School of Civil Engineering
Group 6_CE
211_T2_Wk7
Experiment No. 2
Kennedy Fisause, Newton Ehud
3/28/24 CE 211
Yangharry, Dokta Urame
CE 211 introduction to Structures, Lecturer: Ms. Grace Wantepe,
1. Kennedy Fisause 23302336
2. Newton Ehud Yangharry 23301444 Lab Conducted on: 14th March 2024
3. Dokta Urame 22300416 Lab due on: 28th March 2024
Group 6_CE 211_T2_Wk7
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Theory ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Materials and Methods ...................................................................................................................... 6
Results and Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 7
Discussions........................................................................................................................................ 11
Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Appendices ....................................................................................................................................... 13
References ............................................................................................................................................ 15
Peer Evaluation ................................................................................................................................. 16
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Introduction
In every day experiences, it is observed that whenever a force is applied on a body,
it exerts a reaction. For example, when a ceiling fan is hung from a girder, it is
subjected to two forces. First is weight of the fan and next is upward reaction. In the
same way, the experiment titled ‘Reactions of a Simply Supported Beam
(Superposition), intents to measures the reaction to the simply supported beam due
to external loading and to verify the principal of superposition. Most beams are long
bars, and the loads are usually applied normal to the axes of the bars (Kraige, 2006).
Beam being the structural member offers resistance to bending to any loadings.
Thus, the experiment has been performed to measures the reactions of the beam
due to increasing loads. The reactions can be best described as the deflection of
beam. The experiment is concerned with the applied external loading and the
reactions acting on the beam. Thus using equations of equilibrium, the internal
forces and bending moments distribution along the beam can be calculated. Beam
being the most important of all structural members, so its essential to analyze its
load – carrying capacities and its equilibrium requirements. Next important concept is
to establish the relationship between forces and internal resistance of the beam to
support these forces. The type of loading on the beam employed is concentrated
load.
The beam employed were illustrated in figure below.
Figure 1: Display Four different phases of the loading
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Theory
Beam is a structural member whose axial length is greater than its lateral length.
When a beam is loaded, the applied loads have tendency to cause failure of the
beam. Whether or not the beam fails depends entirely on the amount of the loading
and on the size and strength of the beam in use. As a matter of fact, the reactions
depend on the type of loading (Khurmi).
There are three (3) types of loading:
I. Concentrated or point load
II. Uniformly distributed load (UDL)
III. Uniformly varying load (UVL)
Concentrated load, is a load acting on a beam at a point shown in figure 2.
Figure 2: Shows a point load
The reactions at two support of the beam can be found by any one of the following
methods:
I. Analytical method
II. Graphical method
The types of beams supports are:
i. Simply supported beams
The reaction is always vertical
Figure 3: Simply supported beam
Cantilever beam
A beam that is fixed at one end and free at the other
Figure 4: cantilever beam
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Overhanging beam
beam supported at one point and extend beyond another point
Figure 5: overhanging beam
ii. Roller supported beams
The reactions is always normal to the support
Figure 6: Roller end support
iii. Hinged beams
For hinged beam, the reactions can be horizontal, vertical or inclined
Figure 7: Hinged end
Most times, beams are subjected to clockwise or anticlockwise moment. Such cases,
the magnitude of moment is taken into considerations.
The three equations of equilibrium are as follows:
∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 0 ………………… Eq (1)
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0 ………………… Eq (2)
∑𝑀 = 0 ………………… Eq (3)
Other formula, to be used for the calculation in the results are as follows;
Reactions at A
𝑅1 = (𝐹 𝑥 𝑏)/𝐿 = 𝑉1 ………………. Eq (4)
Reactions at B
𝑅2 = (𝐹 𝑥 𝑎)/𝐿 = 𝑉2 ………………. Eq (5)
Bending Moment
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = (𝐹 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 𝑏)/𝐿 ……………… Eq (6)
The action of applied loads has twin effects on the beam in terms of shear force and
Bending moments.
Shear force is “the algebraic sum of the vertical forces acting to the left or right of the
cut section” (Wantepe, 2024). The definition of Bending moment as stated by
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(Wantepe, 2024), “is the algebraic sum of the moment of the force to the left of to the
right of the section taken about the section”.
The principle of superposition is a method used to solve complex problem with
multiple loads and/or reactions acting on the member (Shanmukha, 2016).
Superposition helps us solve the problem by breaking down the members as many
times as necessary for each force acting on it.
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Materials and Methods
Before the experiment was done, the set up was done by the technician as illustrated
in figure 8. The apparatus employed simply supported beam, beam apparatus
SM104, balance, hanger, loads, meter ruler. The following figures were picture of
apparatus used in the lab.
Figure 8: Beam Appratus set up for Phase 1 to phase 4
Firstly, a series of increasing weights (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30N) has been placed at the
center of the beam. The loads were applied at the distance of 500 mm from R1. The
reactions were observed on the load scale and recorded in table.
Next, a similar series of increasing weights (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30N) has bend placed
at a distance of 650 mm from R1. The reactions were observed and recorded in
table 2. The same has been repeated for the increasing weights placed at 800 mm
from R1 and its reactions were recorded in table 3
Furthermore, a series of increasing weights (2, 5, 7, 10N) were placed each time at
the distance 500, 650 and 800 mm from R1 and its reactions were observed and
recorded in table 4.
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Results and Analysis
There were four phases of the experiment. Thus, each data recorded for each phase
were individually graphed to compare the relationship between the external loading
and the reaction.
Phase 1 @ 500 mm
Reaction vs Load
16
14
12
Reactions (N)
10
8
6
4
2
0
5 10 15 20 25 30
Load (N)
R1
Series1 R2
Series2
Figure 9: The results for Phase 1 showing The Two reactions for the increasing load at 500 mm from R1
Figure 10: Phase 1 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagram
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Phase 2 @ 650 mm
Reactions (N) Reaction verses Load
Loading (N)
R1
Series1 R2
Series2
Figure 11: The results for Phase 2 showing The Two reactions for the increasing load at 650 mm from R1
Figure 12: Phase 2 Shear Force and Bending Moment
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Phase 3 @ 800 mm
Reactions vs. Load
30
25
Reactions (N)
20
15
10
0
5 10 15 20 25 30
Load (N)
R1
Series1 R2
Series2
Figure 13: The results for phase 3 showing The Two reactions for the increasing load at 800 mm from R1
Figure 14: phase 3 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagram
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Phase 4 @ 500, 650 & 800 mm
Reactions vs. Load
30
25
Reactions (N)
20
15
10
0
5 10 15 20 25 30
Load (N)
R1
Series1 R2
Series2
Figure 15: The results showing The Two reactions for the increasing load at 500, 650 & 800 mm from R1
Figure 16: Phase 4 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagram
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Discussions
In the experiment, loads were applied to a beam at different lengths during various
phases. The reactions at the supports were measured using the Beam Apparatus
SM104.
Phase 1: Load increased from 5N to 30N at a distance of 500 mm. The theoretical
calculation slightly differed from the experimental values, likely due to random and
systematic errors. The reactions at R1 and R2 increased uniformly, with R1 reaching
5.5 N and R2 at 5.25 N when a 10 N load was applied. This uniformity occurred
because the force was applied at the beam’s center, distributing the load evenly to
both supports.
In Phase 2 and Phase 3: The distance of the applied force from R1 increased. In
Phase 1, the distance was 500mm, followed by 650mm in Phase 2 and 800mm in
Phase 3. When the load was applied close to R2, the reaction at R2 increased faster
than at R1. This behavior aligns with the law of equilibrium, which states that an
equal and opposite reaction occurs when a force is applied to a body. Thus, as the
force increased near R2, the reactions adjusted to maintain equilibrium.
For phase 4: The distributed load was applied at distances of 500mm, 650mm, and
800mm from R1. Starting at 2N, the load increased by 3N each time, reaching a final
load of 10N. Again, the reaction at R2 exceeded that at R1 because the loads were
applied closer to R2 (as indicated in Figure 15). It was evident that phases
superimposed the results in phase 1, 2 and 3. It summarizes the relation between
the external loading and the reactions. Thus phase 4 verify the principle of
superposition.
The relationships between loading and reactions on the beam always has twin effect
on the beam which is shear force and Bending moments. Thus for each of the
phases 1, 2 and 3, their Shear force and Bending moment diagram were illustrated
in figure 10, 12 and 14 respectively. However, the combined effect of the three
phases were superimposed in figure 16.
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Conclusions
In conclusion, the aim of the experiment was achieved as expected. During the
experiment, careful observations and measurements were taken and recorded.
Graphs were plotted for phases 1, 2, 3 and 4 to depict the reactions at the supports
versus the applied loads. It was observed that the reactions depend on the applied
load as well as the length of the beam, especially the concentrated load. Notably, the
reactions at the supports of a Simply Supported Beam were analyzed.
Comparing the graphs from Phases 1, 2, and 3 with the graph from Phase 4, a clear
trend emerged; In the first three phases, R2 increases greatly than in R1. In Phase
4, both R1 and R2 obey the principle of superposition. In which, the trends in phase
1, 2 and 3 were superimposed in phase 4. Thus, the aim of the experiment is
achieved by measuring reactions of the simply supported beam and it has been
verified by principle of superposition in phase 4. Further improvement can be made
by avoiding systematic and random errors during the experiment.
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Appendices
∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 0 ………………… Eq (1)
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0 ………………… Eq (2)
∑𝑀 = 0 ………………… Eq (3)
𝑅1 = (𝐹 𝑥 𝑏)/𝐿 = 𝑉1 ………………. Eq (4)
𝑅2 = (𝐹 𝑥 𝑎)/𝐿 = 𝑉2 ………………. Eq (5)
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = (𝐹 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 𝑏)/𝐿 ……………… Eq (6)
Phase 1 @ 500 mm
Reaction (N)
Applied load (N) R1 R2
5 2.5 2.75
10 5.5 5.25
15 7 8
20 9.5 9
25 12 10.5
30 14.5 12.75
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Phase 2 @ 650 mm
Reaction (N)
Applied load (N) R1 R2
5 1.75 3
10 3.5 6.5
15 5 8.75
20 6.5 11
25 8 14.25
30 10 16.5
Phase 3 @ 800 mm
Reaction (N)
Applied load (N) R1 R2
5 0.5 4
10 1.75 8.25
15 2.75 10.5
20 3.5 13.5
25 4.5 16.75
30 5.75 25.25
Phase 4 @ 500, 650 and 800 mm
Reaction (N)
Applied load (N) R1 R2
2 0.25 4
5 5 8.5
7 7.25 13
10 10 18
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References
Blog, C. E. (2024, March 25). Civil Engineering. From Principle of superposition :
https://knowledge4civil.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/principle-of-superposition-with-
example/
Khurmi, R. (n.d.). A Textbook of Engineering Mechanics. www.TechnicalbooksPdf.com.
Kraige, J. M. (2006). Engineering Mechanics STATICS (7th Edtion ed.). New York, USA: John Wiley &
Sons Inc. Retrieved 3 27, 2024
Shanmukha. (2016, December 12). Civil Engineering Blog. From Principle of superposition:
https://knowledge4civil.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/principle-of-superposition-with-
example/
Wantepe, G. (2024). Wk4, L6 Shear force and Bending moments. Lecture Notes, 10 - 11.
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Peer Evaluation
Title of Team Exercise: Group 6_CE 211_LAB 2 TEAM EFFORT EVALUATION
Agreed Team Allocation to the team
members as a percentage Based on
Team Member level of contribution
Kennedy Fisause 33.33%
Newton Yangharry Ehud 33.33%
Dokta Urame 33.33%
Team Member Team member email address
All team members contributed equally to make experiment 2 come into fruition.
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