Tensile Strength Report

Tensile properties of metals play an important role during the decision making of
selecting the appropriate materials for engineering applications. The aim of this

report is to investigate the tensile strength as well as other

important mechanical properties of a specific type of steel. This
lab session would be focused on finding the important qualities steel material for
example strain, Elastic modulus, Elastic limit, yield stress, Maximum tensile stress
(ultimate tensile strength) and the corresponding stain at failure.

Hypothesis
The investigation instrument used is going to apply a tensile force on the rod and the
results plotted on a strain stress graph. The expected pattern on the stain stress
graph would be in a form of a curve. As the x axis increases the graph should initiate
with a steep straight line, before curving and slowing as it approaches a maximum
point and then curving downwards.

Procedure
Health and safety
Safety glasses should be worn at all times

Equipment
Tension meter
Calliper

Step by step
The length and diameter of the experimental steel rod is measured.
The rod is clamped to the tension meter and then the instrument safety cover is
employed
The tension meter is zeroed.
The test is initiated
Once the specimen fail the instrument is stopped
A graph of the test result is printed out

Material
Original gauge Length
Gauge Length After test

0.25% Carbon Steel

25mm
36.2mm

Extension
Elongation

11.163mm
11.163/25 *100= 46.52%

Original Cross section

area (mm)
Cross section area after
test
Reduction in cross
section area

19.63mm2

Max Force

9934N

Failure force

6544.667N

5.31mm2

The dimensions of the

cross sectional area at the
necking and failure point
is measure.
The gauge length of the
failed rod is measured.

((19.63-5.31)/19.63)*100=
72.95%

Observation

Dimension of steel rod

Gauge length= 25mm

25m
m

Diameter of cross section = 5mm

Area of cross section = x 0.0052 = (7.854 x 10-5)

Rod before and after test respectively

Extensio
n (mm)
0
0.2
0.41
0.6
0.79
0.95
1.1
1.27
1.45
1.55
1.8
1.9
2
2.01
2.1
2.6
3.6
4
7.62
10
11.16
11.16

Force(n)
0
100
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
6544.6
6700
6900
6910
6850
6900
7000
8000
9000
9200
9934
8900
6552.9
0

Force / extension

Strai Stress
n
(Mpa)

0
0.00
8
0.01
64
0.02
4
0.03
16
0.03
8
0.04
4
0.05
08
0.05
8
0.06
2
0.07
2
0.07
6

0
5.2631
58
52.631
58
105.26
32
157.89
47
210.52
63
263.15
79
315.78
95
344.45
26
352.63
16
363.15
79
363.68
42

Change in
stress/ch
ange in
strain
5639.09774
4
6925.20775
6
6925.20775
6
8223.68421
1
8771.92982
5
7739.93808
= e mod
3980.99415
2
2044.73684
2
1052.63157
9
131.578947
4
789.473684
2

0.08
0.08
04
0.08
4
0.10
4
0.14
4
0.16
0.30
48

360.52
63
363.15
79
368.42
11
421.05
26
473.68
42
484.21
05
522.84
21

0.4

468.42
11

0.44
64
0.44
64

344.88
95
0

6578.94736
8
1461.98830
4
2631.57894
7
1315.78947
4
657.894736
8
266.792672
3
571.649712
5
2662.31851
2

Maximum
tensile stress

Engineering Strain/ Stress

Graph

Offset
Yield
strength

Yield
point

Stres
s
Elastic
limit =0.0
44

Strain=
263.157
9

Elastic modulus = stress/ strain = when

=

59.80861 GPa

Elastic limit= 315.79Mpa

Yield point= around 360 Mpa
Offset yield point= around 367Mpa
Maximum tensile stress= 522.8421Mpa

Breaking strength= 344.89Mpa at 0.446 strain

True stress strain graph

Formula=

True Stress = Eng. Stress * (1+eng Strain)

and True Strain = ln(1+eng Strain)

Strain
0.00796
817
0.01626
697
0.02371
653
0.03111
1
0.03729
578
0.04305
949
0.04955
178
0.05638
033
0.06015
392
0.06952
606
0.07325
046
0.07696

Stress(M
pa)
5.30526
3
53.4947
4
107.789
5
162.884
2
218.526
3
274.736
8
331.831
6
364.430
9
374.494
7
389.305
3
391.324
2
389.368

104
0.07733
134
0.08065
79
0.09893
995
0.13453
089
0.14842
001
0.26604
977
0.33647
224
0.36907
771

4
392.355
8
399.368
4
464.842
1
541.894
7
561.684
2
682.204
4
655.789
5
498.848
1

True Stress Strain graph

Inferences
Based on the load elongation curve we were able to create a
stress/strain graph. As suggested from the hypothesis the
stress strain graph initial started linearly with respect the strain
until around the 320 MPa stress mark where the rod begun to
lose its plasticity. As the stress increased the trend of the graph

stopped being linear and the increase in stress in proportion to

the strain reduces due to the lengthening of the rod. The
sample is visibly deforming at this stage. Around the 370mpa
mark the slows down in deformation and the stress slow rises
slowly with the strain until it reaches the point known as the
maximum tensile strength at which stage the stress reduces in
proportion to the strain until failure. The diameter of the cross
section reduces due to the elongation.
The true strain and stress graph was derived from the
engineering strain stress graph. The results are higher stress
result than the engineering strain stress graph, this is due to
the fact the engineering graph assumes the diameter of the
cross remains the same while the true graph accounts for the
reduction in diameter due to elongation.
Conclusion
How useful I this experiment in Engineering.
The result of this test can be very useful in engineering
applications. One of the way the test can be adapted is to use
deferent materials under the same conditions to assess their
suitability. It can be adapted to assess the right balance
between ductility and tensile strength for example carbon has
the property of increasing the strength but reducing the
ductility in steel therefore for a job that requires a solid balance
between the two properties different proportions of carbon
steel can be tested using the tensile with an optimum tensile
strength and ductility predetermined to decide the best
material.
This lab is therefore useful as it gives an indication of the
reasons for some of the properties of material with the use of
results for example the e modulus

References