Beam Deflection Test.

Kangad Devang(ME16BTECH11015)
Jadi Radha Krishna(ME16BTECH11013)
Kale Shubham(ME16BTECH11014)

Aim:
Purpose of this experiment is to study deflection in cantilever beam,beam fixed at
both ends and simply supported beam under point load.
Apparatus:
Aluminium beam, Knife edge, Movable knife edge, Movable deflection indicator,
clamp, Hanger with mass.
Theory:
When perpendicular load is applied on the beam it deflects from its original position
depend upon the direction of load. Deflection at any point in any beam depends upon
this factors
Second moment of area(I),Young’s modulus(E),Moment at that point(M)
Equation giving relation between this factor is
d2y/dx2=M(x)/EI
Formula and Derivation:
1)Cantilever beam.
In this beam support provides force in direction of beam, perpendicular to beam and
moment reaction at that point.

Moment at distance x
M(x)=-Wx
Now,
d2y/dx2=M(x)/EI
d2y/dx2=-Wx/EI
Integrating
dy/dx=-Wx2/2EI+A(A is integrating constant)
Integrating again
y=-Wx3/6EI+Ax+B(B is integrating constant)
Now at x=L,y=dy/dx=0
So A=WL2/2EI , B=-WL3/3EI
So y=-Wx3/6EI+WL2x/2EI-WL3/3EI
Now at x=0 ,
y=-WL3/3EI
2)Simply supported beam
In this support only provide one force normal reaction to the beam.

Moment at distance x
M(x)=Wx/2
d2y/dx2=M(x)/EI
d2y/dx2=Wx/2EI
Integrating
dy/dx=Wx2/4EI+A(A is integratation constant)
Integrating again
y=Wx3/12EI+Ax+B(B is integratation constant)

Now at x=L/2 , dy/dx=0 and at x=0 , y=0

So A=-WL3/16EI , B=0
Now at x=L/2 , y=ymax
y=-WL3/48EI

3)Beam fixed at both ends

This type beam is fixed at both ends so there will be force along the beam,perpendicular
to beam and reaction at point.
M(x)=Wx/2-WL/8
d2y/dx2=M(x)/EI
d2y/dx2= (Wx/2-WL/8) /EI
Integrating
dy/dx=Wx2/4EI-WLx/8+A(A is integratation constant)
Integrating again
y= Wx3/12EI-WLx2/16+Ax+B(B is integratation constant)

Now at x=0 , dy/dx=0 and at x=0 , y=0

So A=0, B=0
Now at x=L/2 , y=ymax
y=-WL3/192EI

Procedure:
a)Cantilever beam
1)Aluminium beam is clamped at one end other end is free.
2)Digital dial is set at middle and is set to zero.
3)Using the load hanger mass is added at centre of beam
4)Deflections are noted using digital dial for different masses
c)Beam Fixed at both ends
1)Aluminium beam is clamped at both ends
2)Digital dial is set at middle and is set to zero.
3)Using the load hanger mass is added at centre of beam
4)Deflections are noted using digital dial for different masses
c)Simply supported beam
1)Aluminium beam is kept on the fixed knife edge and other at movable knife edge.
2)Digital dial is set at middle and is set to zero.
3)Using the load hanger mass is added at centre of beam
4)Deflections are noted using digital dial for different masses.

Table:
Breadth of beam=b=18.9mm
Thickness of beam=h=3.4mm
Young’s modulus of material=E=69GPa
Moment of inertia=62mm4
1)Cantilever beam
Length of cantilever=400mm
Length at we are measuring deflection=200mm
Weight added(gm) Deflection Experimental(mm) Deflection Theoretical(mm)
0 0 0
100 0.86 0.612
200 1.72 1.224
300 2.66 1.836
400 3.5 2.448
500 4.26 3.06

2)Beam fixed at both ends.

Length of beam=600mm
Length at we are measuring deflection=300mm

Theoretical
Mass(gm) Deflection Experimenatal(mm)
Deflection(in mm)

0 0 0
100 0.33 0.26
200 0.63 0.52
300 0.91 0.78

3)Simply supported beam

Length of beam=400mm
Length at we are measuring deflection=200mm
Weight
added(gm) Deflection Experimental(mm) Deflection Theoretical(mm)
0 0 0
100 0.82 0.612
200 1.46 1.224
300 2.12 1.836
400 2.81 2.448
500 3.32 3.06

4)Simply supported beam

Length of beam=200mm
Length at we are measuring deflection=100mm
Weight
added(gm) Deflection Experimental(mm) Deflection Theoretical(mm)
0 0 0
100 0.4 0.3062
200 0.76 0.6124
300 1.14 0.9186
400 1.49 1.2248
500 1.87 1.531

Graph:
Graphs are mass-deflection which will be straight line from deflection formulae. For
comparison theoretical graph and experimental graph both are plotted.
1)Cantilever beam
Deflection at 200mm

Cantilever beam
600

500

400
Mass(gm)

300
Experimental
200
Theretical
100

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
Deflection(mm)

Error in slopes=(experimental –theoritical)/theoretical=(163.4-115.9)/115.9=40.9%

2)Beam Fixed at both ends.

Deflection at 300mm
350
Beam Fixed at both ends
300

250
Mass(gm)

200

150 Experimental
Theoretical
100

50

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Deflection(mm)

Error in slopes=(experimental –theoritical)/theoretical=(384.6-329.58)/384.6=14.3%

3)Simply supported beam
Deflection at 200mm

600 Simply Supported

500

400
Mass(gm)

300

Experimenal
200
Theoretical

100

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Deflection(mm)

Error in slopes=(experimental –theoritical)/theoretical=(163.4-150.3)/163.4=8.07%

4) Simply supported beam
Deflection at 200mm

Simply Supported
600

500

400
Mass(gm)

300

200

100

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
Deflection(mm)

Experimental Theoretical

Error in slopes=(experimental –theoritical)/theoretical=(326.5-269.1)/326.5=17.58%

Observation:
From the experiment we can see that as we increase mass linearly on hanger the
force acting at point increase and deflection of beam increase linearly. Also in simply
supported beam as we halved the length according to results deflections almost halved we
can see that from deflection formulae. And deflection in cantilever beam is higher than
simply supported case.And deflection in both fixed end case is less then both cases.

Precautions:
 Take reading after sometime when you add mass to give beam time to settle.
 Avoid oscillation of weights.
 Place knife edge properly and add weights slowly.
 In cantilever make sure that beam is clamped properly.

Sources of error:
 Instrument error of digital dial.
 The mass might not be accurate.
 In theory we assumed point load but actually that is not the case.
 Fixed support are not completely fixed and free are not completely free.