Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials

Department of Mechanical Engineering

QUIZ 10%
Practice PRESENTATION AND
5%
Stress Testing in the PARTICIPATION

1 Universal Machine ANNOTATIONS 10%

CALCULATIONS 10%
RESULTS 25%
NAME DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 15%
ID STUDENT QUESTIONS 15%
CONCLUSIONS AND
LAB GROUP 10%
REFERENCES
INSTRUCTOR TOTAL 100%

OBJECTIVE

• The student will learn the operation of the universal machine performing tensile tests
under ASTM E8 standard experimentally obtain the elastic modulus, yield stress and
ultimate stress standardized specimens of various materials; likewise compare the
results with those published in manuals and textbooks.

FUNDAMENTS

The characterization of the material basis of their mechanical properties is paramount in the design,
as it allows us to choose the right material according to function and efforts that will be submitted.
For these properties must be conveniently compare the size of the samples and the way in which
the load is applied, are standardized. Thus, arise various organizations to establish such uniformity;
This is the case of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), American Society of
Standards (ASA) and the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), to name a few.

In practice we will perform a stress test which provides information about the strain and ductility of
materials: this information can be used to compare materials, improved alloys, quality control of
materials and design under certain circumstances. To apply a load test in the direction of long axis
of a cylindrical specimen (standardized according to ASTM E8) using the universal machine. The
static stress test permits to determine the stress-strain curve of certain material specifying the yield
limit (point A Fig.1), yield stress (point B Fig.1), ultimate tensile stress (point D Fig.1), nominal
rupture stress (point E Fig.1), or even the actual breaking stress (point E in Fig.1). Not forgetting
that the slope of the curve in the elastic region defines the elastic modulus of the material.

By this test, we can obtain the degree of ductility having a material if we calculate the percentage
of elongation or reduction area. The linear relationship between the strain and stress within the
elastic region was enunciated in 1678 by Robert Hooke. Thomas Young in 1807 subsequently
introduces the mathematical expression defining this relationship by adding the constant of
proportionality known as the modulus of elasticity or Young. This expression is known as Hooke's
law, which for purposes of application is only valid when:

• The load is axial

• The specimen is homogeneous and constant section
• The strain does not exceed the limit of proportionality

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering


Ultimate EE
Tensile
esfuerzo
Stress
esfuerzo
último
último
DD E’
E’
Yield fractura
esfuerzo Fracture
fractura
fracture
BB
esfuerzo
de Stress
fluencia
de fluencia CC
Yield Limit
límite de
límite
proporcionalidadde AA
proporcionalidad

zona
elástica
Perfect endurecimiento
Zone plasticidad
zona plasticidad
Plasticity
Strain
endurecimiento
por
perfecta o Hardening
estricción
Necking
estricción 
Elastic perfecta
elástica o por
deformación
fluencia deformación
fluencia
Figure 1. Diagram stress-strain of a stress test (R.C. Hibbeler, 2011)

The normal stress (Eq.1) is defined as the force per unit area; strain such as the increase in length
over a length, calibrated under certain load (EC.2); and elastic modulus as the slope of the curve to
the limit of proportionality (EC.3). Following these definitions we can calculate the modulus of any
material if we know the nominal strain and the cross sectional area to the direction in which the
axial load is applied by Hooke's law (EC.4).

F
  (1)
A
l  l0 
  (2)
l0 l0
  1
E 2 (3)
 2  1
F  l0
  E  E  (4)
A 

The percent elongation and reduction in area are calculated by (EC.5) and (EC.6) respectively.

l f  l0
% Elongation   100 (5)
l0

A0  A f
% Reduction Area   100 (6)
A0

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering

For calculation purposes to design, the yield stress (Y) apparent material is the value used in the
common practice due to the difficulty in determining exactly proportional limit on the stress-strain
curve.

0.002 Shift

Figure 2. Shift Method to determine apparent yield stress

The apparent yield stress (Y) of a material (point A Fig. 2) is determined by the Shift method,
drawing a line parallel to the curve in its elastic region from 0.002 (0.2%) of strain, as shown in
Figure 2.

In brittle materials such as glass and ceramics, the ultimate tensile stress (or break) for design
purposes often used, since these do not develop plastic deformation.
n design, the overall objective for the product is to resist those strain without significant change in
geometry. In manufacturing, the goal is diametrically opposite; strain need to be applied here that
exceed the yield strength of the material in order to alter its shape.

MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED

• Universal Machine UNITED

• Specimens standardized steel and aluminum
• Meter Vernier
• Mechanical Extensometer
• ASTM E8

DATA PUBLISHED IN MANUAL (Properties of Some Metals and Alloys, International Nickel Co.,
N.Y., Metals Handbook, American Society of Metals, Materials Park, Ohio):

ALUMINIUM 6061 CARBON STEEL 1045

(tratamiento térmico)
E= 69 GPa E= 206.8 GPa
Y= 276 MPa Y= 413.8 MPa
UTS= 310 Mpa UTS= 673.7 MPa

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering

ANNOTATIONS

CALCULATIONS

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering

RESULTS

1. Complete the corresponding tables with the theoretical and experimental results, and the
error between the data obtained and published in the reference manual.

Material: Carbon Steel 1045

Experimental Published in
Manuals
Preload

 A

Error

Error

Error
%

%
% Reduction Area
UTS

UTS
YP

YP
E

E
% Elongation
Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2
cm/cm

YP UTS
cm2

Kg

500

Material: Aluminum 6061

Experimental Published in
Manuals
Preload

 A
Error

Error

Error
%

%
% Reduction Area
UTS

UTS
YP

YP
E

E
% Elongation
Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2

Kg/ cm2
cm/cm

YP UTS
cm2

Kg

300

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

QUESTIONS

1. What is the difference between the stress-strain graph of a completely brittle material, with a
little ductile material and a more ductile material? Draw three graphs

2. Explain why it is important to know the yield stress of a material

3. What kind of curve observed in practice for each of the tested materials (real or engineering)?
What’s the difference between the two types of curve?

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 Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering

CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

a) _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

b) _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

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