Description
One of a range of experiment modules that fi t to the Structures platform this product helps students to understand the elastic properties of beams and cantilevers. Students choose from a selection of test beams and fi t them to supports. They may choose to fi t the beams to one support only, forming a cantilever. They may also fi t them between two supports with different fixing methods, forming simply supported and fixed or ‘encastre’ beams. Each support includes pointers that work with the scale on the platform for accurate positioning. Students apply loads to any position along the beam and measure the resulting deflection, also at any point along the beam. They use textbook beam equations to predict the deflection for any given load and compare the calculated results with the measured results. This helps confirm the reliability of the textbook equations and the accuracy of the experiment results. This product includes a set of beam ‘specimens’ of different metals and cross-section for comparison of the elastic properties and ‘I’ value. It also allows the student to vary the effective length of the beam to see how this affects the magnitude of deflection for any given load. The deflection indicator has its own display, but it can connect to the USB interface hub of the Structures platform for computer display and data acquisition (VDAS® Onboard).
Learning outcomes
- Beam bending formula and structural ‘stiff ness’
- Deflection due to point loads and UDLs (uniformly distributed loads)
- How beam fixings affect deflection of:
- Simply supported beams
- Fixed or ‘encastre’ beams
- Cantilever beams
- Propped cantilever
- Shape of a deflected beam
- Beam length and deflection
- Beam material and deflection — the elastic (Young’s) modulus
- Beam cross-section and deflection — the Second Moment of Area (‘I’ value)
- Pure bending of a beam
- Reciprocal theorem (Maxwell-Betti)
Specifications
ATICO is committed to a programme of continuous improvement; hence we reserve the right to alter the design and product specification without prior notice.
Dimensions and weight:
• Nett (assembled): 850 mm long x 108 mm front to back and 413 mm high and 8 kg
• Approximate primary packed (with storage tray): 0.07 m3 and 10 kg
Space Needed:
• 1500 mm x 600 mm, level bench or desk
Items Included:
• Two beam supports with two fi xing methods
• Support with digital defl ection indicator of resolution 0.01 mm
• Five diff erent beams of length 850 mm and nominal cross sections:
• Aluminium: 19 x 3.2 mm, 19 x 4.8 mm and 25.4 x 3.2 mm
• Brass: 25.4 mm x 3.2 mm
• Mild steel: 25.4 mm x 3.2 mm
• Cable
• Nine mass hangers
• 50 x 20 g masses
• Hexagon tools for beam fi xings
• Vernier caliper
• Storage tray
• Comprehensive user guide
