Experiment 2: Deformation of beams and verification of

Maxwell-Betti’s Theorem

Objective: 1. To determine the young modulus f the different material using bending tests.
2.To determine the deflection profile of the simply supported beam subjected to a point load and

compare it with theoretically calculated deflection profile.

3.To verify Maxwell-Be Theorem. Theory

Theory:
A beam is a member subjected to loads applied transverse to the long dimension, causing the

member to bend, thereby deforming the axis the beam into curved line often refereed as

deflection curve of the beam. Bending moment and shear forces action on cross section of the beam.

total deflection in the beam

Deflection = Due to bending + due to shear

Deflections of beams depend on the various factors such as (i) stiffness of the material (E) and

the (ii) moment of inertia (I) about the axis perpendicular to the loading direction, (iii) span (L)

and (iv) magnitude, type and placement of the loads. The deflection at a point calculated based

classical methods of structural analysis, when compared with the experimental value will be

always lower bound to the experimental value. Because, the deflection measured in the

experiment generally includes the deflection due to bending (δb) and deflection due to shear

(δv). Deflection at any point of a simply supported beam with the loading at an arbitrary position
The equation for deflection is,

Where, E is Young’s modulus, I is Second moment of area, y is Deflection, P is the Load

applied and L is Length of the beam. As a special case, the deflection at the centre for a simply

supported beam subjected to a load of P at the centre is (neglecting the shear deflection)

The experimentally measured deflection in the beam can be used to evaluate the Young’s

modulus of the material. Using Eq.2, the Young’s modulus of the material can be evaluated as

given in Eq. 3.

A detailed procedure using Macaulay’s double integration method, for finding the deflection

(as given in Eq. 1) for the simply supported beam under concentrated load at arbitrary distance

is given in Annexure-A for reference.

Maxwell-Betti’s Theorem:

Consider a linear elastic structure, subject to two different force-displacement conditions,

which we may refer to as system I and II as shown

Applying Be ’s theorem,

F1,ID1,II = F2,II D2,I

Procedure:

Test A: To determine the young’s modulus of the beam material & plot theoretical and

experimental deflection profile.

Apparatus required:

Steel bar 6 x 20 x 1000 mm – (4), Rider for weight – (6), Suspender for weights – (5), 3 weights

5N, 1 weight 2.5N, 2 articulated supports –(2) with dynamometer – (7), 3 dial gauges The

length of the beam is 1000mm in the experimental setup. The beam to be tested was kept on

the roller supports (refer-2 in Figure 2.6) to simulate pinned end connections, the centre to

centre distance (effective span) between the support points will be 980mm, with 10mm offset

on either side. The typical beam span wise distance details and typical test setup with

instrumentation is shown in Figure 2.8 below.

• Measure the dimensions of the test beam such as length, breadth, thickness and calculate

the moment of inertia.

• Take two vertical supports with roller pinned condition & load indicator, and fix it in the

test frame with a centre to centre distance of 980mm.

• Keep the beam test specimen on the top of the support

• Use to spirit level to ensure the horizontal level of the beam between the supports.

• (If not, loosen the locking screw (1) on the support. Adjust the height of the support using

the rotary knob (3) until the level is achieved).

• Fix two dial gauges on the support as shown in Figure 2.8, to measure the deflection due

to the support movement

• Place one more dial gauge (4) in the required position and set to zero.

• Apply the load of magnitude 20N at the middle of the beam

The dial gauge at the supports drifts from zero (as shown in Figure 2.9) and measures

displacement due to spring excursion under the load. To precisely measure the deflection

within the beam, the additional deflections occurred at the support should be included as

correction in the measured deflection or the supports should be returned to their original

position.

For the second part of the Experiment:

1.Deflec on Measurement Setup:

o Using the same experimental setup, but without the load at the center, measure

deflec ons at 290mm from both end supports by applying a 20N load at each posi on,

one at a me.

o Record the deflec ons at these posi ons.

2.Repea ng the Process:

o Repeat the process using a 10N load.

o Record the corresponding deflec ons for each load.

Experimental Apparatus:
Observations:
Test A: To determine the Young’s Modulus of the beam material

Length of the beam = 1000mm

Effective span of the beam = 980mm

Breadth of the beam = 20mm

Thickness of the beam = 6.17

Moment of Iner a = 391.475 mm^4

Load applied at mid span, W = 20N

Deflection measured at middle = 5.06

Young Modulus Of the beam, E = 1.97x10^5 N/mm^2

We can calculate the young’s modulus of the beam by using below formula

Y =WL^3/12

Calculating we get = 197Gpa

Table 1:

Deflection profile of simply supported beam

X in mm Measured deflec on w(x) in mm Theore cal deflec on w(X) in

mm

0 0 0

90 0.26 2.84

190 2.58 2.88

290 3.72 4.038

490(Mid-Point 5.15 5.15

690 4.21 3.687

790 2.92 2.79

890 0.41 1.39

RESULT There are some error in the experiment as we see in the above table there are differences
between experimental and theore cal values. Errors are due to some equipment calibra on.

Load at coordinate Deflection of Deflection of

coordinate1 coordinate2
System 1 20N 3.78 2.66
System2 20N 2.95 3.60
System 3 10N 1.29 1.60