For procedures, see your mechanical laboratory manual.

Title: Bending Moment Experiment


Aim

To verify bending moment variation at the point of load

Theory

Bending moment exits in a structural element when a moment is applied to the element so that the element bends. Moments and torques are measured as a force multiplied by a distance so they have as unit Newton-metres (Nm).

A bending moment is the reaction induced in a structural element when an external force or moment is applied to the element causing the element to bend. The most common or simplest structural element subjected to bending moments is the beam. Bending moment at a section is defined as the algebraic sum of the moments about the section of all the forces (including the reaction) acting on the beam, either to the left or to the right of the section.

This concept is important in structural engineering as it is can be used to calculate where, and how much bending may occur when forces are applied. If a beam is not well-restrained, a bending force may cause it to rotate about a pivot point. To calculate the bending moment, the magnitude of the force is multiplied by the distance of the force from the point of support.

References

1. Bending Moment, wikipedia.org
2. Bending Moment, sciencedirect.com