EXPERIMENT 2

Shear Force and Bending Moment

Objective

1.) To determine the bending moment and shear force at any section.
2.) To establish relationship between bending moment and shear force at any section.

Introduction
Case 1
The shear force (F) at any section(X) of the beam is the force transverse to the beam
that causing it to shear across the section. The shear force at any section is positive if the
right-hand side tends to slide downwards relative to the left hand portion. The negative force
tends to cause the right hand portion to slide upwards relative to the left.
X

Shear force F = Load W but in opposite directions

L/2

F1
+ M1 = 0

+ Fy = 0

-P(L/2)+F2 (L)=0

F1 + F2 -P = 0

F2L=PL/2

F1 + P/2 -P= 0

F2=P/2

F1=P/2

P
P/2

P/2

V= shearing force (N)

x

M=Bending moment (NM)

V

P/2
+ Fy = 0
P/2 V = 0
V = P/2

+ Mx = 0
-P/2 (x) + M = 0
M=Px/2

Case 2
The concentrated load W caused the bending at any section X and it is measured by
the applied moment Wx, where x is the perpendicular distance between the line of action of
W and section X. This moment is called the bending moment M.
X

M = Wx

The bending moment is balanced by the moment of resistance that means an equal
and opposite moment exerted by the material of the beam at X. If the effect makes the beam
to sag at the section considered so bending moment is positive. It will be negative if the
moment tends to make the beam bend upward or hog at the section.

For any value of x, the relationship between load W and shearing force F is :W = dF / dx
And the relationship between shearing force and bending moment M is :F = dM / dx

F1
L

F2

+ M1 = 0

+ Fy = 0

-Pa P(L a) + F2L = 0

F1 + F2 P P = 0

-Pa PL + Pa + F2L = 0

F1 + P 2P = 0

-PL + F2L = 0

F1 = P

F2L = PL
F2 = P

P
a

v
P

Fy = 0

+ Mx = 0

PPV=0

- P(x) + P(x a) + M = 0

V=0

- Px + Px Pa + M = 0
M = Pa

Case 3
b

F1

F2

+ M1 = 0

F2 (L) P (L b) = 0
P (L b) = F2
L

+ Fy = 0
F1 + F2 P = 0

F1 = P F 2
=P-

P(Lb)
L

PLPL+ Pb
L

Pb
L

b
Pb/L

P(L-b)/L

V= shearing force (N)

x

M=Bending moment (NM)

V

P/2
+ Fy = 0
Pb/L V = 0
V = Pb/L

+ Mx = 0
-Pb/L(x) + M = 0
M = (Pb/L) (x)

Apparatus and Materials

1. Shear Forces apparatus : - 1 set of 80mm x 50 mm x 38mm aluminium section
2.
3.
4.
5.

with 2 adjustable span support.

1 unit of shear force dynamometer.
2 sets of weight hangers.
1 set of weights.
2m measuring tape.

Objective procedure

Case 1 : Shear force and bending moment experiment for concentrated load.

1. The 2 edge supports were set up on the base of the structural test frame at a distance
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

of 800mm from edge to edge.

The shear force apparatus was placed on the supports.
The beam was horizontally aligned by adjusting the screws.
The weight hanger was placed in the centre of the beam ( 40mm from the support).
The screws were adjusted to repeat horizontal beam alignment.
The shear force and bending moment dynamometers were zeroed.
The weights were placed as given in table below and note the shear force and

bending.
8. Horizontal beam alignment was carried out and the dynamometers are zeroed were
made sure when placing each weight.
9. The percentage error was calculated for each set of reading.

Case 2 : Shear force and bending moment experiment for symmetrical load

10 On the edge of the structural test frame is setted up the 2 edge supports at a distance of
11
12
13
14
15
16

800mm from the edge to edge.

Shear force apparatus is placed on the support.
The beam is aligned horizontally by adjusting the screws.
The weight hangers is placed at a distance of 100mm from the supports.
Screws is adjusted to repeat horizontal beam alignment.
The shear force and the bending moment dynamometers have to be zero.
The weights as given in the table below is placed and the shear force and the bending

moment values is noted.

17 Make sure horizontal beam alignment is carried out and the dynamometers are zeroed
when placing each weight.
18 The percentage error for each set of reading is calculated.

Case 3: Shear force and bending moment experiment for unsymmetrical load.

The 2 edge supports were set up on the base of the structural test frame at a distance

2
3
4
5
6

of 800mm from the edge to edge.

The shearing force apparatus was placed on the support.
The beam was aligned horizontally by adjusting the screws.
The weight hangers were placed at the distance of 300mm from the right support.
The screws were adjusted to repeat horizontal beam alignment.
The shearing force and bending dynamometers were reset to zero.

The weights as given in the table below were placed and the shearing force and

bending moment were noted.

When placing each weight make sure horizontal beam alignment is carried out and the

dynamometers are zeroed.

The percentage error for each set of reading was calculated.

Result:
Span L = 800 mm / 0.8 m
Lever arm = 0.180 m

Case 1 - Load at midspan:

Load (g)
50
100

Load (N)
0.491
0.981

R (N)

Experimental Value
Shear Force, V
Bending Moment (g)

0.245
0.491

(g)
22.5
54.0

40.5
78.5

150
200
250
300
350
400

1.472
0.736
71.0
1.962
0.981
83.0
2.453
1.226
110.5
2.943
1.472
130.5
3.434
1.717
160.0
3.924
1.962
179.0
Experimen Error (%)

96.5
130.0
152.5
192.0
223.0
268.5

tal Value
Theoretical Value
Shear Force, V
Bending Moment

V
(N)

M
(Nm)

(N)
0.245
0.491
0.736
0.981
1.226
1.472
1.717
1.962

0.221
0.530
0.697
0.814
1.084
1.280
1.570
1.756

0.072
0.139
0.170
0.230
0.269
0.339
0.394
0.474

10.00
8.00
5.33
17.00
11.60
13.00
8.57
10.50

12.15
8.69
10.92
10.00
15.54
11.38
11.78
7.06

(Nm)
0.064
0.128
0.191
0.255
0.319
0.383
0.446
0.510

Case 2 - Symmetrical load:

Distance a = 100 mm / 0.1 m
Load (g)

Load
(N)

R (N)

Experimental Value
Shear Force, V Bending Moment
(g)

(g)

50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400

0.491
0.981
1.472
1.962
2.453
2.943
3.434
3.924

0.491
0.981
1.472
1.962
2.453
2.943
3.434
3.924

1.0
1.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.5

24.5
48.5
76.5
120.0
148.0
180.0
224.0
254.0
Experimental

Error (%)

Theoretical Value
Shear Force, V
Bending Moment

Value
V
(N)

M
(Nm)

(N)
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

0.010
0.010
0.020
0.020
0.020
0.020
0.015
0.015

0.043
0.086
0.135
0.212
0.261
0.318
0.396
0.449

Error
Error
Error
Error
Error
Error
Error
Error

11.80
12.70
8.20
8.00
6.56
8.00
15.20
14.30

(Nm)
0.049
0.098
0.147
0.196
0.245
0.294
0.343
0.392

Case 3 Non Symmetrical Load

Distance from right support = 300 mm / 0.3 m
Load (g)

Load

50
100
150
200
250
300

(N)
0.491
0.981
1.472
1.962
2.453
2.943

R (N)

Experimental Value
Shear Force, V Bending Moment

0.491
0.981
1.472
1.962
2.453
2.943

(g)
21.5
31.0
50.0
65.0
84.0
98.0

(g)
24.5
47.5
74.0
92.0
115.5
147.0

350
400

3.434
3.924

3.434
3.924

110.0
130.0

200.0
193.0
Experimental

Error (%)

Theoretical Value
Shear Force, V
Bending Moment

Value
V
(N)

M
(Nm)

(N)
0.184
0.368
0.552
0.736
0.920
1.104
1.288
1.472

0.211
0.304
0.491
0.638
0.824
0.961
1.079
1.275

0.043
0.084
0.131
0.162
0.204
0.260
0.353
0.341

14.67
17.33
11.11
13.33
10.40
12.89
16.19
13.33

9.54
12.31
8.92
15.08
14.71
9.54
5.49
10.92

(Nm)
0.048
0.096
0.143
0.191
0.239
0.287
0.335
0.383

Calculations:

Case 1:
Shear Force

= (22.5 x 9.81) / 1000

= 0.221 N

Percentage error

0.2210.245

100
0.245

=10%
Bending Moment =

Rx

= (40.5 x 9.81 / 1000) (0.18)

=0.397305(0.18)
=0.072Nm
Percentage error

0.0720.064

=12.5%
Case 2:
Shear Force

= (1.0x 9.81) / 1000

= 0.01 N

100
0.064

 0.010.0
Percentage difference =

100
(0.01+0.0)/2

=2%
Bending Moment =

Rx

= (24.5 x 9.81 / 1000) (0.18)

=0.240345(0.18)
=0.043Nm

Percentage error

0.0430.049

100
0.049

=11.8%
Case 3:
Shear Force

= (21.5x 9.81) / 1000

= 0.211 N

Percentage difference =

0.2110.184

100
0.184

=14.67%
Bending Moment =

Rx

= (24.5 x 9.81 / 1000) (0.18)

=0.240345(0.18)
=0.043Nm

Percentage error

0.0430.048

100
0.048

=9.54%

Discussion

Shear force is the force in the beam acting perpendicular to its longitudinal x-axis. The
bending moment is the moment where the bending effect of any load is measured by the
product value of the perpendicular distance from any section of the beam. In this experiment
two type of loads which are known as concentrated load and symmetrical load.

Based on this experiment, the shear force and bending moment for the concentrated load are
0.221N and 0.072Nm. The percentage error for both the shear force and the bending moment
for the concentrated load compared to their theoretical value are 10.0% and 12.5%.One of the

reasons to get such percentage error is due to the surroundings, where the set-ups are affected
by the wind, making it less stable and therefore getting less accurate than the actual results.
Besides, random errors are too made during the experiment, such as not placing the load
properly in the middle or didnt turn the screw and the pin is not on the middle of the shear
force apparatus.

The second type of load which is used the symmetrical load. This load has a bending moment
are 0.043Nm and has a percentage error of 11.8%, while the shear force are 0.01N and has a
percentage error of 2.0%. In theoretical, the shear force are 0N but in realistic there are
slightly difference and that is what we carry out in this experiment. Almost the same reasons
as of the concentrated load, the distance between the loads and the end of the span is not
equal. Other factors such as unstable positioning of the load do affect the reading. Therefore,
the readings for both theoretical and experimental value differ from each other.

The last type of load which is used the non-symmetrical load (a > x). The shear force and
bending moment of the non-symmetrical load are 0.211N and 0.043Nm. The percentage error
for both shear force and bending moment are 14.67% and 9.54%.

The apparatus in this experiment is very sensitive; the small vibrations caused by other
reasons have affected the readings for the dynamometers. In addition, we have to readjust the
horizontal alignment each time the loads are being put onto it, when we are doing this,
parallax error might has occurred since we could not confirm whether the alignment is correct
or differed from other factors.

While carrying out the experiment, several precautionary steps should be taken. Firstly, to
avoid parallax error taking the readings using the shear force apparatus, including the
measuring tape. Secondly, make sure that the all the readings taken using dynamometer
should not have any zero error. Finally, avoid disturbance from the surroundings such as wind
which is able to affect the readings.

In order to increase the accuracy of the apparatus, it is advised that we should avoid unwanted
vibration that can cause the readings to float. If possible, the fans around the apparatus have
to be switched off as air movements might be another factor as well. For the parallax error, a
ruler is placed on the beam for us to see whether the horizontal alignment is having straight
line or not.

Conclusion

Case 1, the shear force and the bending moment for the concentrated load are 0.221N and
0.072Nm, which the percentage error are 10.0% and 12.5%. Case 2, the bending moment for
the symmetrical load is 0.043Nm and the percentage error is 11.8%. Case 3, the shear force
and the bending moment for non-symmetrical load are 0.211N and 0.043Nm, while the
percentage error are 14.67% and 9.54%. When the value of the shear force and bending
moment increases, while the weight also increased.