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1.105 Solid Mechanics Laboratory Fall 2003: Experiment 6 The Linear, Elastic Behavior of A Beam

This experiment studied the linear elastic behavior of beams under four-point bending. Three aluminum beam specimens - an I-beam and a rectangular beam tested in two orientations - were loaded and their deflections, strains, and stiffnesses were measured and compared to beam theory. The results showed that the I-beam was stiffer than the rectangular beam as expected due to its greater second moment of area. Deflections increased linearly with load and strains followed the predictions of beam theory for pure bending.

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Rohit Sarode
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58 views

1.105 Solid Mechanics Laboratory Fall 2003: Experiment 6 The Linear, Elastic Behavior of A Beam

This experiment studied the linear elastic behavior of beams under four-point bending. Three aluminum beam specimens - an I-beam and a rectangular beam tested in two orientations - were loaded and their deflections, strains, and stiffnesses were measured and compared to beam theory. The results showed that the I-beam was stiffer than the rectangular beam as expected due to its greater second moment of area. Deflections increased linearly with load and strains followed the predictions of beam theory for pure bending.

Uploaded by

Rohit Sarode
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.105 Solid Mechanics Laboratory


Fall 2003
Experiment 6

The linear, elastic behavior of a Beam

The objectives of this experiment are

Toexperimentallystudythelinearelastic
behaviorofbeamsunderfourpointbending.
Tocomparethestiffnessofbeamsofthesame
lengthandcrosssectionalareabuthaving
differentprofiles.

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15

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Tomeasuretheextensionalstraininthetop
andbottomfibersofthebeamspecimensand
comparewiththepredictionofengineeringbeam
theory.
Each beam specimen, made of Aluminum and 24 inches long, will be simply supported at its
ends and loaded at two points symmetrically disposed with respect to midspan, each 3 inches off
center. This four point bending produces pure bending (no shear) over the midspan section.
Two dial gages will be employed, one to measure midspan deflection, the other will be positioned
to measure vertical displacement roughly half the distance between midspan and one of the ends.
Two strain gages are mounted on the top and on the bottom at midspan. The beams will be
loaded using dead weights as in the previous experiment. You will compare bending strain and
beam stiffness to theory.

Beam Specimens

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The figure below shows a beam specimen under four point bending. To the right we show the
cross sections of the two Aluminum specimens. The material is 6061-T6 as is clearly indicated on
the beams sides.
The two have the same cross sectional area as you can verify.
Measure all the relevant dimensions, e.g., the length of the span between the supports, all crosssection dimensions, the location of the two load points relative to the supports.

You will test the I beam in one orientation, as indicated in the figure. You will test the beam with
rectangular cross section in two orientations - in the orientation indicated in the figure and with the
beam lying flat on the supports. You will make a total of three runs minimum. Multiple runs are
suggested, especially with the first specimen, to acclimate yourself to the beams behavior and
instrumentation performance.

Proceedure - Instrumentation Setup


Before placing a specimen on the end supports, mark off two points, three inches to the left and
right of the end of one of the two mid span strain gages. This end of the gage, away from the
leads, will become the midspan point. Mark both the top and bottom flanges at these load points.

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Position the specimen (we will first test the I beam) so that a dial gage can be positioned at midspan without resting on the strain gage but as close as possible to the end of the gage away from
the leads and adjust the end supports so that this point is truly midspan.
Loop the thin cables with eye hook ends over the beam at the two symmetrically disposed loading
points, three inches off center.

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Connect the cables to the horizontal bar below the test bed with s hooks. Let this be your no
load condition. (Before hooking up the bucket).
Position the dial gages as indicated in the figure on the previous page.

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Connect the strain gages to the terminals on the circuit board as per the figure below. You will
note that one of the leads of one of the gages is soldered to one of the leads of the other gage.
Only three terminals on the board are used in this experiment and they are to be connected as
shown in the figure. (See appendix for the bridge circuit layout).

-10 v
V- op amp supply

(bridge output)

op-amp

e1

eo op amp
output

e2
V+ op amp supply
+10 v

V bridge supply
+10 v

gage #1 input
gage #2 input

bridge
pot

amp
pot

open

With the power supply disconnected from the circuit board, set the +20v supply to +10v and
verify that the - 20v supply is set to -10v (with the full tracking nob turned all the way clockwise).
Turn off the power supply.

Connect the +10v supply leads to the two terminals as indicated in the figure. Connect the
common and the -10v supply to the two terminals also as indicated in the figure.

Turn on the power supply and, with the Digital Multimeter, check the voltages at the strain gage
input terminals. One should read +10v, another approximately +5v and the third should read 0v.
Balance the bridge.

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Null the amplifier.


Calibrate the amplifier by resetting the bridge balancing pot so that the output of the bridge (which
is the input to the amplifier) is on the order of 10 mv, then measure the output of the amplifier to
obtain the gain.
Repeat this for a bridge output of approximately 20mv.

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Balance the bridge and null the amplifier.


Press down lightly on the beam to verify setup. Op amp output should be on the order of 10 mv.

Proceedure - Loading Sequence


Weigh the bucket and other supporting hardware still to be attached.
Now load the I beam specimen but do not exceed 50 lbs. total.

Take data while unloading too.


Be sure too note any drift in the op-amp output and estimate uncertainties in all measured quantities.

Now position the beam of rectangular cross-section so that the long dimension of the cross-section is vertical.
Load the specimen but again, do not exceed 50 lbs. total.
Repeat if you deem worthwhile.
Now position the beam of rectangular cross-section flat on the supports, so that the short dimension of the cross-section is vertical.

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You need not record the strain-gage output. (But note any interesting output).
Load the specimen.
but do not exceed 30

lbs. total.

When done, turn off the power supply but leave all connections as is.

Report
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Start with a one paragraph executive summary of the purpose, the method, the results of the lab
tests.
Include a short section on experiment proceedure which, rather than reproduce the steps set out
above, makes note of any particular difficulties you encountered and how you managed to overcome them. Included in this section your op-amp calibration data and your calculation of amplifier
gain.
In your section on "results", you will compare experiment with engineering beam theory. The relationships summarized in the Appendix will allow you to deduce and evaluate:

Thebendingstiffness,EI
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Thebendingmoment,hencethenormalstress,
hencetheextensionalstrainatthetopand
bottomofthebeams.
Thedeflectionasafunctionofthegeometry
andbendingstiffness.

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Include then in your results:

Aplotofdisplacementversusloadforeachof
thethreebeamspecimens.1We consider the two orientations of the beam of rectangular
1 We consider the two orientations of the beam of rectangular cross-section as two different beam speci-

cross-section as two different beam specimens.

mens.

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