Beams and Strain Gages

Cantilever Beam One End Fixed, One End Free

Everything is a Spring Beams Bend When Loaded

Tip Load Creates Internal Moments and Forces V x x M(x) F V(x) L-x At any point along the beam, there is a reaction force and moment (from contact with material to the left of x-section) to maintain static equilibrium. Isolate a section of the beam (NOT physically separated) F x-section Distribution of moment, M, and (shear) force, V, along beam

DaVinci-1493 "Of bending of the springs: If a straight spring is bent, it is necessary that its convex part become thinner and its concave part, thicker. This modification is pyramidal, and consequently, there will never be a change in the middle of the spring. You shall discover, if you consider all of the aforementioned modifications, that by taking part 'ab' in the middle of its length and then bending the spring in a way that the two parallel lines, 'a' and 'b' touch a the bottom, the distance between the parallel lines has grown as much at the top as it has diminished at the bottom. Therefore, the center of its height has become much like a balance for the sides. And the ends of those lines draw as close at the bottom as much as they draw away at the top. From this you will understand why the center of the height of the parallels never increases in 'ab' nor diminishes in the bent spring at 'co.' How Does the Force Deform the Beam? Galileo-1638 Incorrectly claimed that the root of beam was in tension. (give him a break-Newton was born a year after he died)

Consider a Free-Free Beam Loaded by a Moment MM neutral surface For long, thin beams loaded by a transverse force, deformation is predominately due to internal moment as compared to internal force. (Euler-Bernoulli Beam Assumption) The upper portion is in compression. The lower portion is in tension. ‘neutral surface’ does not change in length

Transverse Force Causes Axial Deformation How do we relate Load to Deformation? Load Stress Strain Deformation

Stress is a Quantitative Measure of Load Acting on a Material In general stress is a tensor quantity -> represented by a matrix of scalars stress matrix

For Simple Cases, Stress Can Be Represented by a Single Scalar Component* F AoAo F  F AoAo Force applied normal to a cross-section (axially) average normal stress over the cross-section 9 *In the stress matrix, only one term will have significant nonzero magnitude. The other eight terms ~ 0. [    F/A 0

Strain = Normalized Deformation   LoLo x Average normal engineering strain over the cross-section 10 F F x LoLo AoAo

How are Normal Stress and Strain Related? test specimen extensometer (measures strain) 11 Uniaxial Tension Test load cell (measures force)

Linear Elastic Behavior yield stress  yy linear elastic deformation  12 slope = E (Young’s Modulus) When loading is released, material returns to its original length. Aluminum (6061-T6): E = 40 ksi = 275 MPa property of a material

Typical Ductile Material yield stress  yy linear elastic deformation ultimate tensile strength uniform plastic deformation uu nonuniform plastic deformation fracture stress  “necking” “strain hardening” 13

Bending (Normal) Stress in a Beam Will derive this in Mechanics of Solids and Structures MzMz σ ( -compression) Neutral surface passes through the centroid of cross-section y x MzMz M z = Moment about the z-axis (out of page) acting on the x-section. Constant over the x-section. y = distance from neutral surface (in y-direction). I zz = area moment of inertia of the x-section about z-axis. Specified cross-section σ ( +tension) Stress distribution is linear over x-section O

Area Moment of Inertia Concept-measure of how hard a cross-section is to rotate. O = centroid (always lies on lines of symmetry) y z y z h b O = centroid *effect from changing h >> b

Strain Gages Measure Axial Strain 6.4 x 4.3 mm Strain gages must be well attached to the surface of a material so that it deforms as the material deforms. The resistance of gage changes as it stretches or compresses.

Strain is Proportional to the Change of Resistance of the Gage R is nominal resistance GF is gage factor-a calibration constant. Ours have GF = 2.1 Change in resistance is very small-need a circuit to measure.

Wheatstone Bridge +- Invented by Samuel Hunter Christie ~1833 Improved by Sir Charles Wheatstone ~1843

A Possible Setup Strain gage Proportional to strain ! R4R4

In Practice, Why Do We Want Variable R? Strain gage

Now That You Know About Beams and Strain Gages You Can Make a Calibrated Scale Relate the force applied to the strain* Compare analytical predictions to measurements * depends on both geometry and material F