Plastic Behaviour of Steel Beams

Aim: To study the plastic behavior of steel beams and to determine the collapse load of the beam. Details of test specimen: Provide a neat sketch of the test specimen along with its dimensions and geometric properties Apparatus used: List the apparatus used in the experiment and describe them briefly Background: Brief description of the plastic theory and its importance in steel construction. Brief description of the plastic hinge concept and plastic collapse load Brief derivation of the formula for finding the plastic moment capacity of a propped cantilever with a concentrated load. Experimental setup and procedure: Neat sketch of the setup showing the location of the strain gauges, dial gauge, point of application of the loads, support condition and the orientation of the chosen coordinate system
c P a L

Q b

A square rod of span L is restrained against translation and rotation at one end (A) and against vertical translation at the other end (C). It is subjected to a concentrated load at B, at a distance a from the rotationally restrained end. A pair of strain gauges at top and bottom fibres are provided at sections P and Q at distance c and d from A and B respectively. A load cell is provided at C to measure the vertical reaction at the right support. A dial gauge is located at B to measure vertical deflection. The load is applied at point B from a hanger rod at 10 kg increments. All the readings (strain gauges, load cell and dial gauge) are taken after each load increment. The increment in load is reduced to 5 kg closer to failure load in order to obtain failure load accurately and more readings closer to the failure load. Failure is indicated by large increase in deformation and continuous increase in deformation with time. After failure take a piece from the undisturbed portion and do tension test to obtain the yield strength of the material. 1. Measure the cross-section of the rod at several places with a vernier and also determine the span and the load position with a scale. 2. Calculate the expected collapse load by assuming the mechanism and by drawing the bending moment diagram at collapse. Assume mild steel of yield strength 250 MPa. 3. Apply the load by means of weights and note the reaction as well as strains and deflections.

4. In the tension test, note the failure mode and the yield and ultimate stresses and the corresponding strains. Observation: 1. Table 1: Readings from the load cell and strain gauges Load, kg Load cell readings Top Strain gauge readings At P Bottom Top At Q Bottom

2. Table 2: Readings from the dial gauge below the load Load Kg. Raw Dial Gauge reading (mm) Main Vern

Detailed Calculations: 1. Table 3: The value of the strains at various locations Load, Strain, (*10-6) kg At P At Q Top Bottom Top Bottom 2. Table 4: Deflection at B Load, kg Observed Deflection, (mm) Theoretical Deflection, (mm)

3. Table 5: Reaction at C Load, kg Observed Reaction Theoretical Reaction

4. Table 6: Bending moment at A and B Bending moment at A Bending moment at B Elastic Based on Based on Elastic Based on Based on Load, kg analysis Strains observed analysis Strains observed reaction reaction 5. Figure 1: Experimental and theoretical load versus deflection plots identifying the yield and ultimate load levels 6. Figure 2: Experimental and theoretical load versus reactions plots 7. Figure 3: Load versus moment at A (3 curves) 8. Figure 4: Load versus moment at B (3 curves) 9. Compare the yield and collapse loads obtained from the test with the predictions.

Discussion: Comment on the results obtained and the observed versus expected behavior