Str. Mech.

Lab Job 05 09-CIV-172

TO STUDY THE BENDING BEHAVIOR OF Z SECTION

Objective:

To confirm the theory that loading a beam along principal axis always produces
symmetrical bending.

Apparatus:

i. Cantilever beam (Z section) with rotating arrangement

ii. Dial gauges (two in number each having L.C. = 0.001”)
iii. Loading pans and weights
iv. Steel tape

Related theory:

Axis of symmetry:

If an axis divides a section into two parts in such a manner that the parts are mirror
images of each other, such an axis is called axis of symmetry.

Symmetrical sections:

A section that has at least one axis of symmetry is called symmetrical section.
Examples are:

i. W section; has two axes of symmetry

ii. T section; has one axis of symmetric so called as singly symmetric
iii. Channel section; is also singly symmetric

Unsymmetrical sections:

A section which doesn’t have any axis of symmetry is called unsymmetrical section.
Examples are:

i. Z section
ii. L section (angle section)

Principal axes:

Principal axes are set of rectangular axes about which moments of inertia (i.e. 2 nd
moments of area) are either maximum or minimum but the product moment of inertia is zero
about the same axes. It is a geometrical property. Axes of symmetry are always the principal
axes but the converse is not necessarily true.

Orientation of principal axes:

In case of a symmetrical section the axes of symmetry are the principal axes but for an
unsymmetrical section we’ve to determine their orientation by using the following relation.

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Note:

Here α is measured positive in C.C.W direction and vice versa.

Here x is longitudinal axis while y and z axes are lying on the cross-sectional plane.

Symmetrical bending:

When loading and deflection are parallel or along the principal axis, the bending is said to be
symmetrical bending or uniaxial bending.

Unsymmetrical bending:

When deflection occurs in more than one plane, the bending is termed as unsymmetrical
bending. Unsymmetrical bending may occur in symmetrical as well as unsymmetrical
sections.

Notes:

a) If load is passing through shear center and acting on principal axis or parallel to it, it will not
cause any torsion and twist but if it is not passing through the shear center although acting on
principal axis or parallel to it, it will cause torsion and twist in the member.
b) If member is set so that loading applied on it will cause only uniaxial bending then the section
is economical, have aesthetics as well as encountering less stresses.

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Bending theory:

Assumptions:

1. The plane sections of the beam remains plane.

2. The material in the beam is homogenous and obeys Hook’s law.
3. The moduli of elasticity for tension and compression are equal.
4. The beam is initially straight and of constant cross section.
5. The plane of loading must contain a principal axis of the beam cross section and the
loads must be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

Bending theory is the relationship:

M = bending moment (generally in N-mm)

I = Second moment of area (mm4)
σ = bending stress (also called flexural stress) in N/mm4
y = distance of fiber form N.A. of cross section to the location at which bending
stress is to be calculated w.r.t. principal axis, measured in mm
E = modulus of elasticity (N/mm2)
R = radius of curvature in mm

Experimental performance settings:

i. Web vertical:

Web of the Z section will be vertical. Load will be applied vertically. Horizontal and vertical
deflections will be measured, if both the deflections are present then there will be bi-axial
bending and if only one deflection is there the Z section will be bending uniaxial.

ii. Web rotated by α:

The web will be rotated by α degree so that one of the principal axis of Z section becomes
horizontal and the other vertical.

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Str. Mech. Lab Job 05 09-CIV-172

Observations and calculations:

Description Observation (mm)

L 1060
bf1 25.65
bf2 25.23
tf1 1.67
tf2 1.98
d 56.22
tw 1.62

For Iz
Sr.# Iz A y A*y2 Iz=Iz+A*y2
mm4 mm2 mm mm4 mm4
1 9.96 42.8355 28.249 34182.99 34192.95
2 16.32 49.9554 -26.146 34150.18 34166.50
3 19613 85.1634 1.129 108.55 19721.55
∑ 88081.00

For IY
Sr.# Iy A z A*z2 IY=Iy+A*z2
mm4 mm2 mm mm4 mm4
1 2348.54 42.8355 12.437 6625.75 8974.29
2 2649.94 49.9554 -11.383 6472.86 9122.80
3 18.63 85.1634 0.422 15.17 33.80
∑ 18130.88

For IYz
Sr.# Iyz A z y A*yz IYz=Iyz+A*yz
mm4 mm2 mm mm mm4 mm4
1 0 42.8355 12.437 28.249 15049.52 15049.52
2 0 49.9554 -11.383 -26.146 14867.72 14867.72
3 0 85.1634 0.422 1.129 40.58 40.58
∑ 29957.81

 α -20.63°

( ) ( )

( ) ( )

( )

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Str. Mech. Lab Job 05 09-CIV-172

Experimental deflections
Setting Load (N) 0N 20 N 40 N 60 N
390 473 558
HDGR* 391.5 476 559 647
393 479 560
ΔZ/ΔH (mm) 0 2.15 4.25 6.49
1
185 250 318
VDGR** 185.5 251.5 319.5 387
186 252 320
ΔY/ΔV (mm) 0 -1.68 -3.40 -5.12
484 489 497
HDGR* 473.5 482 492 502
463 475 487
ΔZ1/ΔH mm 0 0.22 0.47 0.72
2
426 457 491
VDGR** 427.5 459 492 525
429 461 493
ΔY1/ΔV mm 0 0.80 1.64 2.48

Theoretical deflections
Load (P) ΔY1 ΔZ1 ΔY ΔZ
Setting
N mm mm mm mm
0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
20 0.46 1.98 -0.27 1.69
1
40 0.92 3.96 -0.54 3.39
60 1.38 5.95 -0.81 5.08
0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
20 0.49 0.00 0.46 -0.17
2
40 0.98 0.00 0.92 -0.35
60 1.47 0.00 1.38 -0.52
Notes:
* = Horizontal dial gage reading (in divisions of dial gage). L.C. = 0.001”

 1 mm = dial gage divisions*L.C.*25.4

** = Vertical dial gage reading (in divisions of dial gage)

Formulae to calculate theoretical deflections:

Setting No. 1:

Setting No. 2:

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Str. Mech. Lab Job 05 09-CIV-172

Comparison Table
Setting Load P Horizontal deflection Vertical deflection
(N) Th. Def. Exp. Def. % diff. Th. Def. Exp. Def. % diff.
0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1 20 1.69 2.15 27.22 -0.27 -1.68 83.92
40 3.39 4.25 25.37 -0.54 -3.40 84.11
60 5.08 6.49 27.76 -0.81 -5.12 84.17
0 0.00 0.00 - 0.00 0.00 0.00
20 0.00 0.22 - 0.49 0.80 63.27
2
40 0.00 0.47 - 0.98 1.64 67.35
60 0.00 0.72 - 1.47 2.48 68.71

Load deflection curves (setting # 1)

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Load deflection curves (setting # 2)

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Comments:
Referring to the results tabulated in ‘Comparison Table’ on page # 06 of this job;

i. The magnitude of experimentally measured both of the horizontal and vertical

deflections in setting # 01 and the vertical deflections in setting # 02 are higher than
the theoretically calculated ones (the deviation is obvious from G-01, G-02 and G-04,
on page 06 and 07).
ii. Also, experimentally, we’ve got (minor) horizontal deflection readings though these
should be zero according to the theory (the deviation is obvious from G-03, on page #
07).

Both of these deviations from the ideal cases are referred to following reasons:

i. Bending theory is not fully applicable here since the plane of loading neither contains
nor is parallel to any principal axes of the beam cross section. However the loads are
resolved into rectangular components along the vertical and horizontal axes in setting
# 01 and along the principal axes in setting # 02. That’s why the results are not
accurate.
ii. In the bending theory it’s assumed that E compression= E tension. It’s valid for ideal case.
Though it’s true for steel but not 100% true for the steel material we’ve conducted test
on. That’s why our results are deviated from the theoretical ones since the theoretical
value of E is used in computing the experimental deflections.

However ignoring the minor deviation of results from the theoretical ones, we’ve
concluded that loading a beam along principal axis always produces symmetrical
bending.

ϾϿ ϾϿ ϾϿ ϾϿ ϾϿ ϾϿ ϾϿ

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