Department of Civil Engineering, ISM Dhanbad

Structural Analysis-I Practical Manual

Deflection of Curved Members
Aim of the experiment: To determine the elastic displacement of the curved members experimentally
and verification of the same by theoretical results.
Apparatus required: Various curved members, viz. quadrant of a circle, semicircle with straight arm,
quadrant of a circle with straight arm and circle, dial gauge, weights, scale and etc.
Theory: Castigliano's first theorem is used to find the elastic displacements of curved members.
Theorem states that the partial derivative of the total strain energy of a linearly elastic structure
expressed in terms of displacements with respect to any displacement j at coordinate j is equal to the
force Pj at coordinate j. The theorem may be expressed symbolically as
U
Pj
j
In all cases the horizontal B,horizontal and vertical deflection B,vertical due to vertical load W are to be
determined. These deflections are obtained by using Castigliano's first theorem where strain energy
due to bending only is taken into account. The results obtained for the four curved members is given
as below a) Quadrant of a circle
Fixed at A and free at B (having radius R) and subjected to a concentrated load W at free
end.
B
W
R
A

Figure 1.a

Prepared by Puja rajhans

Department of Civil Engineering, ISM Dhanbad

Structural Analysis-I Practical Manual

Vertical displacement of load =

B, vertical =

WR 3
4 EI

Horizontal displacement of load = B, horizontal =

WR 3
2 EI

b) Semicircle with straight arm

From A to B is a semi circle of radius R, B to C is a straight length of y
W
B

C
y

A
Vertical displacement of loaded point C Figure 1.b
W
[2 y 3 3R (2y 2 8 y R R 2 )]
6 EI
C, vertical =

Horizontal

displacements of loaded point C = C, horizontal =

WR 2
(y 2 R)
EI

c) Quadrant with a straight leg

From A to B is a quadrant of a circle of radius R and from B to C, straight length of y.
Prepared by Puja rajhans

Department of Civil Engineering, ISM Dhanbad

Structural Analysis-I Practical Manual

A
W
R
B
y
C
Figure 1.c

Vertical displacement of load point A = A, vertical =

WR 3 WR 2 y

4 EI
EI

Horizontal displacement of load point A = A, horizontal =

d) Circle of radius R

WR
( R y) 2
2 EI

W
B
R

A
Figure 1.d

Prepared by Puja rajhans

Department of Civil Engineering, ISM Dhanbad

Structural Analysis-I Practical Manual

Vertical displacement of loaded point B =

B, vertical

WR 3
( 2 8)
4EI

Procedure:
1. Place a load on the hanger to activate the member and treat this as the initial position for
measuring deflections.
2. Fix the dial gauges for measuring horizontal and vertical deflections.
3. Place the additional loads at the steps mentioned in the table below for each case and tabulate
the values of dial gauge reading against the applied loads.
4. Plot the graph load Vs deflection for each case to show that the structure remains within the
elastic limit.
5. Measure the value of R and straight length in each case. Find width and depth of
steel section and calculate the value of I as bd3/12.
Observations and table:
Width of section (mm) b

Depth of section (mm) d

=
bd 3
12

Least moment of inertia

E (N/mm2)

= 2 x 106.

(a)

Quadrant of a circle

Sl.

Additional

No.

load (kg)

Dial gauge reading (mm)

Deflection (mm)

Horizontal

Vertical

Horizonta

Vertical

direction

direction

l direction

direction

Prepared by Puja rajhans

Department of Civil Engineering, ISM Dhanbad

Structural Analysis-I Practical Manual

(b)

Quadrant with Straight leg

Sl.

Additional

No.

load (kg)

(c)

(d)

Dial gauge reading (mm)

Deflection (mm)

Horizontal

Vertical

Horizonta

Vertical

direction

direction

l direction

direction

Semi-circle with straight leg

Sl.

Additional

No.

load (kg)

Dial gauge reading (mm)

Deflection (mm)

Horizontal

Vertical

Horizonta

Vertical

direction

direction

l direction

direction

Circle
Dial gauge reading (mm)

Deflection (mm)

Prepared by Puja rajhans

Department of Civil Engineering, ISM Dhanbad

Structural Analysis-I Practical Manual
Results:

Prepared by Puja rajhans