UJIKAJI 1 : DEFLECTION OF A SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

OBJECTIVE :
To establish the relationship between deflection and applied load and determine the elastic
modulus of the beam specimen from the deflection data.

THEORY :

L/2

The mid-span deflection of a simply supported beam loaded with a load W at mid-span is given
by;

δ= WL3
48 EI

APPARATUS :
The apparatus consists of :
i. A support frame
ii. A pair of pinned support
iii. A load hanger
iv. A dial gauge with 0.01 mm accuracy to measuring deflection
v. Beam specimen with constant depth and width through out its length
vi. A vernier caliper to measure the depth and with of the beam specimen
 vii. A meter ruler or tape measure to measure the span of the beam
viii. A set of weights
PROCEDURE :
1. Bolt the two supports to the support frame using the plate and bolt supplied with the
apparatus. The distance between the two supports should be equal to the span of the beam to
be tested.
2. Remove the load cell if it is still attached to the support. The clamping plates should be able
to rotate freely as in the case of a pinned support.
3. Measure width and depth of specimen and record the readings (take measurement at 3
locations and record the average reading)
4. Place the beam specimen between the clamping plates.
5. Fix the load hanger at the mid-span of the beam.
6. Position the dial gauge at the mid-span of the beam to measure the resulting deflection.
7. Set the dial gauge reading to zero.
8. Place a suitable load on the load hanger.
9. Record the resulting dial gauge reading.
10. Increase the load on the load hanger.
11. Repeat step 8 and 9 for a few more load increments
12. Record the resulting dial gauge reading for Decreasing Load.

RESULTS :
Span of tested beam, L = mm
Width of beam specimen, b = mm
Depth of beam specimen, d = mm
Second Area Moment of beam specimen, I (bd3/12) = mm4
Dial gauge reading, 1 div = 0.01 mm
Table 1
Experimental Deflection
Applied Theoretical
Increasing Decreasing Average Deflection
Load
Deflection (mm)
(N) div mm div mm
(mm)

1. Using the tabulated data in Table 1, plot the graph of load verses experimental deflection.
2. Draw the best fit curve through the plotted point and hence deduce the relationship between
the applied load and the resulting mid span deflection.
3. Calculate the Modulus of Elasticity using the experimental slope of the graph obtained
assuming a linear relationship between load and deflection as shown below.

L3 W
E=
48 I δ
Or,
E= L3
48 I * Experimental slope of the load vs
deflection curve

DISCUSSION :
1. From this experiment what is the relationship between the applied load and the resulting
displacement.
2. What does the slope of the graph represents and how does it varies in relation to the load
position.
3. How does the experimental result differs with the theoretical in terms of accuracy. Briefly
explain the probable cause of errors and how can it be overcome.