Lab # 6

Deflection of Beams

Prepared for:

Mohamed Sabry Zeidan, CEE 307L

Department of Civil Engineering

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Prepared By:

Farid Najand

Date Laboratory Performed: 4-14-2011

Date Submitted: 4-21-2011

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 Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables………………………………………………2

Abstract……………………………………………………………...…. 3
Introduction…………………………………………………………….. 3
Procedures……………………………………………………………….4
Materials…………………………………………………………………4
Equations………………………………………………………………...4
Results…………………………………………………………………...5

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Abstract
The object of this lab is to establish a linear relationship between the buckling load (Pcr)
and the length of the strut/column for different end conditions. We then compare the
experimental Pcr value; which is obtained experimentally with the equation used, with
the theoretical value obtained from the sloped of the graphed data. The axially loaded
column will be tested for stability as long as the applied load does not exceed the critical
load. To STR6 was used to perform the experiment and data was recorded, calculations
will be made to determine Pcr, 1/(L^2) and moment of inertia.

Introduction
In engineering, buckling is referred to as some mathematical instability, which leads to
failure. In practice, it is characterized by a failure in a structural member under
compressive strength. The system will remain stable as long as the applied load is smaller
than the Euler Buckling (Pcr). A stable system will return to equilibrium once the load is
removed; whereas a non-stable system will result in column bending and ultimate failure.
The equation used to find this critical load (Pcr) is..

Pcr = n2π2EI
L2

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Procedures

 The first step of this lab was performing all the dimension measurements we need
from the Aluminum column specimens. Using electronic calipers we recorded the
width, height, and length for each of the five specimens.
 Using the dimension measurements and the known Modulus of Elasticity for
Aluminum (69 Gpa) we were right away able to calculate what our theoretical
critical loads for each specimen should be for each boundary condition.
 Next, each specimen was mounted into the strut machine loaded under each
boundary condition. Every specimen was loaded when under the fixed-fixed,
fixed-pinned, and pinned-pinned boundary condition.
 The loading for each condition was increased to the point where the column
buckled, and that was the loading measurement we recorded for that given
specimen.
 Having recorded all the experimental critical loads for the five specimens we
compared the experimental values to the theoretical.

Materials Needed

1. A Strut Machine (to load the column specimens)

2. Five Aluminum Specimens (Gpa 69) of varying length
3. Tape Measure
4. Electronic Calipers
5. Calculator

Equations

Here are the equations we used to calculate the specimen columns’ Pcr values as
well as percentage differences between the experimental and theoretical values.

Euler Buckling / Critical Loading Equation

Pcr – Euler Buckling Value (N)

n – constant value dependent on the boundary conditions
E – Modulus of Elasticity
I – Moment of Inertia
n2 π 2 EI
P cr = 2
L

Percent Difference / Error

( Expected Results−Experimental Results )

% Difference= ∗100 %
Expected Results

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 Results

LengthMeasure
ments L(mm) 1/L2
Pinned- Pinned- Fixed- Pinned- Pinned- Fixed-
Specimen Pinned Fixed Fixed Pinned Fixed Fixed
0.00000976 0.0000111 0.000012
1 320 300 280 6 1 7
0.00000730
2 370 350 330 5    
0.00000566 0.0000062 0.000006
3 420 400 380 9 5 9
0.00000452
4 470 450 430 7    
0.00000369 0.0000040 0.000004
5 520 500 480 8 0 3
Table 1.1 Length measurements and 1/L^2 calculation

Buckling
Load Pcr (experimental) Pcr (theoretical)
Pinned- Pinned- Fixed- Pinned- Pinned- Fixed-
Specimen Pinned Fixed Fixed Pinned Fixed Fixed
1 83 199 395 86.81956898 197.503088 453.58795
2 55     78.4377905    
3 44 105 221 48.09168038 106.010130 234.99646
4 34     41.47160174    
5 31 61 128 35.22216454 76.1695761 165.34849
Table 1.2 Experimental and theoretical critical loads

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 Pinned-Pinned Pinned-Fixed Fixed-Fixed
E (Mpa) 69000 69000 69000
n 1 1.414 2
 

Dimensions b=19.88 h=1.99  

Specimen 5 Specimen 4 Specimen 3 Specimen 2 Specimen 1

I 13.05552568 13.05552568 13.05552568

L 320 300 280
Pcr 86.81956898 197.5030886 453.5879522
Dimensions b=19.86 h=2.12  
I 15.76905184 15.76905184 15.76905184
L 370 350 330
Pcr 78.4377905 175.2635201 394.4218005
Dimensions b=18.97 h=1.99  
I 12.45791359 12.45791359 12.45791359
L 420 400 380
Pcr 48.09168038 106.0101305 234.9964659
Dimensions b=19.88 h=2.01  
I 13.45312899 13.45312899 13.45312899
L 470 450 430
Pcr 41.47160174 90.45244621 198.1844635
Dimensions b=19.886 h=2.036  
I 13.98619278 13.98619278 13.98619278
L 520 500 480
Pcr 35.22216454 76.16957618 165.3484947

Table 1.3 List of P values