Cantilever Beam Investigation

Denny Moran Clayton Roe Hunter Heathcoat

Abstract
For this experiment several cantilever beams were tested on how much they would deflect. The beams were clamped down and then loaded with weight. The beams were tested using two different cross sectional areas one on the flat side and then on the thin side. The results that were achieved from this were the more material on the beam the less the beam deflected.

Table of Contents

Title page......................................................1 Abstract............................................2 Table of Contents.............................3 List of Figures..................................4 Nomenclature...................................5 Objective..........................................5 Introduction......................................5 Theory..............................................5 Experimental Procedure...................6 Results of Summary.........................6 Discussion........................................7 Conclusions......................................7 References........................................7

List of Figures

Experimental Data Table 1...................6 Experimental Data Table 2...................7

Nomenclature

P= Concentrated load applied at the tip of the beam L = Length of the beam E = Modulus of Elasticity (EAL = 10 Mpsi) I = Area moment of inertia about the axis of bending ( b = dimension parallel to the axis of bending h = dimension perpendicular to the axis of bending [1] )

Objective
The objective for this experiment was to test the deflection of five different beams with different rectangular cross-sections.

Introduction
The nature of the work being done is for the mechanics of materials on a cantilever beam. The problem that is being investigated is how much a beam will deflect under a specific load. The reason for testing this is to see how a beam of certain thickness will behave when used for construction. The general approach is to take a beam and load it with a specific weight and measure its deflection.

Theory
The theory behind this experiment is that a loaded beam will behave under the formula, , where: P= Concentrated load applied at the tip of the beam L = Length of the beam

E = Modulus of Elasticity (EAL = 10 Mpsi) I = Area moment of inertia about the axis of bending ( b = dimension parallel to the axis of bending h = dimension perpendicular to the axis of bending [1] )

Experimental Procedure
The procedure behind this experiment was to c clamp one end of the beam to a table and then put weights at the free end. For the first run the bar was placed with the wide side parallel to the ground. Next was to measure the distance from the end of the table to the free end of the bar. After this the height from the free end to the floor was measured. Next twenty and one hundred Newtons were placed at the free end the bar respectively. The height from the tip of the bar to floor was remeasured and written down. The deflection is the difference in height between the unloaded and loaded beam. The experiment was then repeated with the thin side parallel to the ground.

Results of Summary
This is the data from the first run through. Width is the width of the bar facing the floor. W-1 is the width raised to the negative first. Y-1 is the height with no load. Y-2 is the height with the load. Deflection is the difference between Y-1 and Y-2. All units are in millimeters except for width is in inches.
Bar 1 2 3 4 5 Width 0.75 1 1.5 2 2.5 W-1 Y-1 0.0524 0.0396 0.0262 0.0196 0.0158 Y-2 604 602 607 607 608 497 520 564 567 576 Deflection 107 82 43 40 32

Experimental data table 1 This is the data from the second run through. Width is the width of the bar facing the floor. W-1 is the width raised to the negative third. Y-1 is the height with no load. Y-2 is the height with the load. Deflection is the difference between Y-1 and Y-2. All units are in millimeters except for width is in inches.

Bar 1 2 3 4 5

Width W-3 1.44*10^-4 6.2*10^-5 1.8*10^-5 7.53*10^-6 3.94*10^-6

Y-1 591 594 593 594 591 591 594 593 594 591

Y-2 502 547 570 574 575

Deflection 89 47 23 20 16

Experimental data table 2

Discussion
The results seamed typical. For both run through the thicker the beam got the less deflection occurred. The uncertainty of the caliper was .03mm,the meter stick was .5mm, and the uncertainty of the weight was .5%.

Conclusion
The conclusion to this experiment is that as more material is added to the bar the less deflection it will have.

References [1] Experimental Methods Laboratory Handout Week 04 - Cantilevered Beam Investigation Spring 2011