STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

HARDNESS TEST
GROUP A4

GROUP MEMBERS:
1) NUR SABRINA BINTI NOR JAEMAN (174874)
2) SITI NUR AIDA BINTI DAMANHURI (174873)
3) SITI NUR AISYAH BINTI MOHAMAD OTHMAN (174831)

LECTURERS NAME:
DR. NUR ISMARRUBIE BINTI ZAHARI

INSTRUCTORS NAME:
MRS. NOR AINI BINTI ADNAN

DATE:
29th NOVEMBER 2014

Objective:
1. To determine the hardness of various engineering material using Rockwell hardness
test.
2. To develop an understanding of suitable scale for hardness test specimens.

Theory:
Brinell Test Method:
All Brinell tests use a carbide ball indenter. The test procedure is as follows:
The indenter is pressed into the sample by an accurately controlled test force. The force is
maintained for a specific dwell time, normally 10 - 15 seconds. After the dwell time is complete,
the indenter is removed leaving a round indent in the sample. The size of the indent is
determined optically by measuring two diagonals of the round indent using either a portable
microscope or one that is integrated with the load application device. The Brinell hardness
number is a function of the test force divided by the curved surface area of the indent. The
indentation is considered to be spherical with a radius equal to half the diameter of the ball. The
average of the two diagonals is used in the following formula to calculate the Brinell hardness.

The Brinell number, which normally ranges from HB 50 to HB 750 for metals, will increase as
the sample gets harder. Tables are available to make the calculation simple. A typical Brinell
hardness is specified as follows:
356HBW
Where 356 is the calculated hardness and the W indicates that a carbide ball was used. NotePrevious standards allowed a steel ball and had an S designation. Steel balls are no longer
allowed.

Vickers Hardness Test:

All Vickers ranges use a 136 pyramidal diamond indenter that forms a square indent.
The indenter is pressed into the sample by an accurately controlled test force. The force is
maintained for a specific dwell time, normally 10 15 seconds. The dwell time is complete; the
indenter is removed leaving an indent in the sample that appears square shaped on the surface.
The size of the indent is determined optically by measuring the two diagonals of the square
indent. The Vickers hardness number is a function of the test force divided by the surface area
of the indent. The average of the two diagonals is used in the following formula to calculate the
Vickers hardness.
HV = Constant x test force / indent diagonal square.
The constant is a function of the indenter geometry and the units of force and diagonal. The
Vickers number, which normally ranges from HV 100 to HV1000 for metals, will increase as the
sample gets harder. Tables are available to make the calculation simple, while all digital test
instruments do it automatically. A typical Vickers hardness is specified as follows:
356HV0.5
Where 356 are the calculated hardness and 0.5 is the test force in kg.

Rockwell hardness Test:

The Rockwell hardness test method consists of indenting the test material with a diamond cone
or hardened steel ball indenter. The indenter is forced into the test material under a preliminary
minor load FO. When equilibrium has been reached, an indicating device, which follows the
movements of the indenter and so responds to changes in depth of penetration of the indenter,
is set to a datum position. While the preliminary minor load is still applied an additional major
load is applied with resulting increase in penetration. When equilibrium has again been reach,
the additional major load is removed but the preliminary minor load is still maintained. Removal
of the additional major load allows recovery, so reducing the depth of penetration. The
permanent increase in depth of penetration, resulting from the application and removal of the
additional major load is used to calculate the Rockwell hardness number.

HR =E - e
Fo= preliminary minor load in kgf
F1= additional major load in kgf
F = total load in kgf
e= permanent increase in depth of penetration due to major load F1 measured in units of 0.002
mm
E= a constant depending on form of indenter: 100 units for diamond indenter, 130units for steel
ball indenter HR = Rockwell hardness number
D= diameter of steel ball

Specimen and Equipment:

1.

Rockwell hardness tester- Mitutoyo ATK-600

2.

Ball and diamond indenters.

3.

Calibration block.

4.

Hardness specimens: steel, brass, aluminium.

Procedure:
1. The power switch was turned ON.
2. The total load sequence switch was set to the AUTO position in the side panel.
3. The minor load from selector ring was set to S (Rockwell Superficial) or R (Rockwell).
4. Table 1 was referred for selecting a desired indenter.
5. The indenter was fixed.
6. The specimen was placed on the anvil.
7. The total load value was set by turning the selector knob.

8. Preparation was completed :

Loading navigator rapidly flashing (from outer to inner)
Indicator 100 (diamond indenter); 130 (ball indenter)
9. The minor load was applied by raising the anvil by rotating clockwise the elevating
handle slowly until the tip of indenter touched the specimen.
10. During minor load application
Loading navigator slowly flashing (from outer to inner)
11. When the hardness indicator displayed as below, the handle was stopped operation.
Indicator 620 to 640 (Rockwell Superficial); 360 to 370 (Rockwell)
12. After applied appropriate minor load, minor load application was completed.
Loading navigator 4 LEDs light up
13. The START switch was pressed. The measurement process was automatically
performed from step 14-17.
14. Presenting :
Indicator 4 LEDs lighted up
Loading lamp lighted up
Indicator 100 (diamond) ; 130 (ball intender)
15. During total load application :
Loading navigator flashing (from outer to inner)
Loading lamps lighted up
Indicator rapid to slow count-down (duration time 3 to 60 seconds)

16. During total load was removed :

Loading navigator flashing (from inner to outer)
Loading lamps lighted up
Indicator rapid count up
17. Measurement was completed :
Indicator hardness value displayed
OK/NG lamps OK lighted up
18. The hardness value was read and recorded from the hardness indicator.
19. The elevating handle was turned in the reversed direction to lower the anvil and
removed the specimen.
20. Step 3 to 19 was repeated for specimens of other methods and specimens.
21. Three readings on each test specimen and method (refer Table 2) was taken.

Results:
Reading
Method

Indenter

Scale

Specimen

Average
1

30Y

Brass

93.6

95.4

94.4

94.5

30Y

Aluminium

93.0

93.4

93.6

93.3

30Y

Steel

89.0

95.8

96.2

93.7

45N

Brass

7.8

6.0

6.4

6.7

30N

Aluminium

9.2

10.6

11.2

10.3

45N

Steel

17.8

14.8

13.0

15.2

Brass

28

29

27.3

28.1

Aluminium

6.1

8.4

11.7

8.7

Steel

34.7

35.5

31.4

33.9

Rockwell
Ball
Superficial

Rockwell
Diamond
Superficial

Rockwell

Diamond

Table 2: Experimental results

Discussion:
Brass specimen:
For brass, the value given when tested using Rockwell Superficial with ball indenter
for 30Y scale is 94.5. The value given for Rockwell Superficial test using diamond indenter
using 45N scale is 6.7 while for Rockwell test with diamond indenter with S scale is 28.1.
However, brass did not give reading when tested using Rockwell with ball indenter because
the test is not suitable for brass.
Aluminium specimen:
As for aluminium, the value given when tested using Rockwell Superficial with ball
indenter for 30Y scale is 93.3. The value given for Rockwell Superficial test using diamond
indenter using 45N scale is NG so we change it to 30N and the value given is 10.3. As for
Rockwell test with diamond indenter with S scale is 8.7. However, as same as brass, aluminium
did not give reading when tested using Rockwell with ball indenter because the test is not
suitable for aluminium.
Steel specimen:
As for aluminium, the value given when tested using Rockwell Superficial with ball
indenter for 30Y scale is 93.7. The value given for Rockwell Superficial test using diamond
indenter using 45N is 15.2. As for Rockwell test with diamond indenter with S scale is 33.9.
However, as same as brass and aluminium, steel also did not give reading when tested using
Rockwell with ball indenter because the test is not suitable for steel too.

Hardness test need to be performs in engineering practice because it is a vital to test

most materials before they are accepted for processing, and before they are put in to use to
determine whether they meet the specifications required or not. Besides that, other mechanical
properties often may be estimated from hardness data, such as tensile strength. Other than
that, hardness test are simple and inexpensive and no special specimen is needed to be
prepared before conducting the test. Other than that, this test could save cost as the testing
apparatus is inexpensive, the test conducted is non-destructive, and the specimen is neither
fractured nor excessively deformed, a small indentation is the only deformation.

To compare the hardness values of tested specimens with values from reference
sources or manufacturers data, it is complicated and cannot be made mathematically as
different methods and scales used is not exact for a wide range of materials. Different loads,
different shape of indenters, mechanical properties of the specimen all complicate the problem.
All tables and charts should be considered as giving approximate equivalents, particularly when
converting to a method or scale which is not physically possible for the particular test material
and thus cannot be verified.
The importance of hardness test in engineering practice are when it is needed to
localised plastic deformation of materials, the hardness test is used to measure the materials
resistance. Other than that, it is based on natural materials with a scale fabricated solely on the
ability of one material to graze another that was softer. Other than that, the clear-cut and
meticulousness of a hardness test require following strict hardness etiquette and observance to
standards.

Conclusion:
By using Rockwell Superficial with ball indenter of 30Y scale, it is shown that brass is
the hardest specimen, followed by steel and aluminium. When using Rockwell Superficial with
diamond indenter of 45N scale, steel give highest value followed by brass and aluminium. As for
the Rockwell test using diamond indenter with S scale, steel is the hardest followed by brass
and aluminium. So it can be said that steel is the hardest among the specimen tested in this
experiment while aluminium is the softest. As for the Rockwell test using ball indenter, the
result shown for all specimens is NG, which means the indenter cannot calculate the hardness
reading. It is a vital to test most materials before they are accepted for processing, and before
they are put in to use to determine whether they meet the specifications required or not. One of
these tests is for hardness. Hardness is the most important property. Therefore, we should learn
to measure the hardness accurately. Rockwell hardness testing process is most simple and
widely used. Therefore, we should learn it perfectly.