, 2015

NAZRUL AIDIL MAT AKHER

MSE 2205 LAB 6

Strength & Structure of Engineering Materials

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this experiment is to understand the strength of materials such as mild
steel, wood, nylon and aluminum for use as columns using the manual mechanical testing
device.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

The length of all samples, mild steel, wood, nylon and aluminum are
measured. Cross sectional dimensions of the samples are also measured.
The loading fixture is mounted in the hydraulic test machine that was set
up for compression measurements. The computer then set up to capture
the maximum load applied. The load required to move the ram with no
sample in the load frame are measured. This frictional load is subtracted
from the measured load to obtain the actual failure load of the samples.
The longest specimen is mounted and loaded until the load starts to
decrease. The maximum load and any other pertinent observations are
recorded. Last step is repeated for all the specimens. The throat on the
machine is increased as you test longer samples. All pertinent
observations are recorded in a spread sheet on the computer.

RESULTS

Failure load is calculated using Euler's equation (equation 13-5 of

Hibbeler, Mechanics of Materials 6th edition).
Pcr =

2 EI
L2

(13-5)

Where
Pcr = critical or maximum axial load on the column just before it begins to
buckle.
E = modulus of elasticity for the material
I = least moment of inertia for the columns cross-sectional area
L = unsupported length of the column, whose ends are pinned

SAMPLE CALCULATION

1) Failure load for 50.1 cm length mild steel:

3
d 4 ( 6.28 0.02 mm10 )
I=
=
=1.94E-06 m4
64
64

E = 29.0 x 106 psi (200 GPa)

L=5 0.1 cm

Pcr =

2 EI 22001010 Pa1.94106 m 4
=
= 60283 N
L2
0.05 m 2
2) Percent deviation for 50.1 cm length mild steel:
\

deviation=

( observed load predicted load ) 100

predicted load

deviation=

( 12727 N60283 N )100

60283 N

= 78.89 %

Table 1: Summary of all 4 samples

Approx L

Length

Diameter

Mild Steel
Observed

Predicted

(cm)

(cm)

(mm)

Load (N)

Load (N)

6.28

12727

60283

7.5

7.4

6.28

7860

27522

10

9.9

6.28

7459

15377

12

12.4

6.3

8071

9927

15

15.1

6.36

7845

6953

20

19.6

6.26

3602

3873

25

24.9

6.28

2843

2431

30

Approx L
(cm)

30

Length
(cm)

6.29

Diameter
(mm)

3514
Wood
Observed
Load (N)

1685

Predicted
Load (N)

5.1

6.27

1342

2965

7.5

7.2

6.34

1570

1555

10

9.9

6.13

1965

719

12

12.2

6.46

1739

584

15

14.7

6.43

1067

395

Approx L
(cm)

Length
(cm)

Diameter
(mm)

Nylon
Observed
Load (N)

Predicted
Load (N)

6.41

1620

1014

7.5

7.6

6.42

1094

442

10

9.7

6.39

1135

266

12

12.5

6.42

1102

163

15

15

6.43

1030

114

Approx L
(cm)
5

Length
(cm)
5.1

Diameter
(mm)
6.35

Aluminum
Observed
Load (N)
5734

Predicted
Load (N)

deviation
78.88807
48
71.44068
6
51.49206
56
18.69656
77
12.82848
07
7.005154
21
16.95999
45
108.5172
77

adjusted
gap

adjusted
gap

%
deviation
54.73986
59
0.948703
35
173.3280 adjusted
34 gap
197.8395
06
170.3014
21

%
deviation
59.73186
68
147.6698
02
326.4857 adjusted
84 gap
574.8856
13
802.7022
26

%
deviation
73.84860
21926
09

7.5

7.4

6.33

5481

10284

10

10

6.32

3630

5596

12

12.5

6.29

4571

3514

15

15.1

6.32

3600

2454

20

20

6.32

2385

1399

25

25.1

5.77

1417

617

30

30.1

6.27

1357

598

46.70331
57
35.13206
07
30.08297 adjusted
34 gap
46.68302
98
70.47937
77
129.6179
47
126.7955
17

Graph 1: Pcritical/A vs. (L/rg) plot

Pcritical/A vs. (L/rg) plot

9000000000
8000000000
7000000000
6000000000
5000000000

steel
P/A (Pa) mild
4000000000

wood

aluminum

nylon

3000000000
2000000000
1000000000
0
10

20

30

40

50

L/rg

DISCUSSION

60

70

80

90

100

110

The observed load of the experiment initially did not follow the
Eulers trend as there was an error while conducting the experiment. The
error is there have been a big gap left in between of the material and the
hydraulic test machine mount. This error has been corrected in the middle
of the experiment.

After the gap has been adjusted, we can see the trend seemed to
follow the Eulers curve, observed load decreased as the length increased.
However, the observed load is a little bit higher than the predicted values
calculated using the Eulers formula.

The 20cm Mild steel had the least deviation from the predicted
value after adjusted gap of all material at 7%. The 15cm Nylon had the
greatest deviation of 802%. This high value probably caused by the
limitation of Eulers equation where it only useful over a limited range of
L/rg, this range is determined by the material properties. Euler's equation
only predicts failure for stresses below Yield.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, Eulers formula is a great tool to calculate the critical
load of a material although it limited to a sentence range of L/rg. The
manual mechanical testing device is useful to understand the strength of
materials such as mild steel, wood, nylon, and aluminum for use as
columns. From this experiment, 5cm mild steel are the strongest between
all the material to use as column at 12727 N observed load for failure.
APPENDIX