Spring Test & Measurement of

Bending Stress Using Strain Gauge

ME16B050,ME16B051,ME16B050(Group 17)

Spring test:

Aim:
To find out the values of spring constants of three springs, namely, one conic helical
spring under extension, one helical spring under compression and one helical spring
under elongation and to compare the observed values with the theoretical predictions.

Introduction:
If we consider an axially loaded spring with stresses less than the yield stress of the
material, the spring goes back to its original shape when no force is acted on it. For a
linear spring we can consider a linear relation between force and deformation given by
F=k. Thus we can find values of k experimentally if we know both F(force) and
(deformation). Theoretically, we can find values of k by assuming that the spring is linear
helical and the deformation in it is due to the torsional deformation of the spring wire. .
Thus the theoretical value of k is given as
follows:

Where,
G= shear modulus of spring material
r= radius of spring wire
R= mean radius of helical spring
n= number of active coils in the spring
Here, active coils refer to the coils which undergo compression or elongation when a
load is applied.

We require the theoretical value of k is it helps in modelling springs for practical

purposes, this theoretical value of k is then verified by experiments.
Procedure:
The required spring is placed in the setup and fixed properly and the reading is
taken from the millimeter scale for 0 loading.
Loads are added in steps of 0.5kg upto 2.5kg and the values of deflection are
noted.
The loads are unloaded in steps of 0.5kg and the deflections are noted again. The
final reading for deflection is taken as the mean value of these two deflections.
The values of R and r are found out using a vernier caliper. The number of active
turns is also found out by considering the uppermost and lowermost turns as
turns.
The readings are tabulated and the experiment is repeated for the other two
springs.

We have taken 3 samples of springs and analysed their spring constant values

Tensile helical spring(sample1):

Dimensions : r=3mm
 R1=16.18mm
R2=10.4mm
Rmean=13.29mm
No of coils=33

Load Length Length Elongation Elongation Average

(in gms) loading unloading loading unloading elongation
(in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm)

500 9.7 9.4 0.30 0.20 0.25

1000 9.5 9.3 0.50 0.30 0.40

1500 9.3 9.0 0.70 0.60 0.65

2000 9.1 8.8 0.90 0.8 0.85

2500 8.9 8.6 1.1 1 1.05

We obtain the plot by marking the points as per the data obtained experimentally. Then
by using linear regression on the plot we get a straight line from which we get the slope
of the curve. From this slope we get the spring constant of the given spring as we
assume linear relation between the force applied(load) and elongation.

Error calculation:
As per the formula the spring constant value is coming as 2091.34N/m
According to the experiment the value is 2428.91*0.98N/m=2380.33N/m
So the error is (2380.33-2091.34)/2380.33=12.1%

Compressive linear spring(sample2):

Dimensions : R=38.64 mm
r=2.8 mm
No.of coils =11
Load Length Length Elongation Elongation Average
(in gms) loading unloading loading unloading elongation
(in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm)

500 11 11 0.3 0.3 0.3

1000 10.6 10.6 0.7 0.7 0.7

1500 10.3 10.3 1.0 1.0 1.0

2000 10 10 1.3 1.3 1.3

2500 9.7 9.7 1.6 1.6 1.6

We obtain the plot by marking the points as per the data obtained experimentally. Then
by using linear regression on the plot we get a straight line from which we get the slope
of the curve. From this slope we get the spring constant of the given spring as we
assume linear relation between the force applied(load) and elongation.

Error calculation:
From the formula the value of spring constant is 1937.126N/m
From the graph i.e experiment the value is 1556.42*.98 N/m=1525.29 N/m
So the error is [(1937.126-1525.29)/1937.126]*100=19.77%

Tensile linear(sample3):

Dimensions: no. of coils=33

R=15.32mm
r=1.55mm

Load Length Length Elongation Elongation Average

(in gms) loading unloading loading unloading elongation
(in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm) (in cm)

500 41.3 41.4 0.30 0.40 0.35

1000 41.4 41.4 0.40 0.40 0.40

1500 41.4 41.5 0.40 0.50 0.45

2000 41.6 41.6 0.60 0.60 0.60

2400 41.9 41.9 0.90 0.90 0.90

We obtain the plot by marking the points as per the data obtained experimentally. Then
by using linear regression on the plot we get a straight line from which we get the slope
of the curve. From this slope we get the spring constant of the given spring as we
assume linear relation between the force applied(load) and elongation.

Error calculation:
The experimental value of the spring constant is given from the graph as
3116.75*.98=3054.415N/m
The theoretical value of the spring constant from the formula is obtained as 972.89N/m

Inferences:
As per the formula and the experimental observation we can say that the spring
constants depends on many factors like material, Number of turns, Mean radius of the
spring and the Radius of the wire.
In the experiment we obtained the values of the spring constant using the slope of the
graph and then multiplying it with 0.98(since we took load in grams we multiply this
factor over here)
We get the linear relation by neglecting higher order terms. So for small elongations the
linear approximation has small error. As we have higher elongations the error goes up.

The difference between the values in theoretical and experimental observations is due
to many reasons like friction between the points of contact, deformation, material
defects etc.

Measurement of Bending Stress Using a Strain Gauge

Aim:
To measure the tensile bending stress in a cantilever beam which is subject to a tip
transverse load using a strain gauge experimentally and then compare this value with
the theoretical prediction.

Introduction:
A strain gauge is used to measure strains by relating it with its resistance. This can be
done since the resistance is directly proportional to the length and inversely
proportional to the area of cross section of the conductor. As the body is stretched or
compressed within its elastic limit, the resistance of the strain gauge changes and this
can be used to find out the respective normal strain in the body.

Procedure:

Make the connections in the circuit to get a quarter bridge connection by

following the instructions on the instrument.

Check the initial readings. The gauge factor should be set to a value between 2.05
and 2.06 and set the other readings to +-0000.

Turn the screw such that it goes down vertically by 0. 5mm.

 Note the values shown by the strain gauge.

Repeat the same for 9 more times and make a table from the obtained data.
CALCULATIONS:

The calculations and formulas used for the table in next page are shown below
OBSERVATIONS: The observations recorded in the lab are shown below

Deflection Display Strain Strain Stress Stress %difference

(in mm) (experimental) (theoretical) (experimental) (theoretical)
(in 10-6) (in 10-6) (in 106N/m2) (in 106N/m2)

0.5 55 55 56.85 3.85 3.98 3.2

1 111 111 113.85 7.77 7.97 2.5

1.5 166 166 170.85 11.62 11.96 2.8

2 222 222 227.85 15.54 15.95 2.5

2.5 281 281 284.71 19.67 19.93 1.3

3 341 341 341.71 23.87 23.92 0.2

3.5 402 402 398.71 28.14 27.91 0.8

4 465 465 455.71 32.55 31.9 1.9

4.5 527 527 512.57 36.89 35.88 2.7

5 591 591 569.57 41.37 39.87 3.6

INFERENCE:
The data obtained from the experiment more or less matches with the theoretical data
with relatively small error. The error can be due to
Error while measuring the dimensions of the cantilever.
Material defects