School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Ashby Building Stranmillis Road Belfast BT9 5AH

Stage 3 Materials

Strength of Materials Assignment

Author Tutor Semester Date

C. Oliver [40006307] Prof Thornhill 2 8 March 2012

Craig Oliver, 40006307

Page 1

The aim of the assignment was determine the maximum deflection of an end plate of a moulded polyethylene container when filled with water, of depth 200mm. Supplied were the test results of 3 samples of polyethylene loaded at the centre point, whilst simply supported by its edges by supports which were 50mm apart. The samples were loaded until they failed. Using the data given in the excel spread sheet, it was possible to plot graphs showing the deflection in relation to the force exerted.

Specimen 1
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 10 20 30 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 10

Specimen 2

Specimen 1

Specimen 2

20

30

Figure 1. Relationship between Force and Deflection for Specimen 1

Figure 2. Relationship between Force and Deflection for Specimen 2

Specimen 3
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 10 20 30

Specimen 3

Figure 3. Relatioship between Force and Deflection for Specimen 3

The gradient, m, is found for each Specimen: Specimen 1- 0.1534 Specimen 2- 0.1604 Specimen 3- 0.1882

Craig Oliver, 40006307

Page 2

Using the Gradient, it is possible to find the value of E (The modulus of Elasticity, MPa), using the following equation:

Where L is equal to the support span (mm), m is the gradient, b is the width of the specimem (mm), and d is the depth (mm) The Values for E for each specimen is shown below: Specimen 1- 13.28 Specimen 2- 14.037 Specimen 3- 16.21

These values are then averaged to attain the value of, 14.509.

In order to find the value of Wmax. The following equation must be used:

The value of poissons ratio is taken to be 0.46. (www.goofellow.com/E/PolyethyleneUHMW.html). The value of h is taken as the thinkness of the specimen, 3.17mm. D is found to be 154.86.

Before Wmax can be found, the value of the pressure exerted by the water on the container must first be determined. Area is multiplied by height to get the volume- 0.008 :

The mass of the water is then found using the following equation:

Craig Oliver, 40006307

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Which equals 8.023kg. The mass is multiplied by the acceleration of gravity, 9.81N/s ^2 to give a force of 78.7N

Wmax is then found using equation:

This gives an answer of 1.02mm for the maximum deflection a container undergoes when filled with 200mm of water.

Craig Oliver, 40006307

Page 4