A simple design of a laboratory testing rig for the experimental demonstration and analysis of elastic deflections of beams with different end conditions

Abstract Elastic deflection of beams is one of the major topics in the subject of Solid And Structural Mechanics or Strength of Materials, studied by students pursuing a number of programs in engineering such as Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering etc. and the appreciation of the topic by the students is certainly enhanced by doing a number of appropriate and relevant laboratory experiments. A simple design of an affordable beam deflection laboratory testing rig is presented here and an experimental demonstration is carried out on a beam loaded by a combination of loadings comprising point loads, distributed loads and couples under different end conditions, namely, simple end supports; fixed end supports; one end fixed- and one end free ( cantilever); and one end fixed- and one end propped, and corresponding deflections are recorded at specific designated points along the length of the beam. A comparison of the experimental results of the deflections and the theoretical results obtained from the elastic beam deflection theory is made.

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Updated: June 25, 2023 — 2:39 pm