FACULTY OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

BFF2821 MECHANICS LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT NO:
EXPERIMENT NAME:
SUBMISSION DATE:
SESSION NUMBER:
GROUP NUMBER:

08
THE SHEAR FORCE
1 NOVEMBER 2016
01 P
4
GROUP MEMBERS

NAME
NUR SYAMIZA BINTI ZAMRI
SAMSIAH BINTI SUAILY
NIK NURHARYANTIE BINTI NIK MOHD KAMIL

ID
FA 14030
FA 14031
FA 14115

LAB INSTRUCTOR
MR AIDIL SHAFIZA

TABLE OF CONTENTS
No.

Contents

Page

Aim

Objectives

Introduction

3-4

Apparatus and Procedure

5-7

4.1 Apparatus
4.2 Procedure
4.3Experiment 1 : Shear Force Variation with the
Increasing Point Load
4.4 Experiment 2 :Shear Force Variation for Various
5

Loading Conditions
Result and Calculation

8-11

5.1 Experiment 1
5.1 Experiment 2
6

Discussion

12

6.1 Experiment 1
7

6.2 Experiment 2
Conclusion

13

References

13

Rubrics

14

1.0

AIM
The aim for this experiment to examine how shear force with an increasing point load
and shear force varies at the cut position of the beam various loading conditions.

2.0

OBJECTIVES
1) To examine how shear force varies with an increasing point load
2) To examine how shear force varies at the cut position of the beam for various loading
condition

3.0

INTRODUCTION
Shear force are unaligned forces pushing one part of a body in one direction, and

another part of the body in the opposite direction. When the forces are aligned into each
other, they are called compression forces. An example is a deck of cards being push one away
on the top, and the other at the bottom, causing the cards to slide. For another example is
when wind blows at the side of a peaked roof of a home, the side walls experience a force at
their top pushing in the direction of the wind, and their bottom in the opposite direction, from
ground or the foundation. William A Nash said, If a plane is passed through a body, a force
acting along this planned is called shear force or shearing force.
Moving loads on beams are common features of design. Many road bridges are
constructed from beam, and as such have to be designed to carry a knife edge load, or a string
of wheel loads, or a uniformly distributed load, or perhaps the worst combination of all three.
The method of solving the problem is to use influence lines.
EXPERIMENT DETAIL
Definitions of shear influence line is defined as a line representing the changes in shear force
at a section of a beam when a unit load moves on the beam.
Part 1: This Experiment examines how shear force varies at a cut section as a unit load moves
from one end to another (Figure 1). From the diagram, shear force influence line equation can
be written.
For 0 x aa shear line is given by:

Sy= x/L........ (1)

For 0 x b a shear line is given by:
Sy= xL..........(2)

Figure 4.1
Part 2: If the beam are loaded as shown in Figure 2, the shear force at the cut can be
calculated using the influence line
Shear force at cut section = F1 y1 + F2 y2 + F3 y3 ..(3)
y1, y2 and y3 are ordinates derived from the influence line in terms of x1, x2, x3, a, b and L

Figure 4.2

4.0

PROCEDURE AND APPARATUS

4.1
APPRATUS
No
1

Apparatus
Test Frame for Shear Force

Quantity
1

Plastic Hanger

Slotted Mass Set

Digital Force Display

Picture

4.2 PROCEDURE
5

4.3 Experiment 1 : Shear Force Variation with an Increasing Point Load

1) Checked the Digital Force Display meter reads zero with no load .
2) Placed the hanger with 100 g mass at left of the cut , 40mm away .
3) Recorded the Digital Force Display reading in a table as in Table 1 .
4) Repeated using masses of 200 g, 300 g, 400 g and 500 g .
5) Converted the mass into a load (in N) .

4.4 Experiment 2 : Shear Force Variation for Various Loading Conditions .

1) Checked the Digital Force Display meter reads zero with no load.
2) Loaded the beam with the hangers in the position shown in Figure 4 , using the
loads indicated in Table 2 carefully.
3) The Digital Force Display reading was recorded in Table 3.
4) The support reaction (RA and RB) and theoretical bending moment at a cut were
calculated .
5) The procedure was repeated with the beam loaded as in Figure 5 and Figure 6 .

5.0

RESULTS AND CALCULATION

5.1
EXPERIMENT 1 : SHEAR

FORCE

VARIATION

WITH

AN

INCREASING POINT LOAD

Mass(g)
0
100
200
300
400
500

Load(N)
0
0.96
1.96
2.94
3.92
4.90

Force(N)
0
0.7
1.2
1.7
2.2
2.7

Experimental shear force (N)

0
0.7
1.2
1.7
2.2
2.7

Theoretical shear force (N)

0
0.58
1.16
1.74
2.32
2.90

Calculation for experimental shear force :

Shear force at the cut (in N)= Displayed force
Example for mass 100g :
0.7N = 0.7N
Calculation theoretical shear force :
Shear force at the cut (in N)= Wa/l
Where a=0.26m

l=0.44m

(0.96)(0.26)/0.44= 0.58
(1.96) (0.26)/0.44= 1.16
(2.94) (0.26)/0.44= 1.74
(3.92) (0.26)/0.44= 2.32
(4.90) (0.26)/0.44= 2.90
5.2

EXPERIMENT 2 : SHEAR FORCE VARIATION FOR VARIOUS

LOADING CONDITIONS
Figure

W1

W2

Force (N)

Experimental

RA (N)

RB (N)

Theoretical
8

(N)
4
5
6

3.92
1.96
4.91

(N)

3.92
3.92

bending
-1.2
3.0
2.2

bending

moment (Nm)
-1.2
5.75
3.0
2.58
2.2
2.55

-1.83
3.30
6.28

moment (Nm)
1.83
-3.3
-6.28

Calculation for experimental shear force :

Shear force at the cut (in Nm)= Displayed force
-1.2= -1.2

3.0 = 3.0

2.2 = 2.2

Calculation for figure 4

MA

3.92(0.14)

( anti clockwise positive)

+RB(0.44)=0

RB= - 1.247
Fy = 0
RA + R B = W
RA - 1.247 = 5.167
RA-W1-Vc = 0
Vc = 5.167 3.92 = 1.247kN

Calculation for figure 5

MA = 0 ( anti clockwise positive)

RB(0.44) 1.96 (0.22) 3.92 (0.26) =0
RB= 3.30
Fy = 0
RA+ 3.30-1.96-3.92 = 0
RA = 2.58
RA-W1- W2 -Vc = 0
Vc = 2.58 1.96 -3.92 = -3.3
Calculation for figure 6

10

MA = 0 ( anti clockwise positive)

-RA(0.44) + 4.91 (0.26) 3.92 (0.04) =0
RA= 2.55
Fy = 0
2.55-4.91-3.92+ RB = 0
RB = 6.28
RA-W1- W2 -Vc = 0
Vc = 2.55 4.91 -3.92 = -6.28

6.0

DISCUSSION
6.1
EXPERIMENT 1 :
11

1)

Graph for experiment 1 :

3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Shear force (N)
theoretical shear force

Experimental shear force

Load (N)

2)

Comment on the shape of the graph. What does it tell us about how shear force varies

due to an increased load ?

From the graph , Load(N) is directly proportional with Shear force (N) . We can conclude that
every load added will change the value of shear force . We can conclude that when load
increased , the shear force also increased . So, this almost same with the experimental value .
3)

Does the equation we used accurately predict the behavior of the beam ?

Yes, from the graph, we know that the equation was accurately helped us to find the
behaviors of the beam. The result that we obtained from the calculation was correctly same
with the reaction of the beam
6.2

EXPERIMENT 2

1) Comment on how the results of the experiments compare with those calculated using the
theory .
The result that we obtained from the table is quite different. The result of experimental shear
force was originally taken while doing the experiment compare with theoretical shear force
obtained from the calculation is different.
Therefore, maybe during the experiment being carried out, there are some errors due to
equipment experiment or environmental interference.
7.0

CONCLUSION

12

Shear force is Force acting on a substance in a direction perpendicular to the

extension of the substance, as for example the pressure of air along the front of an airplane
wing. Shear forces often result in shear strain. Resistance to such forces in a fluid is linked to
its viscosity. Also called shearing force .

[1]

William A. Nash defines shear force in terms of

planes: "If a plane is passed through a body, a force acting along this plane is called a shear
force or shearing force."[2]
We can conclude from this experiment that increasing the point load will
increase the shear force . Other than that , the distance of the point also will make some
changes to shear force .
The Cantilever method is an approximate method for calculating shear forces and
moments developed in beams and columns of a frame or structure due to lateral loads. The
applied lateral loads typically include wind loads and earthquake loads, which must be taken
into consideration while designing buildings. The assumptions used in this method are that
the points of contraflexure (or points of inflection of the moment diagram) in both the vertical
and horizontal members are located at the midpoint of the member, and that the direct
stresses in the columns are proportional to their distances from the centroidal axis of the
frame.[3]
8.0

REFERENCES
1) shear force. (n.d.). The American Heritage Science Dictionary. Retrieved
November
2)

31,

2016

from

Dictionary.com

website

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/shear-force
William A. Nash (1 July 1998). Schaum's Outline of Theory and Problems of
Strength of Materials. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-07-046617-

3. Retrieved 20 May 2012

2) S. Ramamrutham. Theory of Structures.

Rubric for Evaluating Laboratory Report (BFF2821 : Mechanics

Laboratory)

Report

RATINGS (MARK)

MARKS

13

Elements

GIVEN
3

Openended lab
elements
practice

Design own
method of
experiments to
achieve the
objectives
(independent of
lab sheet)

Show one or
more elements
of open-ended
method but still
dependent on
lab sheet

Totally
dependent on
lab sheet
methods

Result
and
findings

Results are
correct and
presented in
appropriate
tools with
elements of lab
sheet
independence

Results are
correct and
presented
totally as
guided by lab
sheet

Results are
partially
correct

Discussion
points only
focusing on
question in lab
sheet

An incomplete
discussion and
poor analysis

Conclude with
the relation of
experiment to
the objectives
and clearly
state the
reference

Conclusion not
accurately
relate with the
objective.
Reference
stated

Conclusion not
accurately
relate with the
objective. No
Reference
stated

Beyond ordinary
presentation
with additional
material from
multiple sources
of reference,
consistent
formatting, and
well structured.

Ordinary
presentation
report with
most of
materials
depends on lab
sheet.

Poor
presentation
format and
structure. Very
less effort in
preparing the
report

Discussio
n

Conclusio
n&
Reference

Report
Presentat
ion

Comprehensive
analysis on the
results and
theory by
adding
additional
discussion
points other
than specified
in lab sheet

14

TOTAL:

15