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Experiment #6

Deflection of Curved Beams

Stephen Mirdo

Performed on November 8, 2010

Report due November 15, 2010


Table of Contents

Object ………………………………………..………………………….………….…. p. 1

Theory …………………………………………………………………………..…pp. 1 - 4

Procedure ………………………….…………………………………...……..……..... p. 5

Results …................................................................................................................ pp. 6 - 8

Discussion and Conclusion …………………….......…………………….....…... pp. 9 - 10

Appendix ……………………………………..…………………..….………... pp. 11 - 13


Object
The object of this experiment was to determine the deflections in the horizontal
and vertical directions under loading of a semicircular beam and a davit by means of
experiment and compare the experimental values of deflection to calculated, theoretical
values.

Theory
Castigliano’s theorem can be employed to determine the deflection incurred by a
force of loading in a curved beam. Castigliano’s theorem states that the component in a
given direction of the deflection caused by an external force on an elastic body is
equivalent to the partial derivative of the work of deformation with respect to the
component of the force in the given direction. The work of deformation in this case is a
moment induced by a loading force on the beam. The general expression of Castigliano’s
theorem is as follows:

δ = o∫s M/EI * dM/dW * ds  1/EI * o∫s M * dM/dW * ds (Equation 1)

where M is the moment induced by the force of loading, E is the elastic modulus of the
beam material, I is the moment of inertia of the beam, dM/dW is the change in moment
with respect to the force of loading and ds is the finite quantity of the beam over which
integration is to take place. Because the modulus E and the moment of inertia I are
constants, they are factored out of the integral.

The work of deformation, or the moment, can be expressed as the product of the
loading force, P, the radius from the center of curvature of the beam R and the sine of the
angle of curvature. The moment can be expressed by the following equation:

M = PRsinθ (Equation 2)

The integrating factor ds of the general Castigliano equation can be expressed as follows:

ds = R dθ (Equation 3)

The partial derivative of the work of deformation with respect to the component of the
force is expressed as a function of the radius of the beam and angle of the deflected beam.
For the vertical deflection, the partial derivative is written as:

(dM/dW)V = Rsinθ (Equation 4)

and for the horizontal deflection of a curved beam, the partial derivative is written as:

(dM/dW)H = R(1 – cosθ) (Equation 5)

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Figure 1: Diagram of the semicircular beam of the testing apparatus featuring forces
and finite quantities. The light gray member of the diagram is the semicircular beam
before loading and the dark gray member is the beam after the load is applied.

To calculate the vertical deflection of a semicircular beam, substitute Equations 2,


3 and 4 into the general expression of Castigliano’s theorem (Equation 1). The
integration is bounded by zero and π because the beam is a semicircle. This process will
yield the following equation:

ΔV = 1/EI * o∫π PRsinθ * Rsinθ * R dθ  PR3/EI o∫π sin2θ dθ (Equation 6)

The loading force P, the radius R, the elastic modulus E and the moment of inertia I, are
all constants and can be factored out of the integral. Integrating with respect to theta
yields the following equation for the vertical deflection of semicircular beam:

ΔV = [πPR3] / [2EI] (Equation 7)

To calculate the horizontal deflection of a semicircular beam, a dummy variable


H must me employed as seen in Figure 1. H represents a fictitious loading force in the
horizontal direction. Inserting the dummy variable allows for the integration in the
horizontal direction. Substituting Equations 2, 3 and 5 into the general expression of
Castigliano’s theorem yields the following expression:

ΔH = 1/EI * o∫π [PRsinθ + HR(1-cosθ)][R(1- cosθ)] R dθ (Equation 8)

Factoring out the constants P and R, and letting H equal zero, Equation 7 becomes:

ΔH = 1/EI * o∫π PR3[sinθ - sinθcosθ)] dθ PR3/EI o∫π [sinθ - sinθcosθ)] dθ


(Equation 9)
Integrating Equation 9 with respect to theta yields the equation for the horizontal
deflection of a curved beam.

ΔH = 2PR3/EI (Equation 10)

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Figure 2: Diagram of the davit of the testing apparatus featuring forces and finite
quantities. The light gray member of the diagram is the davit before loading and the
dark gray member is the davit after the load is applied.

The calculations for the vertical and horizontal deflection of the davit differ
slightly from those of the semicircular beam. The davit consists of a quarter circle curved
beam and a straight leg that connects to the base as seen in Figure 2. This means that the
calculations of deflection must be broken into two parts: one integral for the curved
section of the beam and another for the straight leg of the beam. The integration of the
curved section of the davit is bound by zero and π/2 because it is a quarter-circle and the
integration of the leg is bound by zero at the base of the beam and the length L of the
straight segment of the beam.

To calculate the vertical deflection caused by a force of loading for a davit, the
general equation of Castigliano’s theorem is modified to account for the straight segment
of the beam. Substitute Equations 2, 3 and 4 into the general Castigliano equation and
append an integral that expresses the moment endured by the straight segment.

ΔV = 1/EI * [o∫π/2 PRsinθ * Rsinθ * R dθ + o∫L PR * Rdy] (Equation 11)

Factoring out the constants P and R yields the following expression:

ΔV = 1/EI * [PR3 o∫π/2 sin2θ dθ + PR2 o∫L dy] (Equation 12)

Integrating with respect to theta and the y direction yields the following expression:

ΔV = 1/EI * [PR3(π/4) + PR2L] (Equation 13)

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and can be tidied up a little and the equation for the vertical deflection of the davit can be
written as follows:

ΔV = [π PR3] / [4EI] + [PR2L] / [EI] (Equation 14)

The straight segment of the davit must be accounted for in much the same way as
it was for the vertical deflection in the formulation of the horizontal deflection
calculation. Substituting Equations 2, 3 and 5 into the general expression of
Castigliano’s theorem and appending an integral to describe the deflection in the straight
segment of the davit yields the following:

ΔH = 1/EI*[ o∫π/2[PRsinθ + HR(1-cosθ)][R(1- cosθ)] R dθ + o∫L[PR + H(R + y)][R + y] dy


(Equation 15)

Factoring out the constants P and R and letting the dummy variable H equal zero,
Equation 15 becomes the following:

ΔH = 1/EI*[PR3 o∫π/2 sinθ – sinθcosθ dθ + P o∫L (R2 + Ry) dy (Equation 16)

Integrating for the curvature and straight segment yields the following expression:

ΔH = 1/EI * [PR3/2 + PR2L + PRL2/2] (Equation 17)

Distributing the modulus of elasticity E and moment of inertia I into Equation 17 yields:

ΔH = [PR3/2EI] + [PR2L/EI] + [PRL2/2EI] (Equation 18)

Tidied up a little further, the equation for the horizontal deflection of a davit can be
written as follows:

ΔH = [PR3/2EI] + [PRL/2EI][2R + L] (Equation 19)

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Procedure
Equipment:

Hi-Tech Scientific Deflection of Curved Beams Apparatus HSM.10 (SN: 92725)


Weights in Half Pound Increments up to 3.5 lbs

Experiment:

1) Position the empty load hangers on the semi-circular beam of the testing
apparatus (Figure 1).
2) Zero the dial indicators.
3) Place a 0.5 lb weight on the hanger.
4) Record both the horizontal and vertical deflection of the beam. The indicated
strain will be x 0.01mm.
5) Add 0.5 lb additional weight to the weight hanger. Again, record the
horizontal and vertical deflection of the beam.
6) Repeat Step 5 until a total weight applied to the weight hanger is equal to 3.5
lbs.
7) Repeat Steps 1 through 6 for a total of two trials.
8) Move the weight hanger and deflection indicator dials to the davit of the
testing apparatus and repeat the process for the davit.

Figure 3: Diagram of the deflection of curved beam apparatus. (Adapted from Materials
Laboratory Manual, Fall 2010, University of Memphis, Department of M.E.)

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Results

Table 1: Dimensions and properties of the curved beam and davit with the calculated
moment of inertia used for both beams of the testing apparatus.
Radius R of Semicircular Member (in) 5.9
Radius R of Davit (in) 5.9
Length L of Vertical Leg of Davit (in) 2.95
Modulus E of Beams' Material (psi) 3.00E+07
Width of Beams (in) 1.0
Thickness T of Beams (in) 0.12
Moment of Inertia I of Beams (in4) 1.44E-04

Table 2: Experimental data of the curved beam, including the applied load, horizontal
deflection and vertical deflection, paired with the calculated horizontal and vertical
deflection.
Experimental Theoretical Experimental Theoretical
P (lbf)
ΔV x 0.01 in ΔV x 0.01 in ΔH x 0.01 in ΔH x 0.01 in
0.5 2.1 3.7 1.3 4.8
1.0 5.9 7.5 6.1 9.5
1.5 9.6 11.2 11.6 14.3
2.0 13.1 14.9 15.7 19.0
2.5 19.5 18.7 17.6 23.8
3.0 22.1 22.4 20.6 28.5
3.5 24.9 26.1 26.0 33.3

Table 3: Experimental data of the davit, including the applied load, horizontal deflection
and vertical deflection, paired with the calculated horizontal and vertical deflection.
Experimental Theoretical Experimental Theoretical
P (lbf)
ΔV x 0.01 in ΔV x 0.01 in ΔH x 0.01 in ΔH x 0.01 in
0.5 2.4 3.1 1.9 2.7
1.0 5.6 6.1 4.5 5.3
1.5 8.2 9.2 7.0 8.0
2.0 11.1 12.2 9.5 10.7
2.5 14.1 15.3 12.2 13.4
3.0 17.2 18.3 15.0 16.0
3.5 20.4 21.4 17.7 18.7

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Vertical Deflection of Semicircular Beam due to Loading

30.0

25.0
Vertical Deflection (x 0.01 in)

20.0

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Applied Load (lbf)

Experimental ΔV Theoretical ΔV

Figure 4: Graph of the experimental vertical deflection due to applied load of the
semicircular beam. Superimposed are the theoretical values of the vertical deflection of
the semicircular beam.

Horizontal Deflection of Semicircular Beam due to Loading

35.0

30.0
Horizontal Deflection (x 0.01 in)

25.0

20.0

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Loading Force (lbf)

Experimental ΔH Theoretical ΔH

Figure 5: Graph of the experimental horizontal deflection due to applied load of the
semicircular beam. Superimposed are the theoretical values of the horizontal deflection
of the semicircular beam.

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Vertical Deflection of Davit due to Loading

25.0

20.0
Vertical Deflection (x 0.01 in)

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Loading Force (lbf)

Experimental ΔV Theoretical ΔV

Figure 6: Graph of the experimental vertical deflection due to applied load of the davit.
Superimposed are the theoretical values of the vertical deflection of the davit.

Horizontal Deflection of Davit due to Loading

20.0

18.0

16.0
Horizontal Deflection ( x 0.01 in)

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Loading Force (lbf)

Experimental ΔH Theoretical ΔH

Figure 7: Graph of the experimental horizontal deflection due to applied load of the
davit. Superimposed are the theoretical values of the horizontal deflection of the davit.

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Discussion & Conclusion
It was noted that the calculation and experimental values of the horizontal and
vertical deflections for both the davit and semicircular beam were not in complete
agreement. Thus, a percent error analysis was performed to determine the degree of this
discrepancy.

Table 4: Percent error analysis of the experimental and calculated vertical and
horizontal deflections of the curved beam of the testing apparatus.
% Error in % Error in
Experimental Theoretical Experimental Theoretical
Vertical Horizontal
ΔV x 0.01 in ΔV x 0.01 in ΔH x 0.01 in ΔH x 0.01 in
Deflection ΔV Deflection ΔH
2.1 3.7 44.6% 1.3 4.8 73.1%
5.9 7.5 21.2% 6.1 9.5 35.4%
9.6 11.2 14.1% 11.6 14.3 19.0%
13.1 14.9 12.1% 15.7 19.0 17.4%
19.5 18.7 4.5% 17.6 23.8 25.8%
22.1 22.4 1.3% 20.6 28.5 28.0%
24.9 26.1 4.8% 26.0 33.3 21.8%

Table 5: Percent error analysis of the experimental and calculated vertical and
horizontal deflections of the davit member of the testing apparatus.
% Error in % Error in
Experimental Theoretical Experimental Theoretical
Vertical Horizontal
ΔV x 0.01 in ΔV x 0.01 in ΔH x 0.01 in ΔH x 0.01 in
Deflection ΔV Deflection ΔH
2.4 3.1 21.4% 1.9 2.7 28.6%
5.6 6.1 9.2% 4.5 5.3 15.7%
8.2 9.2 10.7% 7.0 8.0 12.2%
11.1 12.2 9.2% 9.5 10.7 10.9%
14.1 15.3 7.5% 12.2 13.4 9.0%
17.2 18.3 5.9% 15.0 16.0 6.5%
20.4 21.4 4.6% 17.7 18.7 5.4%

Upon reviewing the results of the error analysis, it was determined that the initial
loading of the beam is where the highest percentage of error occurred. This was due to
the fact that a small difference of values of one order of magnitude yields a high
percentage of error. It was noted that as the loading increased, the percentage of error
trended downwards and the theoretical and experimental results were more in agreement.

It was observed that the experimental values of horizontal and vertical deflection
for both beam specimens are lower in value than the theoretical values for each. This
was due to error in the experiment. One source of error in this experiment is due to faulty

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deflection indicators. It can be seen in Figures 4 and 5 that the experimental deflections
as a function of loading force form a polynomial curve fit, where as the theoretical values
of deflection form a linear function. The error in the experimental values was caused by
the deflection indicators of the apparatus sticking and exerting a force on the beam,
thereby preventing the beam from deflecting to the full extend the loading force would
cause. It can be seen in Figures 6 and 7 that the experimental data took the shape of a
linear function resembling the theoretical data. After it was noted that the indicators were
inhibiting the deflection of the beam, a new experimental technique was adopted. This
technique consisted of lightly hitting the table the apparatus was placed upon so as to
vibrate the beam and counteract the friction present inside the deflection indicators. This
technique seemed to allow for more accurate values of deflection to be recorded as the
percent error analysis and graphs show.

Improvements to this experiment are in order. One such improvement would be


to use digital deflection indicators. The deflection indicators currently on the test
apparatus are clearly faulty and require mental math on the fly to determine the actual
values. The use of digital equipment would remove a lot of the guesswork in dealing
with this particular testing apparatus. Another improvement would be use weights in
kilograms instead of pounds so that unit conversion is not necessary to arrive at the
theoretical and experimental values of deflection.

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Appendix
Data Usage

Sample calculation of theoretical vertical deflection of the semicircular beam at a


loading force of 0.5 lbf:

[π * 0.5 lbf * (5.9 in)3] / [2 * 30 x 106 psi * 0.000144 in4] = 0.037 in = 3.7 x 0.01 in

Sample calculation of theoretical horizontal deflection of the semicircular beam at a


loading force of 0.5 lbf:

[2 * 0.5 lbf * (5.9 in)3] / [30 x 106 psi * 0.000144 in4] = 0.048 in = 4.8 in x 0.01 in

Sample calculation of percent error of the experimental and theoretical values of the
horizontal loading force of 0.5 lbf for the semicircular beam:

[|0.048 in – 0.013in| / 0.048 in] * 100 = 73.1%

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Bibliography

Energy Methods in Structural Analysis


Version 2 CE IIT, Kharagpur, (2002)

Materials Laboratory Manual, Fall 2010


University of Memphis, Department of Mechanical Engineering

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