USEK GMC 472 Strength of Material Lab

TP6

Tensile strength test

Experiment Instructions:

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USEK GMC 472 Strength of Material Lab

1- Introduction:

The tensile strength is one of the most important characteristics of a material. Additionally,
the fracture strain can be determined as a measure for the material's toughness. In the tensile test,
a uniaxial state of stress is produced in a standardized material specimen. This state of stress is
produced by an external load on the specimen in the longitudinal direction via a tensile force.
Then a uniform normal stress distribution prevails in the test cross-section of the specimen. In
order to determine the strength of the material, the load on the specimen is slowly and steadily
increased, until the specimen breaks. The maximum test load 𝐹𝑚 occurring during this process is
a measure of the material's strength. The so-called tensile strength 𝑅𝑚 is calculated from the
maximum test load 𝐹𝑚 and the output cross-section 𝐴𝑜 of the specimen:
𝐹
𝑅𝑚 = 𝐴𝑚
0

The fracture strain A relates to the change in the length of the

specimen tested:
𝐴 = (𝐿𝑓 − 𝐿0 )/𝐿𝑜
Where:
𝐿𝑓 : Length after fracture in mm
𝐿0 : Output Length in mm
A: Fracture strain in %

2- Stress and strain diagram

The stress-strain diagram shows the various behaviors of the different materials. Every
material has a characteristic profile of stress and strain.

Apart from the tensile strength 𝑅𝑝 , the proportional stress 𝑅𝑝 is the limit below which the
material follows the Hook’s law with the modulus of elasticity E, the strain 𝜀 is proportional to
the stress σ and thus forming the Hook’s line.

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USEK GMC 472 Strength of Material Lab

𝜎
𝜀=𝐸
When this stress is exceeded, the deformation is no longer proportional to the load.
The yield point Re is a particularly important technical characteristic. From this point onwards,
the material is permanently plastically deformed. When the load is removed a certain
deformation remains. In order to not endanger the function of the component, it may not be
subject to stronger loads. In some materials, such as soft-annealed steel for example, a distinct
yield builds up following the yield point. The specimen is strained without the load being
increased further. In materials without distinct yield, the elastic limit 𝑅𝑝 0,02 is given. In this case
the material has a lasting elongation of 0,2% after the load is removed.

3- Description of the device:

- The gripping heads are designed for tensile tests with threaded head M10. Gripping
heads are inserted in the crosshead and top crossbar. The gripping heads are held via a
nut or the compression piece.
- The tensile specimens are round specimens with M10 threaded head made of
aluminum, copper, brass and steel are provided with the device.

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USEK GMC 472 Strength of Material Lab

- The figure below shows examples of curves for hardened steel (1), tempered steel (2),
soft annealed steel (3) and an aluminum alloy (4). The hardened steel (1) fractures
with practically no plastic deformation, but has a very high tensile strength. The
tempered steel (2) is much tougher, but also still has a high strength. The soft-
annealed steel (3) has a very high train, but low tensile strength. Here, there is
pronounced yield in the transition to plastic behavior. In the case of the aluminum
alloy (4) the low modulus of elasticity causes the stress-strain curve to increase less
steeply in the elastic area than in the case of the steel materials. The stress-strain
diagram is created from the values for force and elongation recorded during the
tensile test.

4- Experiment setup:

If the gripping heads are not already installed in the

device:
- Remove any components that may be present
- Turn the hand wheel fully open and move the load
frame all the way up
- Fasten gripping head with short bolt on the bottom with
compression piece
- Fasten gripping head with long bolt on the top with nut
- Screw the tensile specimen into the bottom gripping
head by hand, as far as it will go.
- Screw the tensile specimen into the top gripping head by
hand, as far as it will go; turn the gripping head itself to
do this.
- Attach a nut to the top gripping head and tighten by hand
until the gripping head is seated in the top crossbar
without any looseness.
- Measure and write down length L0 between the two
reference marks on the tensile specimen

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USEK GMC 472 Strength of Material Lab

- Turn the spindle (9a) in the main cylinder in order to increase or decrease the tension
area.

5- Conducting the experiment:

-Draw two reference marks on the specimen before applying the force, after the test is
completed the two parts of the specimen should be cleanly combined, and the length of
the specimen should be re-checked
CAUTION:

- Do not reach into the installation space during an experiment.

- Never reach into the device while operating the hand wheel.
- Maintain sufficient distance from the load frame (top crossbar, crosshead
and bottom crossbar)
- Never reach into the device while it is under load.
- Remove all loads from the device before reaching in

- Launch the WP 300.20 measurement data collection program

- Launch the software module for collecting measurement data for the tensile test via the
Start menu Tensile test.
- Create a new project for a new experiment run via the File menu New series.
- In the dialogue box that opens up, enter a name for the experiment in the Name box. You
can choose any name you like. You can also add a note in the Comment box so that for
example, you can note down special features of this experiment run.

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USEK GMC 472 Strength of Material Lab

- From the View menu Settings you can open a dialogue box in which you can specify
information about the tensile specimen and the measurement data collection interval.
- In the Settings dialogue box that opens up, you can select a flat specimen (top) or a round
specimen (bottom) in the Kind of specimen field, depending on the tensile specimen
used.
- In the Material field you select the material of the tensile specimen, or if the material is
not listed you can enter it via the Define pulldown option.
- Enter the dimensions of the tensile specimen in the boxes for
 Specimen diameter d0 in mm
 Initial measurement length L0 in mm

The value for the Cross-Sectional Area S0 in mm2 field is determined automatically. In
the Sample time Ta box enter the duration between two measurements in s.
- The project is now ready. The sensor values now have to be calibrated. Lightly pretension
the specimen (max. 0,5kN) to minimize the influence of looseness.
- Set all displays on the software to zero.
- The tensile specimen is subject to load slowly and steadily by turning the hand wheel.
- The application of force should be stretched out over a period of 5 - 10 min
- Avoid abrupt or jerky application of load in any case
- Observe the tensile specimen and look for the onset of contraction
- During contraction the force is no longer increasing, but rather decreasing
- Depending on the material of the tensile specimen the fracture will occur as
slow tearing or abruptly

CAUTION:
When the specimen fractures at the end of the tensile test, it does so with a loud crack, especially
in the case of steel. DO NOT PANIC!!!!

- Fill the below tables:

Tensile strength test for the steel specimen

Force in KN Strain 𝐿𝑓 − 𝐿0 in Force in KN Strain 𝐿𝑓 − 𝐿0 in
1/100mm 1/100mm

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USEK GMC 472 Strength of Material Lab

Tensile strength test for the brass specimen

Force in KN Strain 𝐿𝑓 − 𝐿0 in Force in KN Strain 𝐿𝑓 − 𝐿0 in
1/100mm 1/100mm

Tensile strength test for the aluminum specimen

Force in KN Strain 𝐿𝑓 − 𝐿0 in Force in KN Strain 𝐿𝑓 − 𝐿0 in
1/100mm 1/100mm

- Plot the above values in a graph for each specimen

- Read off the maximum test load from the trailing pointer and note it down

- Set trailing pointer on the force gauge to zero

- Remove the tensile specimen from the gripping Heads

- Turn the hand wheel fully closed and move the load frame all the way down
- Determine the final length 𝐿𝑓 by measuring the specimen at the end of the experience.
- Fill the below table for the tested material:
Material F in KN 𝐿𝑜 (𝑚𝑚) 𝐿𝑓 (𝑚𝑚)
Brass
Steel
Aluminum
- Compare, analyze and conclude.

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USEK GMC 472 Strength of Material Lab

- Calculate the 𝑅𝑚 and fill the below table:

Material Tensile Strength 𝑅𝑚 in N/mm² Fracture strain in %
Calculated From Literature Calculated From literature
Steel 550-800 6
Aluminum 220 12
Brass 510 11

- Compare, analyze and conclude.