Lab Overview and Introduction
This week in the laboratory, you will work in your teams to perform a bending test on a series of materials of different shapes. This test will allow you to compare different materials and shapes by measuring the deflection using a cantilever beam.
The objectives for the bending tests are as follows:
• To make measurements for cantilever beam bending.
• To compute the deflection of different materials and shapes.
• To understand how engineers compare different materials.
• To understand why cross-sectional shape is important in design.
(Use the PowerPoint Beam Bending Introductory Presentation to introduce and prepare the students further for the lab.)
 

Distribute Student Handouts
Distribute the two student handouts to the students:
• Beam Bending Lab Procedure
• Beam Bending Memo Guidelines