Kinetics Corporation

Experiment
The objects are to observe the action of shear at a section in a beam, and to compare the measured and theoretical values

Theory
The vertical equilibrium of each part of a horizontal beam cut by a section is ensured by the shear force on the section face.

Description
The experimental beam is in two parts. At the joint roller bearings in one part have a restricted travel on flat vertical tracks on the other part. The roller bearings and an underslung tension spring resist the bending moment, while an overhung spring balance provides and measures the shear force. The beam is simply supported on end bearings. Special load hangers that fit round the beam are provided

Experiment
The Objects are to observe the action of bending moment at a section in a beam, and to compare the measured and theoretical values.

Theory
The equilibrium of moments on each part of a horizontal beam cut by a section is ensured by the internal moment on the section

Description
The experimental beam is in two parts with a ball bearing “hinge” at the joint. An underslung Spring balance with an adjustable length holds the “hinge” in compression , and hence can resist and measure a sagging bending moment.The beam is simply supported on end bearings. Special load hangers that fit round the beam are provided

Experiment
The object is to find the required plane of transverse loading for which selected standard sections bend without twisting

Theory
The position of the shear centre of a section is derived from the shear stress flow and considerations of equilibrium

Description
Four beam specimens formed from 16swg stainless steel sheet have welded-on end plates and a mid span transverse loading plate to enable loading at different eccentricities from the beam axis. Two end support brackets are used to set up a specimen as a fixed end beam which eliminates warping. A pair of dial gauges measure the deflection of the transverse loading plate thus providing a rotation evaluation. The selected specimens are a channel, a semicircle, an equal angle and a “zed” section

Experiment
The object is to study the buckling load on an elastic strut of varying slenderness ratios and end fixing conditions

Theory
The results are analysed by a Southwell plot to show the modification to the Euler buckling load

Description
The apparatus has been designed to accommodate struts of suitable lengths within the range 400/800 mm. The struts are rectangular in section, thus ensuring predetermined plane. Reversible hardened load blocks are provided so that the struts can be tested under the following conditions;
1. Both ends pinned.
2. Both ends fixed.
3. One end pinned, one end fixed.
The load is applied to the strut by means of spring balance and a loading beam with load cell. The beam pivots on a nut which can be adjusted vertically so that the beam can be maintained in the horizontal position during loading, thus ensuring that a true axial load can be supplied throughout the test. Load is shown on the digital display. A light lateral load is applied to the strut to ensure the direction of deflection, the magnitude of which can then be measured by means of a dial indicator. Three sets of five struts each for three kinds of material are supplied with the apparatus.

Features
Rigid base and supports Choice of end conditions
1. simply supported (pivot)
2. built-in (fixed) Beams or cantilevers Deflection and slope measurable.
Range of Experiments
1. Verification of beam deflection formula
2. Deflection and slope of beams and cantilevers
3. Verification of both area - moment theorems

Description
The bench mounted apparatus has a steels beam with a fixed support at one end and a moveable support at the other. The supports can be fitted with knife edges or clamp plates. A steel beam and two load hangers are supplied together with three dial gauges for measuring beam deflections and slopes. This equipment is part of a range designed to both demonstrate and experimentally confirm basic engineering principles. Great care has been given to each item so as to provide wide experimental scope without unduly complicating or compromising the design. Each piece of apparatus is self - contained and compact. Setting up time is minimal. And all measurements are made with the simplest possible instrumentation, so that the student involvement is purely with the engineering principles being taught. A complete instruction manual is provided describing the apparatus, its application, experimental procedure and typical test results.

Experiment
The object is to compare the measured forces in the members of a truss with the values calculated by the method of sections.

Theory
The mathematical model is assumed to be pin - jointed. If a section can be drawn cutting three members then by suitable resolution the equilibrium equation will contain only one unknown force.

Description
40 stainless steel members permit the construction of a choice of ten trusses based on the 3:4:5 triangle. Loading can be applied at the outstanding bottom boom joints. Strain gauged force transducers: three for tension and two for compression, can be clamped onto any member: the indicating digital display meter reads directly in Newtons up to 500N. The force in the cross bracing members can also be measured

Features

Enables analysis of cylinder stresses and strains under internal pressure

Circumferential or bi-axial stress system possible

Young’ s Modulus and Poisson’ s Ratio determined experimentally

Cylinder strains measured by electrical resistance strain gauges

Self-contained, hand operated, hydraulic pressurizing system

Description
This apparatus enables the student to investigate the stresses and strains in a thin cylinder under internal pressure. The thin walled aluminum alloy cylinder is mounted in a steel sturdy frame, The whole unit, complete with a hydraulic hand pump for pressurizing the cylinder. Two stress conditions are possible:
Open ends - circumferential stress.
Closed ends - bi-axial stress.
The cradle is designed to quickly allow the selection of either condition. Six strain gauges are fitted to the cylinder to enable measurement of the surface strains at various angles. A pressure gauge indicates the cylinder pressure

Range of Experiment
1. Using the “open ends” condition, analysis of a circumferential stress system and determination of Young’s Modulus and Poisson’s ratio
2. Using the “closed ends” condition , analysis of a combined axial and circumferential stress system.
3. Principal stresses and strains can be calculated from theory and compared with the experimental values.
4. The results can be used to construct Mohr strain circles, or can be compared using a straight line plot.

Features
1. Two-handed release mechanism
2. Anti-friction ball bearings
3. Integral safety guard
4. Simple operation
5. Large direct reading scale to 50 joules

Description
The STR08 is a compact 50 joule Charpy impact tester suitable for non-ferrous, low-carbon steels and alloy steels as well as plastics. The pendulum is mounted on anti-friction ball bearings. The machine is fitted with an integral safety guard as standard and the operator must use both hands to release the pendulum.

A pendulum brake is also fitted. In the elevated position, the pendulum possesses a definite potential energy capacity which is converted to kinetic energy during its swing. The pendulum achieves maximum kinetic energy at its lowest swing position, just prior to contact with the test specimen. The impact energy absorbed by the specimen during rupture is measured as the difference between the height of drop before rupture and the height of rise after rupture of the test specimen. It is read on the dial scale which is calibrated to 50 joules in 0.5 joule graduations.

Features
1. Torque capacity up to 200 Nm
2. Forward and reverse loading capability
3. Controllable strain rate.
4. Digital torque measuring system
5. Pendulum reacts load and enables fundamental determination of true torque
6. Strain measured by protractor scales and digital counter
7. Accommodates specimens up to 300 mm long

Description
This free-standing apparatus enables forward and reverse torsion tests on a range of sizes and lengths of specimen requiring test torques of up to 200 Nm. Load is applied by a variable speed geared electric motor driving through a two stage 1200:1 reduction gearbox and a belt drive. Variable speed drive enables strain rate to be controlled.

Torque reaction is provided by a pendulum. The input gearbox and pendulum assemblies are mounted on a rigid stainless steel frame fitted to the top of the base cabinet Test specimens are held at each end by chuck grips which fit on the input and pendulum shafts. The input shaft is free to slide on a keyway in the gearbox enabling various lengths of specimen to be tested up to 300 mm.

The input rotation is measured by protractor scales on the gearbox output shaft and by a digital counter on the input shaft. A separate scale measures the pendulum angle, and the angle of twist of the specimen is determined as the difference between the input and pendulum angles. A wide range of standard test specimen diameters and materials can be used. The STR09 torsion

Range of Experiment
A wide range of tests on standard (solid) specimens of different materials can be carried out including:
1. Verification of the elastic torsion equation.
2. Determination of modulus of rigidity and yield shear stress.
3. Determination of upper and lower yield stresses for normalised steel specimens.
4. Investigation of the behaviour of materials under plastic deformation, the phenomenon of word hardening and the effect of varying strain rate.
5. Determination of modulus of rupture in torsion.
6. Reversed torsion tests to demonstrate the Bauschinger effect and the effects of residual body and textural stresses on torsional strength
7. If heat treatment facilities are available, various tests can be carried out to demonstrate the effect of heat treatment on residual stresses and torsional strength.

Features
- Fatigue failure by cyclic loading
- Effect of notch and surface finish on fatigue failure

Description
Using this unit, the basic principles of fatigue testing can be studied. A rotating metal test bar, clamped at one end, is loaded using a spring balance with a point force. This results in a cyclic bending load on the cylindrical specimen. The amplitude of the cyclic loading can be continuously adjusted using a screw with hand wheel. After a certain number of load cycles, the specimen breaks as a result of material fatigue. In this case the machine is shut down automatically by the stop switch. The number of load cycles is counted by an electrical counter and displayed digitally. This can also be used for measuring the speed. Different shape specimens enable the influence of notching and surface finish on fatigue strength to be studied.

Range of Experiments
- Fatigue strength of bars subject to cyclic bending load
- Influence of different curvature radii and surface finish on fatigue strength
- Preparation of a stress-number (S-N) diagram

Features

Measurement with strain gauges1

Electronic measurement of mechanical variables1

Measurement of strain in tension, bending and torsion1

Description
Strain gauges are used extensively in sensor systems to detect forces, moments and deformations. The apparatus provides the fundamentals of strain gauges. Three test specimens for tension, bending and torsion are each fitted with strain gauges. The strain gauges are wired into a full bridge configuration. A defined load is generated with the aid of weights, and the strains can then be recorded. The strain gauge application area is protected by a clear acrylic cover. The measuring amplifier unit delivers the bridge supply voltage, and displays the load-dependent output voltage. The digital display is programmable, to provide readouts conforming to the variables being measured. It also features a tare function to exclude the influence of preloads. Three additional tensile test rods, in aluminium, copper and brass, are available as accessories, in order to obtain material-specific values from experiments

Range of Experiments
1. Understanding the fundamentals of measuring with strain gauges
2. Familiarisation with strain gauge types and application techniques
3. Correlation of the mechanical deformations under tension, bending and torsion electrical response in a strain gauge
4. Programming a digital displa

Features
Study of a two-pinned arch under various load conditions

Description
The experiment hardware fits onto the Structure Test Frame (STR21, available separately). Studenst use masses on weight hangers to apply various loadings to the arch at set positions along its span. One end of the arch is pivoted, the other end rolls. The horizontal thrust at the roll end is is measured by using the sets of weight on the cord.

Experiments
1. Demonstration of the characteristics of a two-pinned arch
2. Examination of the relationship between applied loads and horizontal thrust produced from a redundant (in one degree) arch structure
3. Comparison between experimental results and theoretical results

Features
1. Study characteristics of a three hinged arch under various load conditions
2. Symmetrical and unsymmetrical three hinged arches

Description
This set is used with the Structure Test Frame (STR21) and enables a loaded three-hinge beam to be investigated. It consists of two partial arches joined together with an articulated joint. In this way a static definition can be achieved despite two fixed bearings. To enable both the symmetrical and the unsymmetrical case to be observed, the set contains two identical and one shorter partial arch. Loading is performed using weights on the upper girder. These are designed as carriages and thus permit different load cases such as point load, moving load and distributed load to be demonstrated. The bon cords.

Experiments
1. Calculation and measurements of bearing forces
2. Influence of point load, distributed load, and moving load on the force distribution
3. Relationship between applied loads and horizontal thrust

Features
1. Two different steel frames, U-shape and S-shape
2. Statically defined or undefined case can be investigated

Description
This set is used with the Structure Test Frame (STR21) and demonstrates the elastic deformation of loaded frames. The test specimens are a U-shaped and and S-shaped frame made of steel with a rectangular cross-section. These are subjected to varying loads using sets of weights and the resulting deformation measured. For this purpose, the set includes two precision position measurement gauges. The bearings can be either fixed or free enabling the frames to be evaluated as statically defined or undefined systems.

Experiments
1. Relationship between load and deformation
2. Superposition principle of mechanics
3. Usage of the theory of elasticity on statically defined and undefined systems, comparison of calculation and measured results
4. Method of virtual work