Experiment To Verify Shearing Force in Beams

UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
STRUCTURES PRACTICALS
STRUCTURAL MECHANICS LABORATORY
BEng (HONS) CIVIL ENGINEERING P/T E411

YEAR 1-SEMESTER 1
MODULE: INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURES
REPORT OF EXPERIMENT 1997/2: SHEARING FORCE IN BEAMS

This experiment is designed to understand the action of shear force in a
beam.
SUBMITTED BY:
GROUP 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
LUCKEENARAIN Yogesh Kumar (Student ID:1113061)

MATTAPULLUT Mahendra Kumar (Student ID: 1118235)
BHUNJUN Vandana (Student ID:1115699)
OLLITE Mohammad Jamiil Ally (Student ID: 1100350)
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 18th NOVEMBER 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
THEORY
2-3
EXPERIMENTATION
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
TABULATION OF RESULTS
THEORETICAL RESULTS
TABULATION OF THEORETICAL RESULTS
COMPARISON OF THEORETICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
DISCUSSION
PRECAUTIONS
LIMITATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
CONCLUSION
10
REFERENCES
11
INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURES | CIVE1105
6-8
INTRODUCTION
A force is any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, a change in
direction, or a change in shape. Force can also be described by intuitive concepts such as a
push or pull that can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (which includes to
begin moving from a state of rest), i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object
to deform.
A force has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector quantity. Force is a quantity that
is measured using the standard metric unit known as the Newton.
There are different types of forces that act in different ways on structures such as bridges, chairs,
buildings, in fact any structure. The main examples of forces are shown below.
Static load- the effect of gravity on an object or structure.

Dynamic load- the forces that move or change when acting on a structure.
Tension- the magnitude of the pulling force exerted by a string, cable, chain, or similar
object on another object.

Compression- the degree to which a substance has decreased in size (in volume, length,
or some other dimension) after being or while being subject to stress that is when a force
is applied to it.
Shear Force- an internal force in any material which is usually caused by any external
force acting perpendicular to the material, or a force which has a component acting
tangent to the material.

Torsion- The stress or deformation caused when one end of an object is twisted in one
direction and the other end is held motionless or twisted in the opposite direction.
Shear force is an internal force in any material which is usually caused by any force acting
perpendicular to the material, or a force which has a component acting tangent to the material.
A shear force diagram is simply constructed by moving a section along the beam from (say)
the left origin and summing the forces to the left of the section. The equilibrium condition
states that the forces on either side of a section balance and therefore the resisting shear force
of the section is obtained by this simple operation.
The bending moment diagram is obtained in the same way except that the moment is the sum
of the product of each force and its distance(x) from the section. Distributed loads are
calculated buy summing the product of the total force (to the left of the section) and the
distance(x) of the centroid of the distributed load.
The sketches below show simply supported beams with on concentrated force.
THEORY
In this experiment, we will deal with the shearing forces that exist in a split beam in two, part (A)
and part (B), joined by a ball bearing rolls at the normal section. Spring balances are placed onto
the system firstly to resist and avoid bending moments and secondly to provide vertical shearing
force.
The ends of the beam are supported by bearing stands, and to introduce the forces shaped loads
and hangers can be placed to the beam at different distance from the section.
For the first part of the experiment, we would vary the applied loads only at the different position
on the beam keeping the distance between the hangers fixed. And for the second part, the
hangers and support would be moved at different position on the beam.
The springs used to hold the split beam together must produce a system of forces equivalent to
those which would exist internally in the beam at that section as if it was not split. Since the
forces in part (A) acting on part (B) is equal but opposite to those in (B) acting on (A), the same
values will be obtained by working either on the right or left of the section plane.
Given a horizontal beam with vertical loading, the internal forces will be:
For vertical equilibrium, a shearing force in the section plane.

For equilibrium of moments, a moment of resistance due to compression in the top half
of beam section and tension in the bottom half.
OBJECTIVES
To understand the action of the shear in the beam and to measure the shearing force of a normal
section of a loaded beam and to compare with the theory.
Equipments
Shear force apparatus with supports, 3 hangers, weights (10.0N 20.0N) and a spirit level.
Set Up
The apparatus is set up shown as below
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
PART 1
The beam is set up so that the face of the normal section is 300mm, labeled as (A)
from the left hand support and 600mm from the right hand support, labeled as (B).
One load hanger is positioned on the middle of the smaller part (A) of the beam, one
in the middle of the part (B)
Place a third hanger on the groove just to the right of the normal section, which is on the
start of section (B).

Measure the distance between the hangers and the supports and label them x and y for the
smaller section and longer section, respectively.

Make the necessary adjustment to the under hang and spring balance so that the two parts
of the system are aligned and level, and the reading on the spring balance is noted.(Note:
A spirit level is used for the leveling process)

A load of 10N is hanged on the part (B), the beam is re-aligned and the new reading
indicated on the spring balance is noted.

The difference between the two readings is the effect of applying the 1N weight on the
beam.
Record the distance from this weight to the right hand support.
The procedure is repeated using the hanger just to the right of the normal section.
The hanger is then moved just to the left of the normal section and both the spring
balance and distance from left hand support were noted.
The 10N load is transferred to the hanger at the middle of part (A) and the reading is
again noted.
Finally the procedures above are repeated now using the load 20N and the differences
in the spring balance readings is again calculated.
PART 2
Remove all loads and realign and level the beam again. Return all the hangers to the
initial position.
For the second part of this experiment, all the 3 hangers must be loaded, and the beam
system must be realigned and leveled. The spring balance reading, the applied loads, and
the length between the hanger and the supports are noted for the new configuration of the
loads.
The procedure is repeated with different distance between supports with the load
hangers in different position and with different spans.
TABULATION OF RESULTS
PART 1
Note: Middle hanger on the right position of the split
Breakage/Split
Exp.
No.
Distance between
spans
X(mm)
300
600
2
3
4
5
6
300
300
300
300
300
600
600
600
600
600
300
600
Spring Balance
Load applied on
hanger
Y(mm) A(N)
B(N)
reading
C(N)
Initial(N)
Final(N)
(Without
(With
Load)
Load)
10
10
10
10
10
10
20
20
20
Shearing
Force
(N)
2.5
3.0
0.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
6.0
-2.5
12
6.0
-0.9
2.5
No reading
3.5
-1.5
9.5
3.5
-3.4
No
reading
Note: Shear Force = Measured value with load Initial Measured value without load
PART 2
Note: Middle hanger on the left position of the split
Breakage/Split
B
X
C
Y
Exp. Distance between Load applied on

No.
spans
X(mm) Y(mm)
Spring Balance reading Shearing

Force
hanger
(N)
A(N) B(N) C(N) Initial(N) Final(N)
1
2
3
300
300
300
500
500
500
10
4
5
300
300
500
500
10
20
10
10
10
20
10
20
(Without
(With
Load)
1.0
1.0
1.0
Load)
2.0
2.3
No reading
1.0
1.0
6.0
12.0
1.0
1.3
No
reading
5.0
11.0
Note: Shear Force = Measured value with load Initial Measured value without load
THEORETICAL RESULTS
To allow determination of all of the external loads a free-body diagram is construction with
all of the loads and supports replaced by their equivalent forces. A typical free-body diagram
is shown below.
The unknown forces (generally the support reactions) are then determined using the equations
for plane static equilibrium.
For example considering the simple beam above the reaction R2 is determined by Summing
the moments about R1 to zero
R2. L - W.a = 0 Therefore R2 = W.a / L
R1 is determined by summing the vertical forces to 0
W - R1 - R2 = 0 Therefore R1 = W - R2
Part 1
10N
(i)
A
B
RA
300 mm
600 mm
RB
Let RA be the vertical reaction at A and let RB be the vertical reaction at B
And let X/mm be the distance along the span.
Using Equation of statics
For equilibrium of the beam at any point,
M =0, V = 0 & H=0
Taking point A as moment centre

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (10 X 600) = (RB X 900)
RB = 6.67N
V =0
RA + RB = 10N
RA = 10 6.67 = 3.33N
Shear Force Diagram
S.F
3.33
+ve
0
300
600
900
X/mm
-ve
-6.67
Therefore, from the shear force diagram, Shear force at split (300 mm from point A) = 3.33 KN
(ii)
10N
A
B
RA
300 mm
600 mm
RB

M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (10 X 300) = (RB X 900)
RB = 3.33N
V =0
RA + RB =10N
RA = 10 3.33 = 6.67N
S.F
Shear Force Diagram
6.67
+ve
0
300
-ve
900
X/mm
3.33
(iii)
10N
A
B
RA
300 mm
600 mm
RB

M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (10 X 150) = (RB X 900)
RB = 1.67N
V =0
RA + RB =10N
RA = 10 1.67 = 8.33N
S.F
Shear Force Diagram
8.3
+ve
0
150
300
-ve
900
X/mm
-1.67
Therefore, from the shear force diagram, Shear force at split (300 mm from point A) = -1.67 KN
(iv)
10N
10N
10N
A
B
RA
300 mm
600 mm
RB

M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (10 X 150) + (10 X 300) + (10 X 600) = (RB X 900)
RB = 11.67N
V =0
RA + RB =30N
RA = 30 11.67 = 18.33N
S.F
18.33
8.33
Shear Force Diagram
+ve
0
150
300
-ve
900
X/mm
-1.67
-11.67
(v)
20N
A
B
RA
300 mm
600 mm
RB

M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (20 X 600) = (RB X 900)
RB = 13.3N
V =0
RA + RB = 20N
RA = 20 13.3 = 6.7N
Shear Force Diagram
S.F
6.7
+ve
0
300
600
900
X/mm
-ve
-13.3
(vi)
20N
A
B
RA
300 mm
600 mm
RB
M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (20 X 300) = (RB X 900)
RB = 6.67N
V =0
RA + RB =20N
RA = 20 6.67 = 13.3N
Shear Force Diagram
S.F
13.3
+ve
0
-6.67
300
-ve
900
X/mm
Therefore, from the shear force diagram, Shear force at split (300 mm from point A) = 0 KN
(vii)
20N
A
B
RA
300 mm
600 mm
RB

M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (20 X 150) = (RB X 900)
RB = 3.33N
V =0
RA + RB =20N
RA = 20 3.33 = 16.67N
Shear Force Diagram
S.F
16.67
+ve
0
150
300
-ve
900
X/mm
-3.33
Part 2
(i)
10N
A
B
RA
300 mm
500 mm
RB
M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (10 X 550) = (RB X 800)
RB = 6.875N
V =0
RA + RB = 10N
RA = 10 6.875 = 3.125N
Shear Force Diagram
S.F
3.13
+ve
0
300
550
800
X/m
m
-ve
-6.88
Therefore, from the shear force diagram, Shear force at split (300 mm from point A)
= 3.13 KN.
(ii)
10N
A
B
RA
300 mm
500 mm
RB
M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (10 X 300) = (RB X 800)
RB = 3.75N
V = 0
RA + RB =10N
RA = 10 3.75 = 6.257N
Shear Force Diagram
S.F
6.25
+ve
0
300
-ve
800
X/mm
-3.75
Therefore, from the shear force diagram, Shear force at split (300 mm from point A) =0.0 KN
(iii)
10N
A
B
RA
300 mm
500 mm
RB

M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (10 X 150) = (RB X 800)
RB = 1.88N
V = 0
RA + RB =10N
RA = 10 1.88 = 8.12N
Shear Force Diagram
S.F
8.12
+ve
0
150
300
-ve
800
X/mm
-1.88
(iv)
10N
A
B
10N
10N
RA
300 mm
500 mm
RB

M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (10 X 150) + (10 X 300) + (10 X 550) = (RB X 800)
RB = 12.5N
V = 0
RA + RB =30N
RA = 30 12.5 = 17.5N
Shear Force Diagram
S.F
17.5
7.5
0
+ve
150
300
-ve
800
X/mm
-2.5
-12.5
(v)
20N
A
B
20N
20N
RA
300 mm
500 mm
RB

M =0, V = 0 & H=0

M at A =0
(RA X 0)+ (20 X 150) + (20 X 300) + (20 X 550) = (RB X 800)
RB = 25N
V = 0
RA + RB =60N
RA = 60 25 = 35N
Shear Force Diagram
S.F
35
15
150
300
550
800
X/mm
-ve
-5
-25
Therefore, from the shear force diagram, Shear force at split (300 mm from point A)
= 15.0 KN
TABULATION OF THEORETICAL RESULTS

Part 1
Exp. Distance between Load applied on hanger
No. spans
Vertical Reaction
Shearing Force
(At split)
(N)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
X(mm) Y(mm)
300
600
300
600
300
600
300
600
300
600
300
600
300
600
A(N)
B(N)
C(N)
RA
3.33
6.67
8.33
18.3
6.7
13.3
16.7
10
10
10
10
10
10
20
20
20
RB
6.67
3.33
1.67
11.7
13.3
6.70
3.33
3.33
0.00
-1.67
8.33
6.70
0.00
-3.33
Part 2
Exp. Distance between Load applied on hanger Vertical Reaction
No.
1
2
3
4
5
spans
X(mm)
300
300
300
300
300
Y(mm)
500
500
500
500
500
A(N) B(N)
C(N)
10
10
10
10
20
10
20
10
20
RA
3.13
6.25
8.12
17.5
35
RB
6.88
3.75
1.88
12.5
25
Shearing
Force(At Split)
(N)
3.13
0.00
-1.88
7.5
15.0
COMPARISON OF THEORETICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

PART 1
Exp. Distance
Load applied on hanger Shearing Force

(N)
No. between spans

X(mm) Y(mm) A(N)
B(N)
C(N)
1
300
600
10
2
300
600
10
3
300
600
10
4
300
600
10
10
10
5
300
600
20
6
300
600
20
7
300
600
20
Experimental Theoretical
0.5
3.5
-1.5
9.5
3.5
-3.4
No reading
3.33
0.00
-1.67
8.33
6.70
0.00
-3.33
PART 2
Exp.
No.
Distance
Load applied on
between spans
hanger
X(mm) Y(mm) A(N) B(N) C(N)
Shearing Force
(N)
Experimenta
l
Theoretical
3.13
0.00
-1.88
7.50
15.0
1
2
3
4
300
300
300
300
500
500
500
500
10
10
10
10
1.0
1.3
No reading
5.0
300
500
20
20
20
11.0
10
10
DISCUSSION
When comparing the theoretical values of shear force with experimental values from the
tables above, the ratio of experimental shear force to theoretical shear force is more or less
equal to 1. This indicates the experimental results are compatible with the
theoretical/calculated results.
PRECAUTIONS
1. For each condition of loading, we should ensure that the beam is horizontal by using
the spirit level.
2. Excessive loads need to be avoided.
3. The foot of the tripods is held with two boxes so as to avoid the beam from sliding
when adding and adjusting the load.
4. The screw above the spring balance is adjusted carefully to ensure the beam is
horizontal.
5. The screw in the under slung spring is adjusted to remove any bending effect because
if there is a bending effect, the reaction obtained on the spring balance will be
different.
6. Care should be taken all throughout the experiment as it deals with sufficiently large
loads which are able to cause injuries (for example, if it falls on the foot).
7. We should avoid parallax error when reading the spring balance.
LIMITATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
The spring balance was not so accurate; instead a Digital Force Display meter could
has been used instead to obtain more precise values.

At the normal section where there is a pair of ball bearing rollers pinned in B, running
on a flat vertical track fixed in A, friction could has existed and hence affecting the
values noted. The ball bearing should be lubricated continuously during the
experiment.
CONCLUSION
There is a slight difference between the experimental results and theoretical values, which
were perhaps due to the laboratory equipments, especially the spring balance, and due to
friction which we neglected while doing this experiment. The experiment was a time
consuming one and requiring maximum attention.
This experiment helped us to understand the action of shear force in a beam. When the load
was doubled in part 1 of the experiment, the shear force was also doubled as shown in both
experimental and theoretical values. This is because shear force does not vary with the
distance from the point of application of the force but it depends on the magnitude of the
force on the application. The shear force is always maximum at supports and it creates a
shearing effect there.
REFERENCES
Textbook
R.S.KURMI, S.CHAND
Strength of materials (Mechanics of solids)
(Pages 355-357)
Er.R.K.Rajput
5th Edition 2010
Reprint 2011
(Pages 206-214)
Websites
Douglas R. Rammer - United States Department of Agriculture - Research Paper

FPL-RP527
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrp/fplrp527.pdf
[Accessed on: 14/11/11]
Forces - V. Ryan 2002 2010

http://www.technologystudent.com/forcmom/force1.htm
The physics classroom-Newtons law-Lesson 2

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/u2l2b.cfm
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shear force diagram and definition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force
Other websites
http://wiki.answers.com
http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Beams/Shear_Bending.html

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UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

BEng (HONS) CIVIL ENGINEERING P/T E411

REPORT OF EXPERIMENT 1997/2: SHEARING FORCE IN BEAMS

LUCKEENARAIN Yogesh Kumar (Student ID:1113061)

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 18th NOVEMBER 2011

INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURES | CIVE1105

Static load- the effect of gravity on an object or structure.

object on another object.

tangent to the material.

INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURES | CIVE1105

INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURES | CIVE1105

INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURES | CIVE1105

For vertical equilibrium, a shearing force in the section plane.

INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURES | CIVE1105

INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURES | CIVE1105

start of section (B).

smaller section and longer section, respectively.

A spirit level is used for the leveling process)

indicated on the spring balance is noted.

Exp. Distance between Load applied on

Spring Balance reading Shearing

Taking point A as moment centre

Using Equation of statics

Taking point A as moment centre

Shear Force Diagram

Let RA be the vertical reaction at A and let RB be the vertical reaction at B

Taking point A as moment centre

Shear Force Diagram

Let RA be the vertical reaction at A and let RB be the vertical reaction at B

Taking point A as moment centre

Shear Force Diagram

Let RA be the vertical reaction at A and let RB be the vertical reaction at B

Taking point A as moment centre

Taking point A as moment centre

Shear Force Diagram

Let RA be the vertical reaction at A and let RB be the vertical reaction at B

Taking point A as moment centre

Taking point A as moment centre

Taking point A as moment centre

Let RA be the vertical reaction at A and let RB be the vertical reaction at B

Taking point A as moment centre

Let RA be the vertical reaction at A and let RB be the vertical reaction at B

Taking point A as moment centre

Let RA be the vertical reaction at A and let RB be the vertical reaction at B

Taking point A as moment centre

TABULATION OF THEORETICAL RESULTS

COMPARISON OF THEORETICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Load applied on hanger Shearing Force

No. between spans

LIMITATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS

has been used instead to obtain more precise values.

Douglas R. Rammer - United States Department of Agriculture - Research Paper

Forces - V. Ryan 2002 2010

The physics classroom-Newtons law-Lesson 2

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Accessed on: 14/11/11]

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