Experimental Static Analysis of a Cantilever Beam with Nonlinear Parameters

The beam-like structures are typically subjected to dynamic loads. In this paper classical problem of deflection of a cantilever beam of linear elastic material, under the action of a uniformly distributed load along its length (its own weight), is experimentally and numerically analyzed. Paper presents the differential equation governing the behavior of this system and shows that these equations are difficult to solve due to the presence of nonlinear term. The experiment described in this paper is an easy way to introduce the concept of geometric nonlinearity in mechanics of material. Finally numerical result is carried out by ANSYS program and comparedwith the experimental results.