Abstract

The performance of precision equipment on rectangular beam elements is crucial, especially in the presence of cutouts. The IS-456 standard lacks coefficients for bending moments and shear forces; therefore, experimental investigations are necessary to understand the behavior of structural elements under different edge conditions, both with and without cutouts. This study experimentally investigates the performance of rectangular beam components under various boundary conditions and presents its findings. In this research, two rigid beams were examined, along with a rectangular beam that was tested at a distance of L/3 from its support. The beam under analysis measured 230 millimeters by 100 millimeters. The results revealed that the mid-span deflection for the beam with a cutout was 39.25% greater than that of the beam without a cutout. Additionally, the induced strain was 6.98% higher in the beam with a cutout compared to the one without. The compression values of the web face strain were 0.00021mm, while the tension values were 0.00070mm in the section with the cutout, under a load of 50.3KN. Furthermore, the solid beam with a cutout exhibited a 40% increase in crack width propagation compared to the solid beam without a cutout. FEM results were compared with experimental values.

Keywords: Beam; Structural element; Cutout; Deflection; Strain; Compression; Tension; Crack; FEM