Structures Mechanics Lab

The Structures Mechanics Lab provides facilities for conducting experiments to understand the behavior of structural elements and verify structural theories.

Experiments

CONTINUOUS AND INDETERMINATE BEAM

• Reactions of a simply supported beam
• Reactions of a two-span continuous beam
• Reactions and fixing moments of a fixed beam and a propped cantilever
• Reaction and fixing moment of a propped cantilever with a sinking support
• Relationship between load and deflection for beams and cantilevers

TORSION OF CIRCULAR SECTION

• The relationship  between specimen length, torque and angular deflection
• The behavior of specimens of different material and sections
• General torsion theory
• Shear modulus

LOADING AND BUCKLING OF STRUTS

• Euler buckling loads
• Relationship between strut length and collapse load
• Relationship between end-fixing conditions and collapse loads
• Nature of deflection and deflected shapes with various end-fixing conditions

BENDING MOMENTS AND SHEAR FORCE IN A BEAM

• • Bending moment variation at the point of loading
  • Variation of bearing moment away from the point of loading
  • Examination of various other loading cases, including loads traversing the beam
  • Shear force variation with an increasing point load
  • Variation of shear force for various loading

REDUNDANT TRUSS

• A statically determinate framework
• A statically indeterminate framework

Unsymmetrical Bending and Shear Centre

• • Horizontal and vertical deflection of different asymmetrical sections at various angles
  • Horizontal and vertical deflection of different asymmetrical sections at various loads
  • The relationship between the vertical and horizontal deflections and the principle moments of area of each section
  • Shear center of various asymmetrical sections

PIN JOINTED FRAMEWORKS

• • Study of strains, stresses, forces and deflections in various frameworks including a warren girder and roof truss.
  • Comparison of different frameworks.

THREE-PINNED ARCH

• • Demonstration of the characteristics of a three-pinned arch
  • Examination of the relationship between applied loads and horizontal thrust produced from a simple determine arched structure

FIXED ARCH

• • Demonstration of the characteristics of a fixed arch.
  • Examination of the relationship between applied loads and horizontal thrust produced from a fixed(thus redundant in three degrees) arched structure.
  • Comparison of fixed-arch behavior to simplified theory based on the secant assumption.

CONTINUOUS AND INDETERMINATE BEAM

• • Reactions of a simply supported beam
  • Reactions of a two-span continuous beam
  • Reactions and fixing moments of a fixed beam and a propped cantilever
  • Reaction and fixing moment of a propped cantilever with a sinking support
  • Relationship between load and deflection for beams and cantilevers

PLASTIC BENDING OF PORTALS

• • A rectangular portal with a uniform section
  • A rectangular portal with a non-uniform sectionReactions between load and deflection for portal frames loaded to the plastic condition
  • Introduction to limit state design
  • Relationship between maximum loading and plastic hinge formation in portal frames loaded vertically from the center, horizontally from one corner and equally from both positions
  • Interaction between horizontal and vertical loading in terms of plastic hinge position and mode of collapse