Equilibrium of a Simply Supported Beam (Next Generation Structures)

One of a range of experiment modules that fit to the Structures platform (STS1, available separately), this product helps students to understand the reaction forces due to loads on a simply supported beam ‘bridge’. Students add loads to a rigid beam resting on two ‘simple’ supports. Load cells measure the vertical reactions at the supports. Each support includes pointers that work with the scale on the platform for accurate positioning.

Students apply loads to any position along the beam and measure the resulting reactions. They use textbook beam equations to predict the reaction for any given load and compare the calculated results with the measured results. This helps confirm the reliability of the textbook equations and the accuracy of the experiment results.

This product includes additional masses to allow students to create uniformly distributed loads (UDLs) on the beam.

The load cells connect to the USB interface hub of the Structures platform for computer display and data acquisition (VDAS® Onboard).

*There are 21 different experiments in the Next Generation Structures range. View them all in this easy to view flyer here.