A Remote Laboratory For Stress And Deformation Study

Analysis of stress and deformation in beam elements are utilized in a wide range of curricula in both engineering and engineering technology programs. In a typical undergraduate class, learning of a theoretical method is often reinforced by computer aided analysis and practical experiments in a formal laboratory setting. Using the current technology, in a lecture only mechanics class, certain theoretical learning can be complemented by online experimental verifications without leaving the lecture class. The paper addresses development of a laboratory setup that can apply load to a beam element and allows monitoring the resulting stress and deformation through the web. The laboratory consists of a pneumatic beam loading mechanism, stress and position sensors, data acquisition system, and application programs for data monitoring, analysis and control. Using this system, one can quickly create an experimental setup for a theoretical problem, apply the load, and record the resulting stress and deformation remotely through the web. Close agreement between the analytical and experimental results would establish the validity of the theoretical solution without the use of a formal laboratory class. It would also create awareness among the students of the class on limitations of the theoretical methods to predict the behavior of structural members in reality. The use of modern sensors, data acquisition instrumentation and application programs to monitor and control such an application can also be beneficial as laboratory practices for undergraduate level hydraulics/pneumatics or instrumentation classes.