DATA ACQUISITION

1. Condition 1: fixed-fixed

Specimen Dimensions
Length (cm) Width, b Thickness, Moment Le = 0.5L
(mm) h (mm) inertia, I (mm)
(mm4)
Brass 59 25.17 3.43 84.64 295
E = 70GPa
Aluminium 60 24.75 3.09 60.85 300
E = 145GPa
Steel 59 25.37 2.45 31.09 295
E = 205GPa

 Specimen: Brass

Load, P (N) Mid span Mid span d/P (mm/N)

deflection, d deflection, d
(division) (mm)
20 3 0.03 0.0015
40 10 0.1 0.0025
60 17 0.17 0.0028
80 25 0.25 0.0031
100 32 0.32 0.0032
120 40 0.4 0.0033
140 45 0.45 0.0032
160 55 0.55 0.0034
180 65 0.65 0.0036
200 73 0.73 0.0037
 Specimen: Steel

Load, P (N) Mid span Mid span d/P (mm/N)

deflection, d deflection, d
(division) (mm)
20 1 0.01 5 x 10-4
40 2 0.02 5 x 10-4
60 3 0.03 5 x 10-4
80 4 0.04 5 x 10-4
100 5 0.05 5 x 10-4
120 6 0.06 5 x 10-4
140 7 0.07 5 x 10-4
160 8 0.08 5 x 10-4
180 9 0.09 5 x 10-4
200 11 0.11 5.5 x 10-4

 Specimen: Aluminium

Load, P (N) Mid span Mid span d/P (mm/N)

deflection, d deflection, d
(division) (mm)
20 4 0.04 2.00 x 10-3
40 10 0.10 2.50 x 10-3
60 15 0.15 2.50 x 10-3
80 21 0.21 2.63 x 10-3
100 28 0.28 2.80 x 10-3
120 33 0.33 2.75 x 10-3
140 46 0.46 3.29 x 10-3
160 52 0.52 3.25 x 10-3
180 58 0.58 3.22 x 10-3
200 71 0.71 3.55 x 10-3
Graph and Analysis

 Brass

deflection vs d/p
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0.0015 0.0025 0.0028 0.0031 0.0032 0.0033 0.0032 0.0034 0.0036 0.0037

Theoretical value
Percentage error
π2 EI theretical−experimental
Pcr = = X 100
Le2 theoretical
π2 (70X103 ) (84.642)
= 671.95−375
2952 = X 100
671.95
= 671.95 N
= 44.19 %
Experimental value

From the graph, determine the slope of the line

𝑌
Slope of the line = 𝑋2−1
2−1
0.4 − 0.1
= 0.0033−0.0025

= 375 N
  Steel

deflection vs d/p
0.12

0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
5X 5X 5X 5X 5X

Theoretical value
Percentage error
π2 EI theoretical−experimental
Pcr = = X 100
Le2 theoretical
π2 (205X103 ) (31.09)
= =
722.82−0
X 100
2952
722.82
= 722.82 N
= 100 %
Experimental value

From the graph, determine the slope of the line

𝑌
Slope of the line = 𝑋2−1
2−1
0.09 − 0.02
= 5 X10−4 − 5 X10−4

=0N
  Aluminium

deflection vs d/p
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
2X 2.5 X 2.5 X 2.63 X 2.8 X

Theoretical value
Percentage error
π2 EI theoretical−experimental
Pcr = = X 100
Le2 theoretical
π2 (145X103 ) (60.85)
= 967.58−597.22
3002 = X 100
967.58
= 967.58 N
= 38.28 %
Experimental value

From the graph, determine the slope of the line

𝑌
Slope of the line = 𝑋2−1
2−1
0.58 − 0.15
= 3.22 X10−3 − 2.5 X10−3

= 597.22 N
2. Condition 2: fixed-pinned

Specimen Dimensions
Length (cm) Width, b Thickness, Moment Le = 0.5L
(mm) h (mm) inertia, I (mm)
(mm4)
Brass 59 25.17 3.43 84.64 413
E = 70GPa
Aluminium 60 24.75 3.09 60.85 420
E = 145GPa
Steel 59 25.37 2.45 31.09 413
E = 205GPa

 Specimen: Brass

Load, P (N) Mid span Mid span d/P (mm/N)

deflection, d deflection, d
(division) (mm)
120 8 0.08 6.67 x 10-4
140 14 0.14 1.00 x 10-3
160 19 0.19 1.19 x 10-3
180 27 0.27 1.50 x 10-3
200 40 0.40 2.00 x 10-3
220 53 0.53 2.41 x 10-3
240 110 1.10 4.58 x 10-3

 Specimen: Steel

Load, P (N) Mid span Mid span d/P (mm/N)

deflection, d deflection, d
(division) (mm)
120 94.5 0.945 0.00788
140 123.5 1.235 0.00882
160 164 1.640 0.01025
180 204 2.040 0.01133
200 252 2.520 0.01260
220 346 3.460 0.01573
240 419 4.190 0.01746
  Specimen: Aluminium

Load, P (N) Mid span Mid span d/P (mm/N)

deflection, d deflection, d
(division) (mm)
100 162 1.62 0.0162
120 236 2.36 0.0197
140 342 3.42 0.0244
160 506 5.06 0.0316
180 893 8.93 0.0496
200 1389 13.89 0.0695

Graph and Analysis

 Brass

deflection vs d/p
1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
6.667 X 1X 1.188 X 1.5 X

Theoretical value Percentage error

π2 EI
Pcr = Le2 theoretical−experimental
π2 (70X103 ) (84.642) = X 100
= theoretical
4132 342.83−278.46
= X 100
= 342.83 N 342.83
= 18.78 %
Experimental value

From the graph, determine the slope of the line

𝑌
Slope of the line = 𝑋2−1
2−1
0.53 − 0.19
= 2.409 X10−3 − 1.188 X10−3

= 278.46 N
  Steel

deflection vs d/p
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0.00788 0.00882 0.01025 0.01133 0.0126 0.01573 0.01746

Theoretical value Percentage error

theoretical−experimental
π2 EI = X 100
Pcr = theoretical
Le2
356.59−353.68
π2 (205X103 ) (31.09) = X 100
= 356.59
4202
= 356.59 N = 0.816 %

Experimental value

From the graph, determine the slope of the line

𝑌2−1
Slope of the line =
𝑋2−1
4.19 −1.64
=
0.01746−0.01025

= 353.68 N
  Aluminium

deflection vs d/p
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0.0162 0.0197 0.0244 0.0316 0.0496 0.0695

Theoretical value
Percentage error
π2 EI theoretical−experimental
Pcr = = X 100
Le2 theoretical
π2 (145X103 ) (60.85) 510.54−223.38
= = X 100
4132 510.54
= 510.54 N = 56.25 %
Experimental value

From the graph, determine the slope of the line

𝑌2−1
Slope of the line =
𝑋2−1
5.06−1.62
=
0.0316−0.0162

= 223.38 N
3. Condition 3: pinned-pinned

Specimen Dimensions
Length (cm) Width, b Thickness, Moment Le = 0.5L
(mm) h (mm) inertia, I (mm)
(mm4)
Brass 59 25.17 3.43 84.64 590
E = 70GPa
Aluminium 60 24.75 3.09 60.85 600
E = 145GPa
Steel 59 25.37 2.45 31.09 590
E = 205GPa

 Specimen: Brass

Load, P (N) Mid span Mid span d/P (mm/N)

deflection, d deflection, d
(division) (mm)
10 25 0.25 0.025
20 76 0.76 0.038
30 163 1.63 0.054
40 299 2.99 0.075

 Specimen: Steel

Load, P (N) Mid span Mid span d/P (mm/N)

deflection, d deflection, d
(division) (mm)
30 5 0.05 0.0017
40 8 0.08 0.0020
50 23 0.23 0.0046
60 42 0.42 0.0070
70 62 0.62 0.0089
80 82 0.82 0.0103
90 105 1.05 0.0117
100 122 1.22 0.0122
110 175 1.75 0.0159
120 225 2.25 0.0188
  Specimen: Aluminium

Load, P (N) Mid span Mid span d/P (mm/N)

deflection, d deflection, d
(division) (mm)
20 20 0.20 0.0100
40 86 0.86 0.0215
60 235 2.35 0.0392
80 338 3.38 0.0423

Graph and Analysis

 Brass

deflection vs d/p
3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0.025 0.038 0.054 0.075

Theoretical value
Percentage error
π2 EI theoretical−experimental
Pcr = = X 100
Le2 theoretical
π2 (70X103 ) (84.642) 167.99−54.8
= = 167.99
X 100
5902
= 167.99 N = 67.38 %
Experimental value

From the graph, determine the slope of the line

𝑌2−1
Slope of the line =
𝑋2−1
2.99−0.25
=
0.075−0.025

= 54.8 N
  Steel

deflection vs d/p
2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0.0017 0.002 0.0046 0.007 0.0089 0.0103 0.0117 0.0122 0.0159 0.0188

Theoretical value Percentage error

theoretical−experimental
π2 EI = X 100
Pcr = theoretical
Le2
180.71−134.04
π2 (205X103 ) (31.09) = X 100
= 180.71
5902
= 180.71 N = 25.82 %

Experimental value

From the graph, determine the slope of the line

𝑌2−1
Slope of the line =
𝑋2−1
1.05−0.42
=
0.0117−0.007

= 134.04 N
  Aluminium

deflection vs d/p
4

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0.01 0.0215 0.0392 0.0423

Theoretical value
Percentage error
π2 EI theretical−experimental
Pcr = = X 100
Le2 theoretical
π2 (145X103 ) (60.85) 341.89−98.45
= = X 100
6002 241.89
= 241.89 N = 59.30 %
Experimental value

From the graph, determine the slope of the line

𝑌2−1
Slope of the line =
𝑋2−1
3.38−0.2
=
0.0423−0.01

= 98.45 N

DISCUSSION

DISCUSSION :

The percentage error in each experiment are slightly different. There

were 3 condition in this experiment which is pinned-pinned , pinned-fixed
and fixed-fixed. There are error between the theoretical and the
 experimental value. For pinned-pinned, in Experiment 1(brass),
Experiment 2(steel) and Experiment 3 (aluminium) which are 67.38%,
25.82% and 59.3%. while for pinned-fixed, in Experiment 1(brass),
Experiment 2(steel) and Experiment 3 (aluminium) which are 67.38%,
25.82% and 59.3%. Reduction of this error would be achieved by
repeating the experiment three or more times also using a more sensitive
dial.

The percentage error in each experiment are slightly different. There are
error between the theoretical and the experimental value in Experiment
1, Experiment 2 and Experiment 3 which are 3.08%, 5.43% and 67.53%.
Reduction of this error would be achieved by repeating the experiment
three or more times also using a more sensitive dial.

 Parallax error may occur in this experiment. The recorded measurement

may vary due to the position of the students’ eyes (not perpendicular to
the reading) when measuring the mid-span deflection.

 Slight error could happen if the equipment is not calibrated properly. For
an example of this experiment, buckling of strut equipment used to
measure buckling load could be one. If any of the equipment is off, the
experiment may lose accuracy and precision and create a small error.

 Having the same person do the readings would minimize the human
error of reading the measurements. Highly recommended to complete
the lab with patience. Perhaps with more time and patience, the data
may have been collected more precisely and accurately.