Engineering Mechanics Lab Manual

2011-2012

M.H.SABOO SIDDIK

COLLEGE OF ENGG.

Prof.Shaikh Ibrahim Ismail

Automobile Engg. Dept.

M.H.SABOO SIDDIK COLLEGE OF ENGG.

Engineering Mechanics

Laboratory Manual

Engineering Mechanics 3

M.H.Saboo Siddik College Of Engineering, Mumbai-8 By Prof. Shaikh Ibrahim Ismail

CONTENTS

NO. EXPERIMENT PAGE

1 Polygon Law of Coplanar Forces

To verify the polygon law of coplanar Forces for a concurrent

force system.

5

2 Support Reactions of a beam To find experimentally the reactions at the supports of a simply

supported beam and verify the same with analytical values.

8

3 Bell crank Lever To verify the principle of moments using the bell crank lever

apparatus.

13

4 Friction Plane To determine the coefficient of static friction between two

surfaces.

19

5 Moment of Inertia of Flywheel

To find screw jack and determine the coefficient of friction

between the threads of the screw.

25

6 Compound Pendulum

To estimate the value of acceleration due to gravity using a

compound pendulum.

31

4 Engineering Mechanics


GENERAL INSTRUCTION FOR PREPARING MECHANICS PRACTICAL FILE

The report of the experiments performed in the Mechanics Laboratory need to be written in a

paper standard format. All such reports of various experiments performed would make the

Mechanics Practical File. General instructions for writing a report on the experiments

performed are listed below.

Use one side ruled and the other side lank A-4 size Journal sheets.

On the ruled side of the first sheet write in big font the Title (name) of the experiment.

On the blank side of first sheet draw Apparatus diagram.

On ruled side of second sheet write

Aim

Apparatus/Materials required

Theory/Principle

Procedure

On the blank side of second sheet draw FBD and make observation table.

On the ruled side of third sheet continue to write the procedure, show Calculations and

present the results/conclusion.

If required more sheets may be used.

Use millimeter graph papers wherever Required.



EXPERIMENT NO. 1

POLYGON LAW

OF

COPLANAR FORCES



DIAGRAM:

OBSERVATION TABLE:

SR

NO.

F1

(N)

F2

(N)

F3

(N)

F4

(N)

F5

(N)

(deg.)

(deg.)

(deg.)

(deg.)

1

2

3



EXPERIMENT NO.1 DATE: ________

GENERAL CO-PLANAR FORCE SYSTEM

AIM: To verify the conditions of equilibrium for a general coplanar force system.

APPARATUS: wooden board, pulleys with clamps, a sheet of paper, loads with hooks at one

end and weights.

THEORY: The conditions of equilibrium

Fx = 0, Fy = 0 & M=0.

PROCEDURE: Pin a sheet of drawing paper on the board. Tie four threads/cords on the

corners of a wooden plank and pass the cords over the pulleys, clamped in different positions

on the board and suspend weights at the end of the cords. Adjust the weights until

equilibrium of the system is established. Mark the lines of action of the forces on the paper

and note down their magnitudes. Remove the paper. Draw the lines of actions of all the forces

and verify

Fx = 0 , Fy = 0

Take any point on the paper. Draw perpendiculars from this point to the lines of actions of all

forces and enter perpendicular distances in the observation table. Show that anti-clockwise

moment is equal to clockwise moments, which satisfy the condition, that M=0.

Repeat the experiment for different weights to get 2 more readings.

RESULT

1. The force polygons for the three sets of observations were drawn and found to be closed polygons. Hence the Polygon Law of Coplanar Force is verified.

2. The unknown weight found experimentally is _____________ N. Within limits of experimental error, these values are found to be same and hence the experiment is

verified.

__________________

Teachers Signature



EXPERIMENT NO. 2

SUPPORT REACTIONS OF A BEAM

(BEAM APPARATUS)



OBSERVATION TABLE:-

Sr.

No.

W1 (Kg)

W2 (Kg)

X1 (Kg)

X2 (Kg)

Observed

Reactions

Analytical

Reactions

R1

(N)

R2

(N)

R1

(N)

R2

(N)

1.

2.

3.




BEAM REACTION

AIM:-To find experimentally the reactions at the supports of a simply supported beam and

compare the results with analytical values.

APPARATUS:-Simply supported beam setup, hangers, and loads.

THEORY:-Beam is a structural member usually horizontal and straight provided to carry

loads that are vertical or inclined to its axis. A simply supported beam is one whose ends are

resting freely on the supports that provide only vertical reactions. Simply supported beam

becomes unstable if it is subjected to oblique or inclined loads. When simply supported beam

is subjected to only vertical loads, its FBD forms a system of parallel forces in equilibrium.

Conditions of equilibrium = 0 and M=0 can be applied to determine the support reactions

analytically.

PROCEDURE:-

1. Place the beam of length L on simple supports. Not e that below both the simple supports

there is a spring arrangement. On loading, 1 he spring compresses due to the reaction force

and this compressive force is indicated on the dial.

2. Arrange the load hangers arbitrarily on the beam and set the left and right dial pointers to

zero. This will nullify the effect due to self weight of the beam and the hangers.

3. Suspend the loads from the hangers. Note the load values W1 W2, and so on and their

distances X1, X2 and so on from the left support.

4. Note the left and right support dial readings.

5. Repeat the above steps 1 to 4 by changing the weights in the hangers and also the hanger

position for two more sets of observations.

6. Compare the experimental values with analytical values obtained by applying Conditions

of Equilibrium



RESULT:- The support reactions obtained experimentally are nearly equal to the analytical values. The

difference is within the limits of experimental error. Hence the experiment is verified.

__________________

Teachers Signature



EXPERIMENT NO.3

BELL CRANK LEVER




BELL CRANK LEVER

AIM:-To verify the Principle of Moments using the Bell Crank Lever apparatus.

APPARATUS:- Bell crank lever apparatus, hangers, weights, scale.

THEORY:-Principle of Moments states, the algebraic sum of the moments of a system of

coplanar forces about any point in the plane is equal to the moment of the resultant force of

the system about the same point.

This principle would be verified for a bell crank lever arrangement.

A lever whose two arms form a right angle, or nearly a right angle and having its fulcrum at

the apex of the angle is referred to as a bell crank lever. These levers were originally used to

operate the bell from a long distance especially where change in direction of bell wires was

involved and hence the name. Now bell crank levers are used in machines to convert the

direction of reciprocation movement.

PROCEDURE:-

1. Arrange three hangers at arbitrary locations on the horizontal arm. Note the locations x1 ,

x2, and x3 of these hangers from the hinge. Adjust the tension in the spring connected to the

vertical arm such that the two pointers come in the same vertical line. In this position the

horizontal arm is truly horizontal. Note the tensile force in the spring as the initial tension Ti .

Also note the location Y of the spring from the hinge.

2. Hang the weights W1, W2 and W3 from the hangers. This will cause the arms to tilt and

the pointers to move away from each other. Now adjust the tension in the spring such that the

pointers once again come in the same vertical line. The horizontal arm is once again in its

horizontal position. Note the tensile force in the spring as the final tension Tf. The tensile

force T on the vertical arm is the difference Tf Ti.

3. Since the external forces are being supported by the single hinge at the apex of the arms,

implies that the resultant of these external applied forces passes through the supporting hinge.

Therefore to verify the principle of moments we need to take moments (M) of all the

external forces (which includes the weights of the hangers hanging from the horizontal arm

and the tension in the spring connected to the vertical arm) about the hinge and if the total

sum is zero, verifies the law of moments since the moment of the resultant is also zero at the

hinge.

4. Repeat the above steps by changing the weights and their location on the horizontal arm

for two more set of observations.



FREE BODY DIAGRAM



PRECAUTIONS:- 1 . Do not overload the horizontal arm as it may bend or crack at the hinge.

2. Note if any, the zero error of the spring balance and accordingly correct the readings. of the

tensile force.

3. Carefully place the loads in the hangers as they may slip and cause accident.

RESULT:-

The sum of moments of all the applied external forces on the bell crank lever, within limits of

experimental error being close to zero, is in accordance to the Principle of Moments.

Hence the experiment is verified.

__________________

Teachers Signature



EXPERIMENT NO.4

FRICTION PLANE




FRICTION

AIM:-To find the Coefficient of Friction between two surfaces.

APPARATUS:- Inclined Plane with pulley, weights,Trolleys,weight pan etc.

THEORY

Friction force is developed whenever there is a motion or tendency of motion of one body

with respect to the other body involving rubbing of the surfaces of contact. Friction is

therefore a resistance force to sliding between two bodies produced at the common surfaces

of contact.

Friction occurs because no surface is perfectly smooth, however flat it may appear. On every

surface there are microscopic hills and valleys and due to this the surfaces get interlocked

making it difficult for one surface to slide over the other. During static state the friction force

developed at the contact surface depends on the magnitude of the disturbing force. When the

body is on the verge of motion the contact surface offers maximum frictional force called as

Limiting Frictional Force.

In 1781 the French Physicist Charles de Coulomb found that the limiting frictional force did

not depend on the area of contact but depends on the materials involved and the pressure

(normal reaction) between them.

Thus frictional force F N

or F = sN

Here s is the coefficient of static friction, a term introduced by Coulomb. The value of

lies between 0 and 1 and it depends on both the surfaces of contact.

Coefficient of static friction s between two surfaces can be found out experimentally by

two methods, viz. Angle of Repose method and Friction Plane method.



OBSERVATION TABLE:

Type of

Surface

Weight

in

trolley

(W)

Angle

of the

Plane

()

Weight

in pan

(P)

Coefficient

of friction

()

Average

()

Angle of repose,

Analytical

Experimental

Wood

Metal



The minimum angle of an inclined plane at which a body kept on it slides down the plane

without the application of any external force is known as Angle of Repose. It is denoted by

letter .

Angle of repose, = tan-1

s PROCEDURE

1. Set the inclined plane with glass top at some angle with the horizontal. Note the inclination

of the plane on the quadrant scale. Take a box of known weight, note its bottom surface

(whether surface is soft wood, or sand paper, or card board etc,) and weight W (weight of box

+ weights in the box)

2. Tie a string to the box and passing the string over a smooth pulley, attach an effort pan to

it.

3. Slowly add weights in the effort pan. A stage would come when the effort pan just slides

down pulling the box up the plane. Using fractional weights up to a least count of 5 gm, find

the least possible weight in the pan that causes the box to just slide up the plane. Note the

weight in the effort pan. This is force P.

4. Repeat the above steps 1 to 3 by changing the weights in the box for two more sets of

observations.

RESULT:-

1. The coefficient of friction between mica and wood is ------------

2. The coefficient of friction between mica and metal is ------------

________________

Teachers Signature



EXPERIMENT NO. 5

MOMENT OF INERTIA

OF

FLYWHEEL




MOMENT OF INERTIA OF A FLYWHEEL

AIM

To find moment of inertia of a flywheel.

APPARATUS

The flywheel mounted on ball bearings, stop watch, set of weights, pan, string, meter scale.

THEORY

A flywheel; is a heavy metal wheel attached to the shaft of the prime mover (motor or

engine). Flywheels have most of their mass concentrated on the circumstances, thereby

giving high moment of inertia. We know rotating bodies possess kinetic energy given by the

relation

K.E = 1/2 I

2. Hence if moment of inertia I is increased, K.E also increases.

Flywheels thus store the kinetic energy and release it back to the system when required. They

are therefore called as reservoir of energy.

An imported application of a flywheel is in a mechanical press where for a fraction of time

high energy is required for actual punching, shearing or forming. This energy is supplied by

the flywheel. During the longer non active period, the speed of the flywheel is built up slowly

by a low powered motor. Thus the motor is not overloaded and also results in energy saving.

In automobiles, the flywheel is provided by the combustion in the cylinders and provides

energy for the compression stroke in the pistons.

PROCEDURE

1. Wind a string around the shaft of the flywheel. Attach a pan of known weight from the

end of the string. Hold the pan i.e. does not allow the flywheel to rotate.

2. Measure the diameter of the axle with a vernier caliper.

3. Add some weight in the pan and note the total mass m of the pan. Also note the height h

of the base of the pan from the ground.

4. Hold a stop watch and now release the pan. The pan accelerates and gains velocity as it

travels down. Note the time and rotations N1 turned by the flywheel till the pan touches the

ground.

5. When the pan hits the ground it gets detached from the flywheel. The flywheel continues

to rotate. Note the rotations N2 turned by the flywheel from the moment the pan touches the

ground till the flywheel stops.

6. Repeat the above steps by changing the height of the pan from the ground and the moment

weight in the pan for one more set of observations.



OBSERVATION TABLE

SR NO

DESCRIPTION

1st set

2nd

set

1 Radius of axle ,r = m m

2 Height of fall , h = m m

3 Total mass of pan , m = kg kg

4 No. of rotations made by the flywheel till the

pan touches the ground , N1 =

Nos. Nos.

5 No. of rotations made from the moment the pan

touches the ground till the flywheel stops , N2=

Nos. Nos.

6 Time taken by the pan to touch the ground , t = sec sec

7 Moment of inertia of flywheel ,I = kgm2 kgm

2

Mean I =



CALCULATIONS

Rectilinear motion of pan

Taking s = height of fall h, u = 0 and t = time taken by pan to touch the ground.

Use s = ut + 1

/2 at2 and find acceleration of pan = ____________ m/s

2

Use v = u + at and find velocity of the pan as it strikes the ground. V = _______m/s

Rotation motion of flywheel.

USE = v/r and find angular velocity of the flywheel at the instant the pan to touches the

ground. = ______________r/s

Use the formula to find moment of inertia

I = 2mgh mr2

2(1 + N1/N2)

2(1 + N1/N2)

RESULT:

Mean moment of inertia of the flywheel is _____________ kgm2

_________________

Teachers Signature



EXPERIMENT NO.6

COMPOUND PENDULUM



EXPERIMENT NO. DATE: ________

MOMENT OF INERTIA OF THE COMPOUND PENDULUM.

AIM:-To find the moment of inertia of the compound pendulum.

APPARATUS :

A steel rod with holes in it for suspension (bar pendulum), A knife edged fulcrum, stop

watch, meter scale.

THEORY

Compound pendulum is defined as a right body suspended in a vertical plane, from a point on

the body other than centre of gravity. On giving small angular displacements, it oscillates and

perform harmonic motion.

We have

Io=(t

2mgb/4) & IG=(IO-mb

2)



OBSERVATIONS:-

Mass of uniform bar,m= ------kg

No. of oscillations = 20

Length of the bar L = 1m

ANALYTICALLY,

IG = mL2/12

OBSERVATION TABLE:

Sr.No. b

(meter)

T

(sec.)

t =T/20

(sec.)

Io=(t2mgb/4) IG=(IO-

mb2)

IG

average

1.

2.

3.



RESULT:-

Moment of inertia of the compound pendulum (experimental) =

Moment of inertia of the compound pendulum (analytical) =

_________________

Teachers Signature

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Engineering Mechanics Lab Manual