EXPERIMENT 2: SHEAR FORCE IN BEAMS

OBJECTIVE:
Part 1 : To comprehend the action of shear force in a beam for different load position
Part 2 : To comprehend the action of shear force in a beam for different loading at the
selected position
SET OF APPARATUS: Shear Force Machine HFC 4.
PROCEDURE:
Part 1
1) Set up the beam so that the face of the normal section is 300mm from the support A
and 600mm to the right support B as shown in Diagram (4a).
2) Position the first load hanger (W1) at 100mm from support A of the beam, the second
load hanger (W2) at part C (in the groove provided), and the third load hanger (W3)
at 400mmm from right support B of the beam.
3) Use the adjustment on the underslung spring and spring balance to align the two parts
of the beam and record the spring balance reading.
4)

Load 1 10N weight on the third load hanger (w3), realign the beam and record the
new reading on the spring balance.

5) Add another 10N weight to the third load hanger (W3), realign the beam and record
the new reading on the spring balance.
6)

Repeat the procedure (3), (4), & (5) using the second load hanger (W2) which is
300mm from support A of the beam. Record all spring balance readings.

7) Repeat the procedure (3), (4) & (5) using the first load hanger (W1) which is 100mm
from left support A of the beam. Record all spring balance readings.

Part 2
1) Position one load hanger at the middle of part X of the beam, second load hanger at
part C and third load hanger at the middle of part Y as shown in Diagram 4(b).
2) The adjustment on the underslung spring and spring balance to align the two parts of
the beam and record the spring balance reading.
3) Load 5N weight load to the first load hanger (W1) and a 12 N weight load to the third
load hanger (W3). Record the spring balance reading.
4) Unload each load hanger.
5) Repeat the procedure (2), (3), and (4) with different weight loads in accordance with
the table in Part 2.

NOTATIONS
VE

Experimental shear force, N

VT

Theoretical shear force, N

W1

Weight on the first load hanger, N

W2 =

Weight on the second load hanger, N

W3 =

Wight on the third load hanger, N

OBSERVATIONS FOR PART 1 & 2

a)

When the load was doubled in the Part 1 of the experiment, did the shear force
double?

b)

How well did the experimental results agree with the theoretical values? Use the
average of the ratios Experiment VE / Theory VT.

RESULTS:
Part 1
a) Load on 3rd hanger
(400mm from B)
Spring balance force
Exp. Shear (VE)
Theoretical shear
Ration VE / VT

(N)
(N)
(N)
(N)
(N)

b)
Load on
on 12stndhanger
hanger
c) Load
(300mm
(N)
(100mm from
from B)
B)
(N)
Spring
(N)
Spring balance
balance force
force
(N)
Exp.
(N)
Exp. Shear
Shear (V
(VEE))
(N)
Theoretical
shear
(N)
Theoretical shear
(N)
Ration
V
(N)
E / VT
Ration VE / VT
(N)
Part 2
Load (N) at positions
W1

W2

10

20

00

10
10

20
20

Balance Force

W3

0
0
0
5
0
12
5
2
10
5
10
10
Average of Ration Expt. / Theory

(N)

Shear (N)
Expt.

Theory

Ratio

_________________.

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