1. Beam Bending Lab
ENGR 1181
Lab # 6

2. Today's Learning Objectives
Students will develop techniques to measure the deflection of a cantilever beam using a dial caliper.
Students will calculate familiar calculations for and concepts regarding:
Stress
Strain
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity
Moment of Inertia

3. Beam Bending Lab Apparatus

4. Beam Bending Lab Tasks
Your team is responsible for completing one lab memo.
During this lab, each group will divide into two groups to work more closely with the beam bending apparatus.
Measure Deflection (y-axis) versus Force (x-axis) for:
Aluminum Rectangular Beam
Copper Rectangular Beam
Copper Square Beam
“Unknown” Rectangular Beam

5. Typical Data and Results

6. Tips for Successful Lab
Make sure the beams are securely fastened, but without over-tightening.
Use dial caliper properly and follow instructions.
Make sure bezel is properly aligned.
Check numbers put in excel worksheet. Do they make sense?

7. Dial Indicator: Overview
This dial indicator is unloaded, and shows a reading of 0.989”, or ” (yours will be close). It is negative because the plunger is not engaged.
There is a locking screw in the upper right that should stay tightened.
The bezel (front adjustable ring) should not be moved. The black marker must always line up with the plunger.

8. Dial Indicator: Set-Up
When the beam is placed against the plunger (needle at bottom of picture), the dial should move and is then “engaged”.
Your “zero weight” reading will not be exactly zero.
It is a starting point for all other measurements to be compared.

9. Dial Indicator: Class Activity What are these readings?
0.119”
0.282”

10. Important Takeaways Using a dial caliper properly.
Do not rotate the bezel.
Apply the concept and formulas for stress, strain, Young’s Modulus, and Moment of Inertia.
Think about how material and shape configuration impacts design decisions.

11. Preview of Next Lab
The next lab is a 2-part series involving Wind Turbines.
This will familiarize students with wind turbine design, efficiency calculations, power generation, and creative design.
Prepare for Lab 7A by reading the Wind Turbine Lab – Part A preparation material.

12. Topic Document Type Beam Bending Memo
Marble Delivery System
None
Quality and Productivity
Executive Summary
Circuits
Solar Meter --
Solar Cell
Memo (Combined)
Beam Bending
Memo
Wind Turbine 1
Wind Turbine 2
Report (Combined)
Problem Solving Project 1
Project Notebook (Combined)
Problem Solving Project 2
Problem Solving Project 3