Experiment No.

4 Strength of Materials (9024)

Experiment No. 4
1.0 TITLE:
To calculate yield stress, ultimate stress, breaking stress,
% elongation and Modulus of Elasticity by tension test on mild steel bar.

2.0 PRIOR CONCEPTS:

Axial load, stress, strain, ductility, cross sectional area

3.0 NEW CONCEPTS:

Proposition 1: Modulus of Elasticity
It is the ratio of stress to strain within elastic limit of material.
Concept structure:

Proposition 2: Gauge length

It is the prescribed part of the cylindrical or prismatic portion of the test piece on which elongation is
measured at any instant during the test.
Proposition 3: Stress strain curve
It is the graph plotted between axial tensile stress and corresponding linear strain. It is used to study
the behavior of the specimen under tensile load.
Concept structure:

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Strength of Materials (9024) Experiment No. 4

4.0 LEARNING RESOURCES :

I.S. 1608 and I.S. 432 (Part I)

5.0 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Intellectual Skills:

To calculate yield stress, ultimate stress and breaking stress.

To determine Modulus of Elasticity, % elongation and % reduction in area.

To determine ductility from percentage elongation.
Motor Skills:

Ability to mark gauge length and grip length on mild steel bar.

Ability to observe load values and corresponding elongations during tension test.

Ability to observe yield point, neck formation, cup & cone fracture of test piece in tension
test.

Ability to measure final gauge length and reduced diameter of test specimen.

Ability to plot stress-strain curve.

6.0 APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

Apparatus : Universal Testing Machine (UTM), Vernier calipers, Extensometer, Scale, Punch,
Hammer, Divider etc.
Materials : Mild steel bar of circular cross-section.

7.0 BIS STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS:

Requirements as per IS: 432-1982 (Part I)

• The gauge length for tension test specimen shall be 5.65 A 0 where A0 is the cross-sectional
area.
• For round bar gauge length is 5 times the nominal diameter of bar.

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Experiment No. 4 Strength of Materials (9024)

8.0 DIAGRAM:

9.0 STEPWISE PROCEDURE:

1. Measure the diameter of the specimen at three different sections. Calculate the original
diameter by taking average of three readings. The minimum overall length of the specimen
shall be 20 times diameter plus 200 mm.
2. Mark the points over the grip length, with the punch such that the distance between two
consecutive points is half the gauge length.
3. Select a suitable loading range depending on the diameter of specimen. Start the UTM and
adjust the dead weight of movable heads and then set the load pointer to zero.
4. Fix the specimen bar between the grips of top and middle cross heads of loading frame.
5. Attach the extensometer on the bar at the central portion of the bar. The distance between
upper and lower pivots of extensometer shall be equal to gauge length.
6. Switch on the machine and open the control valve so that the load is increased gradually and
at the required rate.
7. Record the load at suitable interval from the digital display unit or the load dial.
8. Corresponding to loads, note the readings of extensometer.
9. For initial few observations, load and extension are in pace with each other. Record the yield
point load by observing the hesitation of load pointer. The extension readings are faster at
this moment.
10. Remove the extensometer; hence measure extension by divider or suitable scale
11. Record the maximum load. Observe the decrease in load and neck formation on the
specimen.
12. Record the load at fracture and put off the machine.
13. Remove the specimen. Observe the cup and cone formation at the fracture point. Rejoin the
two pieces, measure the final gauge length and the reduced diameter.

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Strength of Materials (9024) Experiment No. 4

10.0 OBSERVATIONS:
Observations before test:
1. Diameter of bar-
a) d1 =………..mm, b) d2 =……….. mm, c) d3 =………… mm
2. Average diameter = d = (d1+d2+d3) / 3 =……………..mm
3. Gauge length = L0 = 5 d = ………………… = …………….mm
4. Least count of extensometer = L. C. = ……………….mm
Observations during test:
1. Range of loading = ……………………..
2. Load at elastic limit = ………………………kN
3. Load at upper yield point = ………………………kN
4. Load at lower yield point = ………………………kN
5. Ultimate load = ………………………kN
6. Breaking load =……………………….kN

Observation table for tension test

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Experiment No. 4 Strength of Materials (9024)

Observations after test:

Final gauge length = L = …………............ mm
Reduced diameter = d1 = ..........................mm

11.0 CALCULATIONS:
Cross sectional area = A0 = πd2/4 = ………….. = ……………….mm2
Reduced cross sectional area = A = πd12/4
= ………………..= ……………….mm2
Yield stress = Yield load / cross sectional area
= …………………/………………. = …………………N/mm2
Ultimate stress = Ultimate load / cross sectional area
= ……………../ …………….. = …………………. N/mm2
Breaking stress = Breaking load / cross sectional area
= ………………/… ………….. = ……….……… N/mm2
Actual breaking stress = Breaking load / reduced cross sectional area
= ………….... /…. ………… = ……….… N/mm2

% Elongation = …………...…………….

= …………….. %

% Reduction in area = = ……………………….

= …………….%
(Within Elastic limit)
Stress = σ = …………..N/mm2
Corresponding strain = ε = ……………
Modulus of Elasticity, E = σ/ ε = ................./……....….
= …………….. N/mm2
Graphs:
1. Plot the graph of stress v/s strain with suitable scales. (Stress on Y- axis and strain on X-
axis) Mark elastic limit, upper yield point, lower yield point, ultimate stress point, nominal
breaking stress point, actual breaking stress point on it.
2. Draw a graph of stress within elastic limit on Y-axis v/s corresponding strain on X-axis with
suitable scales. Calculate the slope of the graph which is Modulus of Elasticity.

12.0 RESULT:
1. Yield stress = ………………. N/mm2
2. Ultimate tensile stress = ……………….. N/mm2
3. Nominal Breaking stress = …………..…… N/mm2
4. Actual breaking stress = ………………. .N/mm2
5. % Elongation = ………………..%
6. % reduction in area = ………………..%
7. Modulus of Elasticity, E = ………………… N/mm2 (By graph)
8. Modulus of Elasticity, E =…………………. N/mm2 (By calculation)

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Strength of Materials (9024) Experiment No. 4

13.0 CONCLUSION:
(Compare the results obtained with standard IS values and comment)

14.0 QUESTIONS:
Write answers to Q. …,Q.......,Q…...,Q…...,(Teacher shall allot questions)
1. State the reason why in tension test on M.S. bar the breaking stress is found less than
ultimate stress.
2. Why noise is heard when specimen breaks in tension test?
3. Which property of material can be interpreted by calculating % elongation?
4. Draw the nature of stress strain curve for brass bar tested in tension.
5. State the reason why in tension test temperature of specimen increases when it breaks.
6. Which parameter, other than % elongation, can interpret ductility of material?
7. State the grade of mild steel bar sample tested in this test.
8. Figure 4.3 shows mild steel specimen tested in tension test. Redraw the sketch and show
the cup and cone on it.

Fig. 4.3
9. Calculate the gauge length for a mild steel flat of size 100 mm x 10 mm which is to be tested
in tension. State the effect of increased carbon content on ultimate strength?
10. Two mild steel bar samples are to be tested in tension. Second sample has high carbon
content than the first one. State for which sample % elongation will be more.
11. State the procedure to calculate the value of Poisson’s ratio by conducting tension test.
12. Draw Stress strain diagram for ductile material. State the procedure to determine modulus of
toughness from this diagram
13. Draw nature of stress strain curves for cast iron and mild steel on same co-ordinate axes.
14. Draw the sketch showing neck formation during tension test on mild steel bar specimen.

(Space for answers)

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Experiment No. 4 Strength of Materials (9024)

(Space for answers)

Signature of Teacher

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Strength of Materials (9024) Experiment No. 4

GRAPH

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Experiment No. 4 Strength of Materials (9024)

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