FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & EARTH RESOURCES

STRUCTURE LABORATORY

SUBJECT CODE

BAA 2921

SUBJECT

ENGINEERING LABORATORY II

EXPERIMENT TITLE

REACTIONS AND FIXING MOMENT OF A

FIXED BEAM AND A PROPPED CANTILEVER

DATE OF EXPERIMENT

17TH SEPTEMBER, 2013

GROUP NUMBER

SECTION

01

GROUP MEMBER:
ID NUMBER AND NAME

1. AA12107 INTAN NURSYAFIQAH BINTI

MOHAMED HISSAM
2. AA12113 FOO YUEN KEI
3. AA12115 NURNAZIRAH BINTI MUHAMAD
RAMZI
4. AA12163 NURSALAM BIN ZAINAL

PERSON IN CHARGE

EN. MOHD BADWI BIN YUNUS

REMARKS

ENDORSEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENT

TITLE

1.0INTRODUCTION/PRINCIPLES

2.0 OBJECTIVE

3.0 APPARATUS

4.0 PROCEDURE

5.0 RESULT

6.0 DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS

7.0 CONCLUSION

8.0 REFERENCES/APPENDIX

PAGE

1.0 INTRODUCTION/PRINCIPLES
INTRODUCTION
In this experiment, fixed beam and propped cantilever beam are in use to do
comparison related to moment and reaction.
Fixed beam, is also known as built-in or encastre beam. The end of fixed beam
always constrained in order to ensure the beam is always remains in horizontal
position. To fulfil the condition of zero slope at each end, a fixidity moment will be
induced at each end. Hence, a fixed beam is a statically indeterminate beam of second
order due to the number of unknown reaction is more than equations that derives from
static equilibrium.
Propped cantilever beam, is a cantilever beam simply supported at one end,
while another end is free. Normally, another free end is supported by roller or knife
edge. This type of beams is external indeterminate beam of the first order. There are
four reactions develop at the two supports of the beam and only three equations of
equilibrium are available for analysing.

PRINCIPLES
Statically determinate body, the equilibrium equations of statics are sufficient to
determine all unknown forces or other unknowns that appears in equilibrium
equations. Whereas statically indeterminate body the equilibrium equations of statics
are not sufficient to determine all unknown forces or other unknown.
The equilibrium equations in 2-D is given by:
F x = 0:

The sum of the horizontal components of forces equals zero.

F y

= 0:

M x =0:

The sum of the vertical components of forces equal zero.

The sum of moments (about the arbitrary point) of all forces

equal zero.
A simple rule of thumb to help ascertain whether an object is statically determinate or
indeterminate is to compare the number of unknowns to the number of equilibrium
equations.
If n < 3

The body is statically determinate and it can have partial or no fixity.

If n = 3

The body is statically determinate if it has full fixity but indeterminate

if it has partial fixity.

If n > 3

The body is statically indeterminate and it can have full fixity or partial
fixity.

The equipment is used to investigate two beam arrangements as shown in Figure 1

below :

The indeterminate beams experiment fits into a test frame. Figure 3 shows the
indeterminate beams experiment in the frame with loads and a digital force display to
measure the applied forces.
Before setting up and using the equipment, always :

Visually inspect all parts, including electrical leads, for damage or wear.
Check electrical connections are correct and secure.
Check all components are secure and fastenings are sufficiently tight.
Position the Test Frame safely. Make sure it is on a solid, level surface, is

steady, and easily accessible.

Never apply excessive loads to any part of equipment.

2.0 OBJECTIVE
1. To determine the fix moment value for the fixed and propped cantilever beam.

3.0 APPARATUS
The equipment needed to perform this experiment:
i.

The backboard unit set up in the test frame

ii.

The knife-edge and encastre fixing, load cell support

iii.

A digital forcemeter with leads

iv.

The thin flexible beam

v.

A set of weight, weight hanger and a knife-edge hanger

4.0 PROCEDURE
1. The load cell support is put onto the test frame and it is slid to the 400mm
position. It is fixed securely with two screws on the front only. The top clamp
plate is removed from the load cell leaving the bottom plate in position.

2. The screw is left loose, using the hole at one end secure the beam to the moment
chuck on the backboard. The moment arm locking screw is undo to allow the beam to
rest fully on the load cell. The beam in the load cell is clamped evenly and squarely
with the two screw and clamping plate. The chuck screw and moment arm locking
screw are tightened.

3. The moment arm is connected to input 1 and the load cell to input 2 on the
digital force display. Each reading is selected in turn and the relevant control is
used to zero the readings on the digital force display.

4. The left-hand end of beam is set to measure fixing moment and right-end is set to
measure the support reaction.

5. A mass of 4.9 N is applied to the beam 40mm from the left-hand end. Readings of the
moment arm force and support reaction force are taken and recorded in Table 1. The
experiment is repeated in 40mm increments across the span of the beam. The moment MA is
calculated by multiplying the moment arm force with moment arm length.

6. The moment arm clamp screw is released and the clamp screw on the load cell
support is undo. Both clamp plates are removed from the load cell support to expose
the knife edge. The beam is rested back onto the knife-edge and the moment arm
clamp screw is tightened. By using the set zero control, both moment arm and the load
cell support are set zero. Propped cantilever beam is set using the equipment.

7. The experimental procedure was repeated and used on the fixed beam for
propped cantilever. The result was recorded in Table 2. The both set results
were plotted fixing moment and vertical reaction versus position along the
beam.

8. Theoretical values of all the moments and reactions are calculated using
the equations provided in Figure 2.

5.0 RESULTS
Distance A
(m)
0.04
0.08
0.12
0.16
0.20
0.24
0.28
0.32
0.36

Experimental
Theoritical
Load W
Moment Arm
MA
RB (N) MA (Nm) RB (N)
(N)
Force (N)
(Nm)
4.9
2.7
0.135
0.2
0.159
0.137
4.9
4.6
0.23
0.6
0.251
0.51
4.9
5.3
0.265
1.2
0.288
1.058
4.9
5.2
0.26
1.8
0.282
1.725
4.9
4.4
0.22
2.5
0.245
2.45
4.9
3.3
0.165
3.2
0.188
3.175
4.9
2
0.1
3.9
0.124
3.842
4.9
0.8
0.04
4.4
0.063
4.39
4.9
0
0
4.7
0.018
4.763
Table 1: Result for Experiment 1 (Fixed Beam)

Accuracy(%
MA
RB
(Nm)
15.09
4
8.37
1
7.99
1
7.80
4
10.20
2
12.23
0
19.35
1
36.50
0
1

Table 2: Result for Experiment 2 (Propped Cantlever Beam)

Experimental
Distance A
(m)
0.04
0.08
0.12
0.16
0.2
0.24
0.28
0.32
0.36

Load W Moment Arm

(N)
Force (N)
4.9
3.5
4.9
5.9
4.9
7.1
4.9
7.6
4.9
7.4
4.9
6.6
4.9
5.3
4.9
3.6
4.9
1.7
Calculations Example:

MA (Nm)

RB (N)

0.175
0.295
0.355
0.38
0.37
0.33
0.265
0.18
0.085

0.1
0.3
0.6
1
1.6
2.1
2.8
3.5
4.2

Theoritical
MA
RB (N)
(Nm)
0.168
0.07
0.282
0.275
0.35
0.595
0.376
1.02
0.368
1.53
0.329
2.118
0.268
2.76
0.188
3.45
0.097
4.168

Accuracy
MA (Nm)

RB (N)

4.17
4.61
1.43
1.06
0.54
0.30
1.12
4.26
12.37

42.86
9.09
0.84
1.96
4.56
0.85
1.45
1.45
0.77

MA = Moment Arm Force x 0.05

Fixed Beam: MA

= 2.7 x 0.05
= 0.135Nm

Propped Cantilever Beam:

MA

= 3.5 x 0.05
= 0.175Nm

6.0 DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS
i. Comment on the accuracy of your result. Compare the fixing moments and
theoretical deflections for the propped cantilever and the fixed beams. What is
the relationship between the experimental and theoretical values obtained?
According to the graph, experimental results share the same graph shape with
theoretical value. However, the value obtained from experiment is slightly different to
theoretical values calculated. For fixed beam, the moment increases until it reaches
0.12m, the maximum point. Then, the moment decreases till 0.36m. For propped
cantilever beam, the moment increases with the increment of distance till it reaches
0.16m. then moment starts to reduce till 0.36m. Next, the support reaction for fixed
beam increases when distance increases. This goes similar to cantilever beam. Both
beam reach maximum point at 0.36m. Theoretical values obtained are the value of
structure in ideal condition as assumption. Hence, the differences in experimental
values affect the accuracy of the result.

ii. Are the equations that describe the support reactions derived from static
equilibrium? If not why? Find a method to derive the equations for the beam.
Yes. The equation is derived from static equilibrium. For fixed beam, there is 6
unknown forces and propped cantilever beam has 4 unknown forces. Using
equilibrium equations, let the summation of the components from different direction
equal to zero. By using such method, the equations for beam are obtained.

iii. Give advantages and disadvantages for using a fixed beam or a propped
cantilever for a simple bridge.

Advantages

Fixed Beam
More stable because it

Propped Cantilever Beam

- One end fixed, another

has both side fixed and

end

supported.

using roller or pin. Easier

for

Disadvantages

can

be

bridge

supported
to

expand

Only suitable for short

during hot weather.

Less stable than fixed

range bridge.
The bridge will deflect

beam.
Need

when expand during

high

strength

material to support load.

hot weather.

iv. If it is needed to draw load versus MA and RB, explain how the experiment
procedure will be changed and explain how to obtained critical load from the
graph?
To draw load versus MA and RB, distance A becomes constant variables. The
values of load will be affected by the value of MA and RB, load is then become the
responding variables. Theoretically, Moment = Distance x Reaction of force. Hence,
1/Distance = Reaction of force/Moment. From gradient, we can obtain the critical
distance.

v. What are the precautions that should be taken to ensure its accuracy?
To ensure its accuracy, parallax error should be reduced. The load has to locate at the
point under the axis that we looking for. When obtaining results, make sure the hanger

and masses is not swinging and statically remain at same point. Besides, before
experiment, input 1 and input 2 should set to zero to increase accuracy.

7.0 CONCLUSION
After the experiment, we have obtained all the result and done all the
calculation. The objective is achieved as fix moment value for fixed and propped
cantilever beam collected during experiment. However, to get a more accurate result,
we must reduce the parallax error and human error during experiment. Before record
the result, we must make sure the hanger with load is not swinging and stable. We
also have to make sure the load is perpendicular to the distance set during experiment.
This experiment is important in determining the suitability of design to support load
and durability of structure.

8.0 REFERENCES/APPENDIX
1. B.D. Nautiyal, Introduction to Structural Analysis
2. Dr. B. C. Punmia, Ashok Kumar Jain, Arun Kumar Jain, Mechanics of Material

Recording for result during experiment

Adjusting input to set zero

Loosing the screw to do experiment for propped cantilever beam