Deflection of Beam Lab Report (Simply Supported Beam)

To understand the deflection of beam

Objective of deflection of beam lab report

1. Learn basic working of beam

2. Perform theoretical calculation for deflection of beam

3. Perform series of experiment with different material, shapes and load  for beam

4. Compare the result and Discuss the finding

Introduction to deflection of beam

Load supporting element in any structure that is installed in horizontal direction and take load perpendicular to its length is called a beam.  

Based on the way it is installed in structure, beam can be classified in to four main types. 

First simply supported beam which have supports at its both ends, second is overhanging beam which have length extended over its supports, third is overhanging beam which have more than two supports and fourth is cantilever beam which fixed only at one end and other end is free. 

There are three basic types of supports available for beams which includes fixed ends support, pined connection support and roller end support. From these three types any two types can be used to support single beam. 

When load is applied on beam, its produce bending moment in beam by apply shear force across its cross section area. Beam reacts against this bending moment and shear force according to its moment of inertia. 

Moment of inertia of beam is its shape dependent property which shows the beam ability to resist bending moment applied on it. Another factor which help beam to resist bending is modulus of elasticity of beam. 

It’s the material related property of beam which defines the strain produce when a certain load is applied on it. Moment of inertia of beam and modulus of elasticity of beam material when combine define the beam reaction against the bending moment due to applied load. 

Another factor which affects the working of beam is its length. Greater the length of beam greater will be the bending moment produce due to external load. 

Experimental Procedure of deflection of beam

1. Selection one material from the four different material available and after that select the shape on which experiment will be conducted

2. Note down the materials Modulus of elasticity and moment of inertia of the selected shape 

3. Select the number of weights and magnitude of each weight.

4. Fix the position of application of load

5. Use all the above information to find the reaction of beam theoretically

6. Use the information available to form the moment equation of beam

7. Use the moment equation of beam in Macaulay theory to drive the equation of slope and deflection

8. Use Equation of deflection to find the deflection of beam due to load at certain positions

9. Place the selected beam on apparatus and attach weight hanger and deflection measuring instrument

10. Apply load on beam by placing weight on hangers 

11. Note the deflection of beam on selected points

12. Compare the theoretical and experimental results

13. Repeat the procedure for four different beams

 

 

Results of deflection of beam lab report

beam 1
material		Aluminum
position of left support		500mm
position of right support		1200mm
load 1 (N)		10 N
position of load 1		250mm
load 2		X
position of load 2		X
Distance along length	EXP Deflection in mm	Calculation deflection mm
X	y	y
500	-0.03	0.00
600	-1.41	-1.54
700	-2.57	-2.90
800	-3.21	-3.93
900	-3.14	-3.93
1000	-2.37	-2.90
1100	-1.28	-1.54
1200	-0.02	0.00

beam 2
material		Aluminum
position of left support		500mm
position of right support		1200mm
load 1 (N)		10N
position of load 1		750mm
load 2		10N
position of load 2		950mm
Distance along length	Deflection in mm	Calculation deflection mm
X	y
500	-0.03	0.00
600	-2.31	-1.76
700	-4.26	-3.16
800	-5.45	-3.88
900	-5.51	-3.73
1000	-4.4	-2.72
1100	-2.44	-1.01
1200	-0.01	0.00

beam 3
material		Brass
position of left support		500mm
position of right support		1200mm
load 1 (N)		22 N
position of load 1		850mm
load 2 (n)		X
position of load 2		X
Distance along length	EXP Deflection in mm	Calculation deflection mm
X	Y
500mm	-0.01	0.00
600mm	-4.75	-4.58
700mm	-8.65	-8.40
800mm	-11.11	-10.71
900mm	-11.27	-10.71
1000mm	-9.02	-8.40
1100mm	-4.86	-4.58
1200mm	-0.02	0.00

Beam 4
material		steel
position of left support		500mm
position of right support		1200mm
load 1 (N)		1.16 N
position of load 1		750mm
load 2 (n)		1.16 N
position of load 2		950mm
Distance along length	EXP Deflection in mm	Calculation deflection mm
X	Y
500	0	0.00
600	-5.43	-4.61
700	-9.95	-8.30
800	-12.82	-10.17
900	-12.84	-9.78
1000	-10.3	-7.12
1100	-5.6	-2.64
1200	-0.02	0.00

Discussion on deflection of beam

From the experimental and theoretical calculation made above it can be concluded that theoretical values are always less than the experimental values. 

This is because theoretical values are made with ideal cases ignoring many facts of real life, like damaged apparatus, human error and human/machine limitations. 

Other facts which can be concluded, the increase in modulus of elasticity of beam decrease deflection and similar to that increase in moment of inertia of beam decreases the deflection. Different material act differently during experiment.

Conclusion on deflection of beam

The aim of this lab work to study the deflection of beam has been completed successfully and four different experiments have been conducted on three different materials with four different shapes. 

At the end of this lab work it can be concluded that increase in modulus of elasticity and moment of inertia decreases the deflection where increase in number of loads, magnitude of load and distance of load from ends increase the deflection of beam. 

Each beam show deflection based on its modulus of elasticity and moment of inertia. It also can be concluded that experimental values of deflection are always greater than calculated values.