[LABORATOR

RY WORK SH
HEET 2:
SCE 4121 Structural Mechanics BEAM
B SHEAR
R AND BEND
DING MOMEENT]

Laborato
ory Work Sh
heet 2

Part 1

Experime
ent: Beam-S
Shear Force

Objective
es:

1. To obbserve and understand

u the
t action off a shear in a beam.
2. To measure
m the shear
s force at a normal section of a loaded bea
am and to ch
heck it agree
ement
with theory.
t

Apparatu
us:

Hi-Tech HST.1/10 Sttructures Ap

pparatus

Theory:

Considerr the vertical equilibrium of the left part of the be

eam if it is cu
ut by a sectio
on at X.

X P

A B

RA X RB

There mu ce Vx acting within the material

ust be a forc m of the
e beam such
h that

Vx = R A

P
Vx
A B

X X
RA RB

1 Technologiccal and Higher Education In

nstitute of Hoong Kong (Theei)
Faculty of Science and Te
echnology | Civil
C Engineerring
 [LABORATOR
RY WORK SH
HEET 2:
SCE 4121 Structural Mechanics BEAM
B SHEAR
R AND BEND
DING MOMEENT]

ental Proced
Experime dure:

1. Set up
u the beam AB with a span of 900m mm as shown n in Fig.1.
2. Placee one hange er at 100mm m from suppport A, the ssecond hang ger in the groove just to the
right of the shearr section C (3310mm fromm A) and the e third hangeer at 400mm from suppo ort B.
3. Use the
t tensionin ng adjustments on the underslung sspring and th he spring balance to alig
gn the
two parts
p of the beam. The e spring balance readin ng should be recorded as the ‘no load’
reading in Table 1.
4. Placee a 10N we eight on the third hande er (400mm ffrom support B) and re e-align the bbeam
usingg the tension
ning adjustm ments and the
e spring bala ance. Recorrd the spring
g balance forrce in
Tablee 1.
5. Move e the weight to the first and
a second hangers
h in tu
urn repeating the proceddure.
6. Repe eat the wholee procedure using a 20 N weight.

aboratory settup for meassuring beam

Fig 1a. La m shear

Fig 1b. Hi-Tech

H HST
T.1/10 Strucctures Apparratus

2 Technologiccal and Higher Education In

nstitute of Hoong Kong (Theei)
Faculty of Science and Te
echnology | Civil
C Engineerring
 [LABORATORY WORK SHEET 2:
SCE 4121 Structural Mechanics BEAM SHEAR AND BENDING MOMENT]

Results:

By subtracting the ‘no load’ value from each spring balance reading, the shear force at C is
found.

Load on Third Load on Second Load on First

hanger hanger Hanger
0N 10 N 20 N 0N 10 N 20 N 0N 10 N 20 N
Spring
Balance
Force
Shear Force
- - -
at C

Discussion of Results

1. For each loading arrangement, calculate the shear force at the section C and draw the
shear force diagram for the beam.
2. Compare with the theoretical and experimental results of the shear force. Comment on the
accuracy of the experiment and make suggestion to improve the experimental setup.

3 Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (Thei)

Faculty of Science and Technology | Civil Engineering
 [LABORATORY WORK SHEET 2:
SCE 4121 Structural Mechanics BEAM SHEAR AND BENDING MOMENT]

Laboratory Work Sheet 2

Part 2

Experiment: Beam-Bending Moment

Objectives:

1. To comprehend the action of the moment of resistance within the beam.

2. To measure the bending moment at a normal section of a loaded beam and to compare it
with the theoretical value.

Apparatus:

Hi-Tech HST.1/11 Structures Apparatus

Theory:

Consider a beam resting on supports at A and B and supporting a load P. If the beam is cut by a
vertical section XX, each part must be in equilibrium. Neglecting the self-weight of the beam,
any extra forces acting on left part to preserve equilibrium must be transmitted from right part
across the section XX, and vice versa. Also the action of left part on right part must be equal
and opposite to that of right part to left part.

P
X
A B

RA X RB

To eliminate the action of Vx on the left part, we may take moment about X. Take counter-
clockwise moment as positive:

∙ 0

4 Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (Thei)

Faculty of Science and Technology | Civil Engineering
 [LABORATORY WORK SHEET 2:
SCE 4121 Structural Mechanics BEAM SHEAR AND BENDING MOMENT]

P
l
A Vx Mx B

X X
RA Vx RB
a b

To eliminate the action Vx on the right part, we may take moment about X. Take counter-
clockwise moment as positive:

∙ 0

It can easily be proved that these have the same value by substituting R and Pl as follows:

∙
Experimental Procedure:

1. Set up the beam AB with a span of 900mm as shown in Fig.2.

2. Place the first hanger at 100mm from support A, the second hanger in the groove just to the
right of the shear section C (300mm from A) and the third hanger at 300mm from support B.
3. Align the two parts of the beam using the adjustment on the spring balance and record the
initial ‘no load’ reading in Table 1.
4. Place a 10N weight on the first hander (100mm from support A) and re-align the beam using
the spring balance. Record the spring balance force in Table 1.
5. Move the weight to the second and third hangers in turn repeating the procedure.
6. Repeat the whole procedure using a 20 N weight.
5 Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (Thei)
Faculty of Science and Technology | Civil Engineering
 [LABORATOR
RY WORK SH
HEET 2:
SCE 4121 Structural Mechanics BEAM
B SHEAR
R AND BEND
DING MOMEENT]

Fig 2a. Lab

boratory setu
up for measu
uring beam m
moment

Fig 2b. Hi-Tech

H HST
T.1/11 Strucctures Apparratus

6 Technologiccal and Higher Education In

nstitute of Hoong Kong (Theei)
Faculty of Science and Te
echnology | Civil
C Engineerring
 [LABORATORY WORK SHEET 2:
SCE 4121 Structural Mechanics BEAM SHEAR AND BENDING MOMENT]

Results:

By subtracting the ‘no load’ value from each spring balance reading, the net force causing the
bending moment at C is found. Multiply this by the 150mm lever arm to derive the bending
moment.

Load on Third Load on Second Load on First

hanger hanger Hanger
0N 10 N 20 N 0N 10 N 20 N 0N 10 N 20 N
Spring
Balance
Force
Bending
Moment at - - -
C

Discussion of Results

3. For each loading arrangement, calculate the bending moment at the section C and draw the
bending moment diagram for the beam.
4. Compare with the theoretical and experimental results of the bending moment. Comment on
the accuracy of the experiment and make suggestion to improve the experimental set up.

7 Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (Thei)

Faculty of Science and Technology | Civil Engineering