6.

To Perform Bending Test on

Wooden Beam
(26-11-2008)
Apparatus
10 ton Buckton UTM, Deflection Gauges, Wooden Beam, Measuring Tape

Objective
• To study the bending or flexural behavior of the beam

• To determine the Modulus of Elasticity and Modulus of Rupture of the

wood.

Related Theory
Shear Force
The sum of all the forces acting perpendicular to the section or forces which tend
to slides two part of the section on each other.
Elastic Curve
A line representing the deformed form of the center line of the beam is known as
Elastic Curve.
Flexural Stress
Stresses produced by the bending moment is known as Flexural Stress.
Stresses
Internal resistance of the material against loading is known as Stress.
Flexural Equation
It is the fundamental relationship between the Bending moment and geometry of
deformation.

Flexural Formula
It gives a relationship in bending moment and flexural stresses.

Modulus of Rupture
• It is the energy absorbed per unit volume when the specimen is loaded
from zero to failure.
• It is the maximum tensile stress which can be developed in the beam
before failure.

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Difference between Modulus of Rupture &
Modulus of Toughness
• Modulus of Toughness can be determined by tension or compression test
(axial tests) and it is for any type of member.

• But Modulus of Rupture is only for a member having flexural or bending.

Loading Arrangement for Experiment

Loading arrangement for this certain experiment is “Two point Arrangement”.
This is to produce only bending, it will not cause any shear force in the beam.

Two point Arrangement

Two equal loads acting at the equal distance from the supports is known as two
point loading system. In such a system the shear force acting between the loads

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is zero and bending moment between the loads is constant

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 Load is being applied on wooden bean in 10ton Buckton UTM

Wooden Beam after the Fracture

Procedure
1. First of all measure the breath and height of the wooden sample
through the measuring tape.
2. Fix the wooden beam sample in 10 ton Buckton UTM.
3. Fix the dial gauges under the beam as shown figure the figure
above, according to the distances shown.
4. Now apply the load gradually on the beam and note down the
amount of deflection against each loading.
5. Note down all the deflection up to failure of specimen and finally
find the Modulus of Elasticity, Modulus of Rupture from their
respective formulae.
Precautions
1. Apply the loads gradually so that we can read the deflection against
each reading easily.
2. Remove the gauges before the failure load, otherwise they may get
damages.
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 3. Stay away from the machine or otherwise the particles may hurt
you.
Observations and Calculations
Load Net Deflection
Sr. No Deflection Gauges Load (N)
(Tons) (mm)
Δ=(Gc-Mean)X
Gx Gy (Gx+Gy)/2 Gc tonsX9810
L.C.X25.4
1 0.00 100 100 100 100 0 0 0
2 0.05 136 135 135.5 152 16.5 0.4191 490.5
3 0.10 150 146 148 173 25 0.635 981
4 0.15 190 186 188 229 41 1.0414 1471.5
5 0.20 215 210 212.5 266 53.5 1.3589 1962
6 0.25 244 240 242 308 66 1.6764 2452.5
7 0.30 269 263 266 342 76 1.9304 2943
8 0.35 304 296 300 391 91 2.3114 3433.5
9 0.40 326 320 323 426 103 2.6162 3924
10 0.45 355 347 351 466 115 2.921 4414.5
11 0.50 385 375 380 508 128 3.2512 4905
12 0.55 412 400 406 545 139 3.5306 5395.5

6000

y =1534.x- 76.62
5000

4000

3000
(N
)d
o
a
L

2000

1000

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

-1000
net deflectione (mm)

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Calculations of Modulus of Rupture and
Modulus of Elasticity
b= 50 mm, h= 50mm, l=1000mm

Breaking Load (Pmax): 1.15 tons = 11281.5 N

Modulus of Rupture = =

Modulus of Elasticity =

Slope of Straight line in graph i.e. = 1534.4

Comments
Wooden beam should be fracture symmetrically from the both sides because we
have applied symmetrical load by Two Point Load System, but we can see from
the sketch of wooden beam after fracture, it did not fracture in that manner. This
can be due to some weakest plane in the way of fracture. On the right side of the
beam it fractured perfectly.

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