain gauge position (mm)

35
30 0N
25 100N
20 200N
15 300N
10 400N
5 500N
0
-700 -600 -500 -400 -300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 400
-5
Strain  (x10^-6)
The intercepts of the lines of best fit on the y axis show the position of the neutral plane from the
top of the beam, it is the point in the beam at which there is no positive or negative strain regardless
of the load placed upon the beam.

Q5:

d)

The three values are relatively close to each other with the experimental value being the lowest this
is because the neutral plane appeared to be closer to the top than theorised. Although this may not
be entirely accurate if strain gauges were not placed upon the exact specified location.
Buckling Question:
a)

Instability failure is when there is a failure due to inadequate stiffness which causes deflection of a
component due to axially loaded forces. Yielding failure is when a body within a component
experiences a stress which exceeds its yield stress. A plastic collapse is when plastic deformation
occurs within a component and can cause collapse due to altered geometry.

For all values of k below 0.872N/mm the bucket of water will collapse into bucket as specified.
therefore for collapse:

K< 872N/m

(UNITS FOR A NOT SPECIFIED so 900mm is assumed)

Collapse Question