Beam Bending LabENGR 1181Lab # 6

Today's Learning Objectives Students will develop techniques to

measure the deflection of a cantilever beam using a dial caliper.

Students will calculate familiar calculations for and concepts regarding:• Stress• Strain• Young’s Modulus of Elasticity• Moment of Inertia

Beam Bending Lab Apparatus

Clamp

VerticalCantilever

Beam

Dial Indicator

Pulley

WeightHolder

ExtraWeights

Beam Bending Lab Tasks Your team is responsible for completing one lab memo.

During this lab, each group will divide into two groups to work more closely with the beam bending apparatus.

Measure Deflection (y-axis) versus Force (x-axis) for:• Aluminum Rectangular Beam• Copper Rectangular Beam• Copper Square Beam• “Unknown” Rectangular Beam

Typical Data and Results

0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.200.000

0.050

0.100

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

Deflection vs. Force for Aluminum Beam

Measured

Theory

Force (Weight) applied to Beam (lbf)

Ab

so

lute

Defl

ecti

on

(I

nch

)

Tips for Successful Lab Make sure the beams are securely

fastened, but without over-tightening.

Use dial caliper properly and follow instructions.

Make sure bezel is properly aligned.

Check numbers put in excel worksheet. Do they make sense?

Dial Indicator: Overview This dial indicator is unloaded, and

shows a reading of 0.989”, or -0.011” (yours will be close). It is negative because the plunger is not engaged.

There is a locking screw in the upper right that should stay tightened.

The bezel (front adjustable ring) should not be moved. The black marker must always line up with the plunger.

Dial Indicator: Set-Up When the beam is placed against

the plunger (needle at bottom of picture), the dial should move and is then “engaged”.

Your “zero weight” reading will not be exactly zero. • It is a starting point for all other

measurements to be compared.

Dial Indicator: Class Activity What are these readings?

0.119”

0.282”

Important Takeaways Using a dial caliper properly.

Do not rotate the bezel.

Apply the concept and formulas for stress, strain, Young’s Modulus, and Moment of Inertia.

Think about how material and shape configuration impacts design decisions.

Preview of Next Lab The next lab is a 2-part series involving

Wind Turbines.

This will familiarize students with wind turbine design, efficiency calculations, power generation, and creative design.

Prepare for Lab 7A by reading the Wind Turbine Lab – Part A preparation material.

Topic Document Type

Marble Delivery System None

Quality and Productivity Executive Summary

Circuits Executive Summary

Solar Meter --

Solar Cell Memo (Combined)

Beam Bending Memo

Wind Turbine 1 --

Wind Turbine 2 Report (Combined)

Problem Solving Project 1

Project Notebook (Combined)

Problem Solving Project 2

Problem Solving Project 3