REACTION OF A CONTINUOUS BEAM

Objective
To determine the reactions of a two-span continuous beam.

Theory
Typical reactions at the support of a continuous beam is as shown below

W W
L/2 L/2

L L
5W / 16 22 W / 16 5W / 16

W
L/2

L L
13W / 32 22 W / 32 3W / 32

W
L

2L L
3W / 8 W/4
7W/8

Apparatus
Please refer to attachment for arrangement for experimental set up
The apparatus comprise of
1. A support frame
2. 3 Nos. reaction support pier
3. 2 Nos. load hangers
4. Beam specimen.
5. A meter ruler to measure the span of the beam
6. A set of weights

Continuous Beam Experiment CIVIL ENG 1

Procedure
1. Switch on the display unit to warm up the unit.
2. Clamped the reaction piers to the support frame using the plate and bolt supplied
with the apparatus and at predetermine distant between the supports.
3. Place the beam specimen between the two cylindrical pieces of each support.
Tightened the two screws at the top of each support with your fingers .
4. Fix the load hanger at the position where the beam is to be loaded.
5. Connect the load cell from the support pier to the selector unit, each load cell
occupying one terminal on the selector.
6. Beginning with channel 1 record the initial reading for each channel.
7. Place a suitable load on the load hanger and note the reading of each load cell.
8. Increase the load on the load hanger at suitable increments and for each
increment record the load cell reading.

Results
Left –Hand span of beam, LL = mm
Right – Hand span of the beam, L R = mm
Distance of load from left-hand support, XL = mm
Distance of load from the right-hand support, X R = mm

Table 1 : Reaction At The Support

Load On L L Load On L R Support Reaction
Left Middle Right
N N N N N

0 0

10 10

15 15

20 20

25 25

30 30

Continuous Beam Experiment CIVIL ENG 2

(a) Draw the beam and indicate the positions and direction of load. Give all
important dimensions.
(b) Derive the reactions at the supports
(c) Using the tabulated data,
1. Plot the graph of reaction against load for each support
2. Draw the best-fit-curve through the plotted points.
3. Using the slope of the graph, calculate the percentage error between the
experimental and theoretical reaction.

Conclusion
1. If the material of the beam is changed from steel to aluminum, how does this
affect the support reaction? Give reasons for your answer.
2. If a thinner beam is used, how does this affect the support reaction? Give
reasons for your answer.
3. How does the experimental reactions compare with the theoretical.
4. State the possible factors that might have influenced your results and possible
means of overcoming it.

Pinned Support

Holding Screw
Specimen

Load Cell

Continuous Beam Experiment CIVIL ENG 3

SETUP FOR CONTINUOUS BEAM EXPERIMEN

Continuous Beam Experiment CIVIL ENG 4

Continuous Beam Experiment CIVIL ENG 5