Structural Laboratory Steel Beam

Bending Stresses

The first set of data to be studied consists of the 5 Web gages, the Top gage, and the Bottom gage. These 7 gages will be used to examine at the bending stress equation from Mechanics of Materials.

Bending Stress

Theoretical Moment

Here is the theoretical moment diagram

P 2 P 2

P 2 P 2

a
Pa 2
Pa 2

P 2

Pa 2

P 2

M M=0 at the end (assumed) M=0 at the end

This is the theoretical moment diagram. It assumes zero moments at the ends. Your theoretical moment diagram will be slightly different than this one because the two measured distances, shown as distance a, may not be exactly the same for your beam. Therefore, the reactions may be different.

Bending Stress

Bending Stresses

Here is the bending stress equation: is the experimental

theor = exp
My I = E exp

measured strain at the gages From the experimental measured strain, the experimental bending stress, , can be calculated We want to compare the theoretical and experimental bending stresses
Bending Stress 4

Here are the equations to use to calculate the bending moment through the depth of the beam.

Bending Stress Distribution

y
x

Trendline: slope=mexp
x x x x x x

Theoretical NA

Actual NA

Actual NA

Equation of a line: y=a+mx

Actual NA is where the strain (or stress) equals zero This is where the trendline goes through zero Move the NA to this point

From each gage we can calculate the bending stress using Hookes law. The location of each gage was measured earlier. Determine the y distance for each strain gage, remembering that y is measured from the Neutral Axis. Plot the stress at each gage as a function of the distance y. Put a trendline through the data points. This line shows us where the Actual Neutral Axis is located. It is where the trendline passes through zero stress. This is what we will use for the real NA.

Bending Stress

Theoretical Bending Stress

y
x

Trendline: slope=mexp
x x x x x x

Theoretical line:slope=I/M Actual NA My

I y

I M The slope of the theoretical bending stress equation is I/M m theor =

From the theoretical equation of the bending stress, we can plot the theoretical prediction line. Make sure you pass this line through the Actual Neutral Axis that was previously located.

We can plot this line It passes through the actual Neutral Axis
Bending Stress 6

Equal Slopes
y
x

Trendline: slope=mexp
x x x x x x

Theoretical line:slope=I/M Actual NA My theor =

theor. slope = m exp = m theor =

theor
I M

I M

To have the same slopes to the lines Examine the values of I and/or M that would make the slopes equal Are these values reasonable?

The slopes of the experimental trendline and the theoretical stress line will be different. How different are they? If the slopes are to be the same, what values of I or M would be required? Could these values reasonably be expected?