JASANTA JINOR

KAEA1122 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

KES130005

TITLE: TENSILE TEST FOR METALS

AIM:
The aim of this experiment is to study the behaviour of engineering materials under tension
until collapse / failure / rupture and to determine:
a) Relationship between stress and strain (stress-strain curve)
b) Modulus of Elasticity (E)
c) Indicate stress strength in :
i. Yield stress (Y and 0.1% and 0.2% proof stress, P)
ii. Maximum stress (MAX)
iii.
Rupture or failure stress (BR = RUP)
d) Local extension or the strain to a specified length
e) Average of general extension or strain to overall length of specimen (EAV)
f) % reduction in area (AO %)

APPARATUS:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

Testing machine (Universal Testing Machine 10 ton capacity)

Extensometer
Dividing and marketing machine
Micrometer
Vernier calliper
Steel ruler

INTRODUCTION:
Mild steel performs some behavior in tension. A convenient way of demonstrating
elastic behavior is to plot a graph of the results of a simple tensile test that will be carried out
in this experiment on a thin mild steel rod and aluminum rod. The rod may be hung vertically
and a series of forces applied at the lower end. Two gauge points are marked on the rod and
the distance between them measured after each force increment has been added. The test is
continued until the rod breaks.
The stress and the strain values at each incremental stage are calculated and plotted in
the graph. The following characteristics will be observed from the graph:
a) Elastic range of stress: the straight-line portion of the graph between the origin and
the elastic limit; i.e. the portion over which Hookes law is obeyed.

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KAEA1122 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

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b) Plastic range of stress: the curved portion of the graph between the elastic limit and
the failure point; a permanent set (change in length) will be observed if the load is
removed in this region.
c) Elastic limit: the stress up to which complete recovery of the strain takes place upon
removal of the load.
d) Limit of proportionality: the stress up to which Hookes law is obeyed, i.e. the graph
is a straight line, usually occurring fractionally below the elastic limit.
e) Upper yield point: the stress at which the first sudden increase in strain occurs.
f) Lower yield point: the lowest value of stress during the first sudden yielding; usually
this can only be located by using controlled strain method of testing.
g) Failing stress: the stress at which the rod breaks; allowance has to be made for the
reduction in cross-section (known as necking) which occurs due to plastic yielding
immediately prior to failure.
h) Ultimate or maximum stress: the maximum value of stress attained before the final
rapid yielding leading to failure.

PROCEDURE:
a) Physical inspection of the given sample is carried out in terms of straightness, uniform
diameter and cross-section, cracks and defects.
b) Diameter of the specimen sample is measured in a few cross-section (n). The average
diameter (DAV) or original diameter (DO) is determined : (DAV = DO = D i/n)
c) For every 10 mm, the specimen is marked with dividing and marking machine and the
overall length, Lt is measured.
d) The sample is placed in the testing machine.
e) Extensometer is fix in the middle of specimen and the readings between the jaws of
extensometer, Lg are recorded.
f) The range of load required with basic ultimate tensile strength of given material is
selected.
Original cross sectional area of specimen : AO = /4 DO2
1
Estimated Ultimate tensile load = UTS x /4 DO2 x 9.81 x 1000 ton
1 Ton = 1000 Kgf

1N = f x g

g) The specimen is loaded and the behaviour is noted when the load is increased.
h) The extensometer is removed when the strain is not proportional to the stress applied.
Loading is continued till failure is reached.
i) The diameter at the neck of the failed sample is measured.
j) Gauge length, Ls = 5.65 AO is calculated according to B.S. where AO = original area
of the specimen. The value of L s is placed to the nearest centimetre. The increase in
length of Ls is measured after test.
k) The total length of the specimen after failure is measured.

GRAPHS:

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KAEA1122 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

KES130005

Tensile Test - Steel

Tensile stress (MPa)

600
500
400
Specimen Name

300

G5 Steel
200
100
0
-1

Tensile strain (%)

Tensile Test - Aluminium

Tensile stress (MPa)

400

300

Specimen Name

200

G5 aluminium
100

0
-1

Tensile strain (%)

CALCULATION:

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KAEA1122 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

KES130005

For Steel:
Estimated Ultimate tensile load
1 Ton = 1000 Kgf

D
4 O

= UTS x

1
9.81 x 1000 ton

1N = f x g

Estimated Ultimate tensile load of steel

= 575 x 71.63 x

1
9.81 x 1000

= 4.198 ton
Area, A0

D
4 o

x 9.552
4

= 71.63 mm2
LS original = 5.85

71.63
= 49.51 mm

LS final

= 57 mm

a) E, Modulus of Elasticity

b) % elongation =
=

500200
(0.200.10)/100

= 300 kN/mm2

x 100%
303290
290

x 100%
, Where Lt = Lt final Lt initial

= 4.48%

c) % increase in local elongation as per B.S. =

Ls
Ls

x 100%

57.0049.51
49.51

x 100% =

7.49
49.51

100%
= 15.13%, Where Ls = LS final - LS original

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KAEA1122 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

d) % decrease in cross-sectional area =

A original A
A original

neck

KES130005

x 100%

A o A f
Ao

9.5525.852
2
9.55

D o2Df 2
D o2

x 100%

= 62.48%

For Aluminum:
Estimated Ultimate tensile load
1 Ton = 1000 Kgf

= UTS x

D
4 O

1N = f x g

Estimated Ultimate tensile load of aluminum

= 310 x 74.36 x

1
9.81 x 1000

= 2.350 ton
Area, A0

D
4 AV

2
x 9.73
4

= 74.36 mm2
LS original

= 8.37

74.36

= 72.18 mm
LS final

1
9.81 x 1000 ton

= 75 mm
a) E, Modulus of Elasticity =

b) % elongation =

x 100%

200100
2
(0.250.15)/100 = 100 kN/mm

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KAEA1122 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

300290
290

KES130005

x 100%
, Where Lt = Lt final Lt initial

= 3.45%

c) % increase in local elongation as per B.S. =

Ls
Ls

x 100%

75.0072.18
72.18

x 100% =

2.82
72.18

x 100%
= 3.91%, Where Ls = LS final - LS original

d) % decrease in cross-sectional area =

A original A
A original

neck

A o A f
Ao

x 100%

9.7328.37 2
9.732

D o2Df 2
D o2

x 100%

= 26.00 %

RESULTS :

INITIAL

Diameter of the sample:

Material
Steel
Aluminum
Length of the sample:

Diameter Di (where i = n)
1 (mm)
2 (mm)
3 (mm)
9.54
9.58
9.52
9.73
9.72
9.73

Average Diameter
DO =DAV (mm)
9.55
9.73

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Material
Steel
Aluminium

KAEA1122 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

Length, l (mm)
290
290

KES130005

Local Length (mm)

50
70

Weight of the sample:

Material
Steel
Aluminium

Weight, w (g)
168.02
60.51

FINAL

Diameter of the sample:

Material
Steel
Aluminum

Diameter Di (where i = n)
1 (mm)
2 (mm)
3 (mm)
5.70
5.93
5.91
8.35
8.40
8.37

Average Diameter
DO =DAV (mm)
5.85
8.37

Length of the sample:

Material
Steel
Aluminium

Length, l (mm)
303
300

Local length (mm)

57
75

Weight of the sample:

Material
Steel
Aluminium

Material

Weight, w (g)
168.02
60.51

Estimated Ultimate
Tensile load ( ton )

Steel

Ultimate tensile
strength UTS
(N/mm2)
575

4.198

Modulus of
Elasticity, E
(kN/mm2)
300

Aluminium

310

2.350

100

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KAEA1122 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

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DISCUSSION:
1. From the results obtained in the experiment, it is shown that the modulus of elasticity
of steel, which is 300 kN/mm2 is higher than that of aluminium, which is 100 kN/mm 2.
For the percentage of elongation, the percentage of elongation done by steel is 4.48%
while aluminum has a lower value, which is 3.45%.
2. An extensometer is used to measure the changes in the length of a specimen. It is
useful for stress-strain measurements. There are many types of extensometer but they
are mainly split into two categories which are Contact and non-contact. Contact
extensometer is used for applications where high precision strain measurement is
required. For certain special cases, non-contact extensometers are used when it is
impractical to use a feeler arm or contact extensometer. Contact extensometers can be
further categorized into two types as shown in below.
a) These are clipped onto a specimen (hence the name "clip-on" extensometer) before
carrying out a tensile test. These devices are used for applications where extremely
high precision is required over a relatively small extension (a few mm). They have
the disadvantage that they can damage the specimen at the contact point due to the

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clamping forces required and the weight of the device itself which can influence
certain test specimens.
b) For automated testing clip-on devices have been largely replaced by digital "feeler
arm" extensometers. These can be applied to the specimen automatically by a
motorised system and produce much more repeatable results than the traditional
clip-on devices. They are counter balanced and so have negligible effect on the
specimen. Better linearity, reduced signal noise and synchronisation with the
corresponding force data are big advantages due to the lack of analogue to digital
converters and associated filters which add time lags and smooth the raw data. In
addition these devices can remain on the specimen until failure and measure very
high extensions (up to 1000 mm) without losing any accuracy.
3. There are tests normally carried out to determine the suitability of a metal for
engineering uses such as construction and fabrication, there are compression test,
hardness test, fracture test and other tests.
4. When carrying out the tests, errors cannot be avoided as there may be
imperfections in the specimen itself. The defection in the specimen may cause the
results obtained to be inaccurate as its behavior cannot be determined precisely.
Besides, technical problem such as failure to calibrate the machine may influence
the results too. Hence, in order to minimise such errors, several precautions are
needed to be taken into consideration.
a) When the tensile test is running, do not get too close to the machine in order to
avoid injury from a sudden small explosion when the specimen fractures.
b) The diameter and length of the specimen should be measured at least three
times to get the average reading so that a more accurate value can be obtained.
c) Parallax errors should be avoided when taking measurements with the line of
sight always perpendicular to the scale of the measuring instruments.

CONCLUSION :
From the experiment, we can conclude that aluminium possess a higher ductility compared to
steel due to a higher elongation and narrower necking. Meanwhile, the toughness of the steel
is higher compared to aluminium due to the higher Modulus of Elasticity, E. Ductility and
toughness of metal samples can be determined by using tensile test.