The Unit for studying Methods to Determine the Elastic Line, "MDLE", consists of set of beams, several supports (with clamp fixing and dial gauges, and with force gauge), a device to generate a bending moment, fixed pulleys, dial gauges and a set of weights with weight holders.
A beam can be supported by different methods. Two supports with clamp fixing and a dial gauge are provided to realice statically determinate or indeterminate systems. They can also be used as articulated supports. These dial gauges enable the angle of inclination of the beam to be determined at the support.
One support with a force gauge measures the deflection of the beam at a random point, and a device is provided to generate a bending moment at a random point on the beam. A fourth dial gauge measures the angle of inclination of the device.
The unit includes a dial gauge, which is situated in the upper side of the beam, and several fixed pulleys situated in the upper side of the unit frame.
The beam is placed under load by weights located on weight holders. The bending moment is generated by a point load and coupled forces. The clamping moment on the supports can be determined by means of weights.
Several weight sets are used to subject the beam to point loads or moments, and to determine the clamping moments on the supports with clamp fixings.