Structures - Reactions of a Simply Supported Beam

Reactions of a Simply Supported Beam

This product allows student to explore the behaviour of reaction forces on beam with supports. Two ‘simply supported’ supports are attached to load cells so that a precise reading of reactional force can be measured for a loading parameter. The load cell output is connected to the LCD displays and the USB interference for data acquisition, for further experimental analysis.

The beam has a measure indicator for accurate distance measured between supports, while both support blocks can slide along the rail for exploring the behaviour of varying length. The beam has incremental pins for hanging weights on at different places to create different point loads and can balance the weights on top to create uniformly distributed loads.

Overhanging point loads can be achieved too to create negative reaction forces to show direction of forces. This allows student to explore reactional forces that are positive and negative and the principle of superposition.

Learning Objectives

• Reactions due to point loads
• Reactions due to UDL’s
• Reactions due to overhangs
• Reactional force change due to varying distance between supports.