EXPERIMENT 2: BENDING MOMENT VARIATION AWAY FROM THE

POINT OF LOADING

OBJECTIVE

To examines how bending moment varies at the cut position of the beam for various loading
conditions.

INTRODUCTION

Moments , internal or external, are rotation equivalents of force, equal times distance.The
bending moment in a beam is the moment, internal to the beam , necessary to counteract
externally applied moments .The maximum bending moment is P times L. The bending moment
at the free end of the cantilever zero , and increases as you move from the end of the beam to
support . As internally applied moments , then this is a static problem and the beam will not
freely accelerate in respond to the loads.
THEORY

Moment and torques are measured as a force multiplied by a distance unit newton/meter .The
tensile stress and compressive stress increase proportionally with bending moment , but are also
dependent on the second moment of area of the cross-section of the structural element . Failure
in bending will occur when the bending moment is sufficient to induce tensile stresses greater
than the yield stress of the material throughout the entire cross – section .The bending moment at
a section through a structural element may be defined as “the sum of the moments about that
section of all external forces acting to one side of that section”. The forces and moments on
either side of the section must be equal in order to counteract each other and maintain a state of
equilibrium.

Moment are calculated by multiplying the external vector force (load or reactions) by the vector
distance at which they are applied . When analyzing an entire element , it is sensible to calculate
moments at both ends of the element , at the beginning , center and end of any uniformly
distributed load , and directly underneath any point load . If clockwise bending moment are taken
as negative bending moment within an element will cause “sagging” and a positive moment will
cause “hogging” .It is therefore clear that a point of zero bending moment within a beam is a
point of transition from hogging to sagging or versa . It is more common to use the convention
that a clockwise bending moment to the left of the point under consideration is taken as positive
.This than corresponds to the second derivative of a function which, when positive, indicates a
curvature that is lower at the center .When defining moment and curvatures in this way calculus
can be more readily used to find slopes and deflections.

“The Bending Moment at the ‘cut’ is equal to the algebraic sum of the moment caused by the
force acting to the left or right of cut”

In this experiment we will use the statement .

Bending moment at the cut (in Nm) = displayed force × 0.125

APPARATUS

a ) weight ‘s hanger

b ) iron ruler

c ) pieces masses of 10g each

d ) Digital force display

PROCEDURE

1. Check the digital force display meter reads zero with no load .
2. Carefully load the beam with the hanger in the position using the load indicated.
3. Record the digital force display reading in table .
4. Convert the force reading into a bending moment (in Nm)

Bending moment at the cut (in Nm) = Display force × 0.125

5. Calculate the support reactions (RA and RB ) and calculate the theoretical bending
moment at the cut .
6. Repeat the procedure with the beam loaded as figure 5 and figure 6.
7. Comment on the result of the experiment compare with those calculated using the theory.
 EXPERIMENT RESULT:

1. Tabulation of results.

Figure W1 W2 Force Experiment R1 R2 Theoretical

Shear force Shear
(N) (N) (N) (N) (N) force
(N) (N)
4 3.92 -1.30 -0.1625 2.67 1.25 0.55
5 1.96 3.92 3.60 0.4500 2.58 2.58 0.125
6 4.91 3.92 3.70 0.4625 2.58 2.58 0.62

Calculation for experimental bending moment (Nm)

Bending moment at the cut (in Nm) = displayed force × 0.125

Figure 4

-1.3N × 0.125m

= - 0.1625Nm

Figure 5

3.60 N × 0.125m

= 0.4500Nm

Figure 6

3.7N × 0.125 m

= 0.4625Nm
Calculation

Support reaction (RA and RB )

ƩMA = 0

(3.92) (0.14) – (0.44) (RB) = 0

0.55 – 0.44 (RB) = 0

0.55 = 0.44 RB

RB = 0.55 / 0.44

RB = 1.25N

ƩF up = ƩF down

RA + RB = 3.92

RA = 3.92 – 1.25

RA = 2.67N
 ƩMA = 0

(1.96) (0.22) + (3.92) (0.26) – (0.44) (RB) = 0

1.45 – 0.44 (RB) = 0

RB = 1.45/0.44

RB = 3.30kN

ƩF up = ƩF down

RA + RB = (1.96 + 3.92)

RA + RB = 5.88

RA = 5.88 – 3.30

RA = 2.58N
 ƩMA = 0

(4.91) (0.24) + (3.92) (0.4) – (0.44) (RB) = 0

2.75 – 0.44 (RB) = 0

2.75 = 0.44 RB

RB = 2.75 / 0.44

RB = 6.25N

ƩF up = ƩF down

RA + RB = (4.91+ 3.92)

RA + RB = 8.83

RA = 8.83 – 6.25

RA = 2.58N
DISCUSSION

1. Base on the results obtained from the calculation and the data taken have a very significant
disparity.
2. This shows that the moments given by the theory is more accurate than data taken from
experiment .
3. This occurs as happen a few errors in this experiment.
4. Overall , base on the procedure , we followed the right instruction . It might be the error of
the machine itself and note in the good condition .

Comment :

The differentiation results of the theoretical bending moment (Nm) and experiment bending
moment (Nm) for figure 4 is totally different where with 0.7125 Nm .While for both theoretical
and experimental for figure 5 is 0.3250 Nm. Figure 6 shows only 0.1575 Nm differentiation
.This means figure 6 has more accurate the results of the experimental and theoretical compared
with another 2 figure (figure 4 and figure 5).
Conclusion

Base on the results we got , shows a totally different result between the theoretical and
experimental values . And from the experiment , we know that the value for the experimental and
theoretical values is totally difference . Bending moment is increases when the load is increases .
That means the bending moment for the beam is directly proportional to the load