BTEC Assignment Brief
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in
Qualification Engineering
Unit number and title Unit 27: Static Mechanical Principles in Practice
B: Explore safely the shear forces and bending moments in
Learning aim(s) (For
simply supported and cantilever beams
NQF only)
Shear force and bending moments
Assignment title
Assessor Hugh Campbell
Issue date W/B 27/03/23 Submission date W/E 28/04/23
I certify that the evidence submitted for this assignment is
my own. I have clearly referenced any sources used in the
Student Declaration
work. I understand that false declaration is a form of
malpractice.
Student Name Student Signature
You are a second year technical apprentice in a large
manufacturing company producing structural members that
are to be used in a new construction project.
Your supervisor has asked you carry out some experiments
Vocational Scenario or
to find out how beams react to different types of loading,
Context
and then perform a number of calculations to confirm the
findings of the experiments. The experiments and
calculations relate to shear and bending in beams.
You need to produce a report that demonstrates analytical
and practical skills and use these to explain the effects of
loads on simply supported and cantilever beams, suggesting
improvements to the structures.
Task 1 To do this:
Your tutor will provide you with diagrams of two simply
supported beams and a cantilever beam, each of which will
have at least three point loads. You need to:
Create a mathematical model of the shear force and
bending moments for each beam arrangement. For
each you need to present your findings as annotated
shear force and bending moment diagrams.
Use your diagrams to identify significant data,
including maximum and minimum values, and
points of contraflexure.
Safely set up apparatus for each beam arrangement
using simple and complex loading. Once set up, you
need to gather experimental results for each beam.
Use and high light the dataset allocated to you
to on page 6, to complete Task 1.
You then need to:
Task 2
Your tutor will provide diagrams of two further simply
supported beams and a further cantilever beam. These
, beams each have at least two point loads and one uniformly
distributed load. You should use the diagrams to:
Create a mathematical model of the shear force and
bending moments for each beam arrangement. For
each you need to present your findings as annotated
shear force and bending moment diagrams.
Use your diagrams to identify significant data,
including maximum and minimum values, and
points of contraflexure.
Safely set up apparatus for each beam arrangement
using simple and complex loading. Once set up, you
need to gather experimental results for each beam.
Use and high light the dataset allocated to you
to on page 6, to complete Task 2.
Once you have completed all of your experiments you need
to produce a short report in your log book that considers
both the theoretical values and the measured values for
each of the various beam arrangements. In your report you
will need to evaluate (give reasons for) the differences
between the theoretical values and experimental values,
including ways that you could improve (e.g. the
experimental accuracy) the experiments if they were
repeated.
Checklist of evidence A portfolio of results gathered by experimentation when
required investigating given beam configurations. Supported by a log
book, images, observation records, graphical and
mathematical modelling (including differential calculus)
Observation records should contain sufficient information
about how you approached the practical tasks, set up the
equipment, took measurements and processed them.
Guide to experimental The log book for each of your six experiments, must satisfy
observation log book the ‘check list of evidence’ above. It should be written using
the following sub headings:
OBJECTIVE – purpose of the experiment
APPARATUS – List the items used in the experiment.
DIAGRAM – Sketch or photo of the beam setup.
METHOD – The procedure used to do the
experiment.
RESULTS – The experimental measurements
obtained.
CONCLUSION – Discuss and document, results.
obtained. Compare with analytical results. If they do
not agree, suggest what could be done to improve
the experiment.
2
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
, Criteria covered by this task:
Unit/Criteria
To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to:
reference
Evaluate the simple and complex loads acting on simply supported and
27/B.D2 cantilever beams, comparing the results from safely conducted
experiments and theoretical calculations, and suggest improvements to
the experimental method used.
Conduct experiments accurately to determine the shear forces and
27/B.M2
bending moments in simply supported and cantilever beams when
subjected to simple and complex loading
Analyse, using experimental results and theoretical calculations, the
27/B.M3
shear forces and bending moments in simply supported and cantilever
beams when subjected to simple and complex loading.
Conduct experiments safely to determine the shear forces and bending
27/B.P3
moments in simply supported and cantilever beams when subjected to
simple loading.
Explain, using experimental results and theoretical calculations, the
27/B.P4
shear forces and bending moments in simply supported and cantilever
beams when subjected to simple loading.
Sources of information
to support you with Textbooks
this Assignment
Andrew Buckenham, Gareth Thomson, Natalie
Griffiths, Steve Singleton, Alan Serplus, Michael Ryan
(2016) BTEC Nationals in Engineering, Pearson, ISBN
9781292141008
Boyce A., Cooke E., Jones R., Mantovani B., Roberts D.,
Weatherill B., (2010) BTEC Level 3 National Engineering
Student Book (Level 3 BTEC National Engineering), Pearson
Educational, ISBN 978 1 84690 754 1
Tooley M. and Dingle L. (2010) BTEC National Engineering,
Elsevier, ISBN 978 0 12 382202 4
Websites
www.thelearningpoint.net/home/engineering-mechanics/
analysis-of-structures
Other assessment Beam diagrams, Datasets
materials attached to
this Assignment Brief
3
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in
Qualification Engineering
Unit number and title Unit 27: Static Mechanical Principles in Practice
B: Explore safely the shear forces and bending moments in
Learning aim(s) (For
simply supported and cantilever beams
NQF only)
Shear force and bending moments
Assignment title
Assessor Hugh Campbell
Issue date W/B 27/03/23 Submission date W/E 28/04/23
I certify that the evidence submitted for this assignment is
my own. I have clearly referenced any sources used in the
Student Declaration
work. I understand that false declaration is a form of
malpractice.
Student Name Student Signature
You are a second year technical apprentice in a large
manufacturing company producing structural members that
are to be used in a new construction project.
Your supervisor has asked you carry out some experiments
Vocational Scenario or
to find out how beams react to different types of loading,
Context
and then perform a number of calculations to confirm the
findings of the experiments. The experiments and
calculations relate to shear and bending in beams.
You need to produce a report that demonstrates analytical
and practical skills and use these to explain the effects of
loads on simply supported and cantilever beams, suggesting
improvements to the structures.
Task 1 To do this:
Your tutor will provide you with diagrams of two simply
supported beams and a cantilever beam, each of which will
have at least three point loads. You need to:
Create a mathematical model of the shear force and
bending moments for each beam arrangement. For
each you need to present your findings as annotated
shear force and bending moment diagrams.
Use your diagrams to identify significant data,
including maximum and minimum values, and
points of contraflexure.
Safely set up apparatus for each beam arrangement
using simple and complex loading. Once set up, you
need to gather experimental results for each beam.
Use and high light the dataset allocated to you
to on page 6, to complete Task 1.
You then need to:
Task 2
Your tutor will provide diagrams of two further simply
supported beams and a further cantilever beam. These
, beams each have at least two point loads and one uniformly
distributed load. You should use the diagrams to:
Create a mathematical model of the shear force and
bending moments for each beam arrangement. For
each you need to present your findings as annotated
shear force and bending moment diagrams.
Use your diagrams to identify significant data,
including maximum and minimum values, and
points of contraflexure.
Safely set up apparatus for each beam arrangement
using simple and complex loading. Once set up, you
need to gather experimental results for each beam.
Use and high light the dataset allocated to you
to on page 6, to complete Task 2.
Once you have completed all of your experiments you need
to produce a short report in your log book that considers
both the theoretical values and the measured values for
each of the various beam arrangements. In your report you
will need to evaluate (give reasons for) the differences
between the theoretical values and experimental values,
including ways that you could improve (e.g. the
experimental accuracy) the experiments if they were
repeated.
Checklist of evidence A portfolio of results gathered by experimentation when
required investigating given beam configurations. Supported by a log
book, images, observation records, graphical and
mathematical modelling (including differential calculus)
Observation records should contain sufficient information
about how you approached the practical tasks, set up the
equipment, took measurements and processed them.
Guide to experimental The log book for each of your six experiments, must satisfy
observation log book the ‘check list of evidence’ above. It should be written using
the following sub headings:
OBJECTIVE – purpose of the experiment
APPARATUS – List the items used in the experiment.
DIAGRAM – Sketch or photo of the beam setup.
METHOD – The procedure used to do the
experiment.
RESULTS – The experimental measurements
obtained.
CONCLUSION – Discuss and document, results.
obtained. Compare with analytical results. If they do
not agree, suggest what could be done to improve
the experiment.
2
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
, Criteria covered by this task:
Unit/Criteria
To achieve the criteria you must show that you are able to:
reference
Evaluate the simple and complex loads acting on simply supported and
27/B.D2 cantilever beams, comparing the results from safely conducted
experiments and theoretical calculations, and suggest improvements to
the experimental method used.
Conduct experiments accurately to determine the shear forces and
27/B.M2
bending moments in simply supported and cantilever beams when
subjected to simple and complex loading
Analyse, using experimental results and theoretical calculations, the
27/B.M3
shear forces and bending moments in simply supported and cantilever
beams when subjected to simple and complex loading.
Conduct experiments safely to determine the shear forces and bending
27/B.P3
moments in simply supported and cantilever beams when subjected to
simple loading.
Explain, using experimental results and theoretical calculations, the
27/B.P4
shear forces and bending moments in simply supported and cantilever
beams when subjected to simple loading.
Sources of information
to support you with Textbooks
this Assignment
Andrew Buckenham, Gareth Thomson, Natalie
Griffiths, Steve Singleton, Alan Serplus, Michael Ryan
(2016) BTEC Nationals in Engineering, Pearson, ISBN
9781292141008
Boyce A., Cooke E., Jones R., Mantovani B., Roberts D.,
Weatherill B., (2010) BTEC Level 3 National Engineering
Student Book (Level 3 BTEC National Engineering), Pearson
Educational, ISBN 978 1 84690 754 1
Tooley M. and Dingle L. (2010) BTEC National Engineering,
Elsevier, ISBN 978 0 12 382202 4
Websites
www.thelearningpoint.net/home/engineering-mechanics/
analysis-of-structures
Other assessment Beam diagrams, Datasets
materials attached to
this Assignment Brief
3
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
