Laboratory 2: Properties of an Unknown Type of Steel

ME 3034-001
2/17/13




















Abstract
Unknown Type of Steel was tested to determine its material properties. The
tensile test was conducted on eleven steel samples, which were unknown type of
steel. From the data the average values for Modulus of Elasticity, Ultimate Tensile
Strength (UTS) and Yield Stress for each sample were obtained. The average values
are Modulus of Elasticity = 24.72 *10^6 [psi], UTS = 45640 [psi] and Yield Strength =
25181 [psi]. The finding of this experiment allowed to make an educated guess on
the type of steel that was tested which is either Cast Iron Grey Class 60 or nodular
(ductile Iron).

Introduction
The objective of the experiment is to determine the type of steel by testing
the material properties of each sample. The tensile testing was conducted using
Instron Tensile Testing Machine on eleven samples to obtain material properties.
Material properties are Modulus of Elasticity, Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) and
Yield Strength. Samples of steel are of an unknown type and from the tensile testing
the conclusion on the type of the steel is made.
Modulus of elasticity is obtained from the graph of Stress vs. Strain, Modulus of
Elasticity, which is the slope of the elastic region of the Stress vs. Strain curve. The
UTS can be obtained from the maximum stress value on the graph, and the yield
strength can be obtained using 0.0022 % method offset on the graph.
Modulus of elasticity was then determined from the collected data.
Modulus of Elasticity or Youngs Modulus (E) is defined by Hookes Law:

Hooks Law:


E

(1)


Where:

Stress [psi]

= Strain [in./in.]

Stress:

(2)

Where:
Stress
[psi]

F = Force (lb)
A = Cross Sectional Area (in.
2
)
Strain:



l l
o
l
o (3)
Where:


Strain

l = Length after force is applied


l
o
= Gauge length

Experimental Methods
The experiment was conducted using Instron Tensile Testing Machine, Figure 1, and
Merlin tensile test program.

Figure 1. Instron Tensile Test Machine



F
A



lb
in.
2







(
in.
in.
)

(in.)

(in.)
Wear safety goggles and making sure the machine is safely closed for operation. The
steps of this experiment: Clamp down the top part of the sample into the jaws of the
Instron Machine. Connect extensometer and set the gauge length to 1 inch. Clamp
down the bottom part of the sample into the Instron Tensile Test Machine; Balance
the load in the Merlin program, and input length and width of the sample. Then run
the Test. The output is then the elongation and the load applied of the samples.
Testing Method: Tensile Test
Equipment used: Calipers, Instron Tensile Test Machine, Merlin Tensile Test
program.
Materials used: Eleven samples of an unknown type of steel

Analysis/Results

Modulus of Elasticity, Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), and Yield Stress was
determined from this experiment by tensile testing eleven samples of an unknown
type of steel. The results are shown in Table 1 for each sample, and the average
values were computed.

Table 1. Material Properties of Steel Samples
Sample # Modulus [10^6 psi] Yield Strength UTS [psi]
1 24.3 22500 41550
2 25.3 22000 44544
3 19.6 21500 41980
4 27.2 21500 42279
5 31.9 23500 45825
6 26.5 26500 52974
7 26.7 27500 53794
8 26.3 24500 46095
9 20.2 20500 43075
10 19.6 23000 43312
11 24.3 22000 42622
Average 24.72 25181 45640


The average values of the samples can be compared to standards (i.e. MatWeb.com).
Then determine the type of steel that was used, which either Cast Iron Grey Class 60
or nodular (ductile Iron). The comparison was done using the average values and a
reference. Figure 2 shows stress vs. strain curve for all eleven samples of unknown
type of steel.


Figure 2. Stress vs. Strain curve

From Table 1 and Figure 2, the average values are Modulus of Elasticity = 24.72
*10^6 [psi], UTS = 45640 [psi] and Yield Strength = 25181 [psi]. From this and the
average modulus of elasticity of the samples that was compared to the standard. The
samples was determined to be Cast Iron Grey Class 60, or nodular (ductile Iron).
From this Experiment mechanical properties of the steel samples were determined.
All of the samples behaved in a similar way, however there were some fluctuations.
The average value was used to compare to the standards.



Discussion/Conclusion
y = 17.6E+06x
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600
S
t
r
e
s
s

[
l
b
/
i
n
.
2
]

Strain [ in./in.]
Sample # 1 Sample 2
Sample 3 Sample 4
Sample 5 SAmple 6
Sample 7 Sample 8
Sample 9 Sample 10
Sample 11 Linear (E)
The findings of this experiment confirm that the unknown type of steel is either Cast
Iron Grey Class 60 or nodular (ductile Iron). If a material has certain mechanical
properties than that material can be determined just by comparing the mechanical
properties of the standards or to known values for known type of material.
This test could have been done to almost any type of metal or material.
Some of the data points had to be discarded, either due to negative values or
slippage of the Instron Tensile Testing Machine. Negative values and slippage values
were discarded so that the accurate Modulus of Elasticity could be computed.
Some of the error sources are from not clamping down the jaws of the Instron
Machine tight enough, getting incorrect data, extensometer could be off, therefore
the measurement could have been a little off.



Table of Contents
Page Number

Abstract 1
Introduction 1
Experimental Methods 2
Analysis/Results 3
Discussion/Conclusion 5
References 7






















References

Callister, William D. Material Science and Engineering An Introduction. New York:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010
http://www.alliance.seas.upenn.edu
http://www.engineersedge.com/manufacturing_spec/properties_of_metals_strengt
h.htm