American University of Madaba

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department
Structural Lab
Experiment No.3
Bending Moment in a Beam
28.Nov.2015

Prepared by:
media abayechi
Sama nuwara
Tala rishiq

Abstract:
To examine how moment force varies at the cut position of the
beam for various loading conditions.

Introduction:
A bending moment is the reaction induced in a structural element
when an external force or moment is applied to the element
causing the element to bend.
The internal reaction loads in a cross-section of the structural
element can be resolved into a resultant force and a resultant
couple. For equilibrium, the moment
created by external forces (and
external moments) must be balanced
by the couple induced by the internal
loads. The resultant internal couple is
called the bending moment while the
resultant internal force is called the
shear force (if it is transverse to the plane of element) or the
normal force (if it is along the plane of the element) [1].
This sign convention approach is valid for simply supported beam.
For cantilever case sign convention is exactly opposite to this.
With these concepts developed, we can easily calculate
distribution of shear force and bending moment along the length
of the beam. We will see few examples.

Scope:

Calculating bending moment in a beam for three load cases.

Apparatus:
1- Hanger loaded with masses
2- Digital Force Display: attached to a Structures
Test Frame.

Procedure:
We loaded the truss three times as follows:
Case 1: Loaded the truss with 1000g
Case 2: Loaded the truss with 1000g
The Shear force readings:
Case 1: force was 3.7 N
Moment = 3.7 N * arm (0.125m) = 0.46 N.m
Case 2: force was 2.8 N
Moment = 2.8 * 0.125 = 0.35 N.m

Calculation:
The Bending Moment at the cut is equal to the algebraic sum
of the moments caused by the forces acting to the left or right of
the cut.

Case 1:
calculate the reactions:
M B =0 ; A y ( 0.44 )( 9.810.58 )

A y =12 . 9 3 N
F y =0; B y +5.29740.81
B y =1.249 N

calculate the bending moment:

M A=0;M ( 0.3 )0.81( 0.14)

M=1.831 N

Case 2:

calculate the reactions:

M A=0; (1.9620.22 ) + ( 3.9240.26 ) + B y (0.44)

B y =3.3 N

F y =0; A y 1.9623.924 +3.3

A y =2.586 N

calculate the bending moment:

M A=0; (1.9620.22 ) + ( 3.9240.26 ) M ( 0.3)

M =4.84 N

Theoretical
shear force
(Nm)

RB

RA

(N)

(N)

Experime

Display

W1

ntal

ed

(N)

bending

Force

moment

(N)

Case

(Nm)
1.8312

1.249

4.84

3.3

5.17
3
2.58
6

0.46

3.7

0.35

2.8

9.81
9.81

1
2

Discussion:
Shear stresses on one side of an element are accompanied by
shear stresses of equal magnitude acting on perpendicular faces
of an element. Thus, there will be horizontal shear stresses
between horizontal layers (fibers) of the beam, as well as,
transverse shear stresses on the vertical cross section. At any
point within the beam these complementary shear stresses are
equal in magnitude[1].

The theoretical measurements were different than the

experimental measurements, the error is:
for case 1:

TheoreticalExperimental
1.83121.75
100=
100
Theoretical
1.8312

4.43

for case 2:
=

4.843.5
100=27.69
4.84

Conclusion:
Thoroughly in structural engineering. From beams to columns
bending moment and shear force decide the size and strength
required for a structural member.

Balance of transverse forces alone does not guarantee

equilibrium of a section. There is another possibility of beam
rotation, if moment acting on it is not balanced. If this is the case
a bending moment will be induced in cross section of beam, to
arrest this rotation. It will be induced as normal forces acting on
fiber cross section.
Resultant of those forces will be zero, but it will produce a
moment, to counter balance the external moment. So we can
calculate moment induced at any cross section by balancing the
external moment acting on the free body diagram[2].

References:
1- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bending_moment
2- http://www.learnengineering.org/2013/08/shear-force-bendingmoment-diagram.html