1

Welcome
This is a document to explain the concept of Microscopic behaviour of a
sample during tensile testing to the animator.

2 This will take you through a 5 section process to provide the necessary
details to the animator before starting the animation.

3 The legend on the left will indicate the current status of the document.
The big Black coloured number will denote the current section, the
Grey color would denote the completed sections, and the Turquoise
color would denote the remaining sections.

4 The slides having yellow background (like this one) are the 'Instruction
slides'

5
 Microstructure changes during
Deformation
This idd shows us the basic microscopic changes that take place in a sample
when tensile forces are applied
Related LOs:

> Prior Viewing –Tensile Deformation of Ductile Metal

Prerequisites: Basic phenomenon of tensile test

Course Name: Mechanical Behaviour of Materials
Level(UG):
Author
Sudip Deb
Mentor
Prof P.Pant
 Learning Objectives
After interacting with this Learning Object, the learner will be able to:

•Identify the microscopic state of the sample when tensile stress is being applied to it.
•Identify the microscopic changes that lead to the failure of a material.
•Differentiate between ductile and brittle fracture
 Definitions and Keywords
1
Stress: Stress is defined as force per unit area. It has the same units as
•

pressure, and in fact pressure is one special variety of stress.

2 Strain: Strain is defined as the amount of deformation an object
•

experiences compared to its original size and shape. For example, if a

block 10 cm on a side is stretched so that it becomes 11 cm long, the
strain is (11-10)/10 or 0.1 (sometimes expressed in percent, in this case
10 percent.) Note that strain is dimensionless.
3
•Elastic deformation: This type of deformation is reversible. Once the
forces are no longer applied, the object returns to its original shape.

•Plastic deformation: This type of deformation is not reversible.

However, an object in the plastic deformation range will first have
4 undergone elastic deformation, which is reversible, so the object will
return part way to its original shape.

5
 Definitions and Keywords
1
Ductility is a solid material's ability to deform under tensile stress; this is
often characterized by the material's ability to be stretched into a wire

2 Necking The reduction in diameter that occurs as a sample material is

subjected to tensile stresses.

Fracture: Fracture is the (local) separation of an object or material into two,

or more, pieces under the action of stress.
3 Brittleness: A material is brittle if, when subjected to stress, it breaks
without significant deformation (strain)

Ductile Fracture :In ductile fracture, extensive plastic deformation

(necking) takes place before fracture. The terms rupture or ductile
4 rupture describe the ultimate failure of tough ductile materials loaded in
tension

5
 Slide 3

Introduction Tab 02 Tab 03 Tab 04 Tab 05 Tab 06 Tab 07

Name of the section/stage

Interactivity
•
area
•

Ductile

Brittle

Ductile Iron Rod Brittle glass Rod

Instructions/ Working area

Credits
1 Master Layout 1:
Universal Testing Machine

2
3

http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Materials/Mechanical/Tensile.htm
http://www.directindustry.com/prod/instron/tensile-compression-testing-machine-18463-41713.html

5
 Step 1:
1 T1: Choosing the sample

Fig 1.1 Fig 1.2

Clasps
2
START

Universal Testing Ductile Iron Rod Brittle Rod

Machine
3 Interactivit Instruction Instruction to
y type (IO to learners animators Results and output
1/IO 2)

Button click Select the o As the experiment

material on starts the Universal If the ductile specimen is selected the n show the
testing machine and message
which the test
is to be the two rods appear on
performed the screen
4 o The learner needs to
select one among the
two rods either the
Ductile specimen is being loaded
•

ductile specimen or the Else if the brittle specimen is selected show the
message
brittle one •Brittle specimen is being loaded
o Once the selection is
done the sample is
shown being placed
between the clamps of
the machine

5 o As the selected
specimen is placed in
the machine and start
button appears and
also the graph of stress
and strain
1 Master Layout 2(Ductile):
Universal Testing Machine

2
3

http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Materials/Mechanical/Tensile.htm
http://www.directindustry.com/prod/instron/tensile-compression-testing-machine-18463-41713.html

5
1 Step 2.1: T1: Tensile Test for ductile material - stress – strain curve

Stress
A0

L0

2 Clasps
Original

START

3 Interactivit
y type (IO
1/IO 2)
Instruction to
learners

1. Notice the
initial length
Instruction to animators

•Mark and show L0 andA0 in the sample

•Show the sample being placed in the machine
Text to be displayed

1. Stress is a function of
Load / cross sectional
L0 and the • Show the zoomed up Lo part of the rod in area (A0)
initial area of between the machine clasps.
the specimen 2. Strain is defined as the
A0. • Show instruction to learner 2. change in length/
4 2. Click on red
button to
• The learner clicks on the red button
• As the red button is clicked the button
original length on
application of load.
start the vanishes the graph starts but no significant L1- L0
experiment change in the sample is seen and it stops as L0
the graph reaches the orange dot
3. This is the
• On reaching the orange dot a pop up is microstructure of steel
shown from the magnified image of the within the elastic limit
specimen which shows the microstructure
of steel
5 • Display test 3 to the learner and start
button reappears
1 Step 2.2: T1: Tensile Test for ductile material - stress – strain curve

Stress

A rod
L1
L1

2 Clasps

START

3 Interactivit
y type (IO
1/IO 2)
Instruction to
learners

Click the start

1.

button for
Instruction to animators

o Once the start button is clicked the

microstructure is removed and also
Text to be displayed

The maximum elastic limit

1.

of the sample has been

further loading the start button and the loading reached and plastic
phenomenon starts again and also deformation in the sample
the graph starts moving has started as length
o This time there is some change in the increased from Lo to L1 .
4 dimensions of the sample its length
increases by 1 cm

o This continues till the graph reaches 2.This is the microstructure

the blue dot where this stops the text of the sample in the plastic
1 is displayed to the learner region .the grains are
elongated.
o Then a pop up is shown from the

5 elongated sample showing the

microstructure of the elongated
sample and also text 2 is displayed
and start button reappears
1 Step 2.3.1: T1: Tensile Test for ductile material - stress – strain curve

Stress

Necking

2 Clasps

START

3 Interactivit
y type (IO
1/IO 2)
Instruction to
learners

Click the start

1.

button for
Instruction to animators

o Once the start button is clicked the

microstructure is removed and also
Text to be displayed

further loading the start button is removed and the 1. The Ultimate Tensile
material starts being stretched Strength of the material has
o the graph also starts moving also been reached and is
the sample starts to elongate further indicated by the blue dot
4 o
a blue dot appears on the screen
(text 1 appears)
the loading continues and stops
2. 2.Necking is seen to

appear on the surface of

the material
midway after sometime
o necking is seen to appear in the
sample and text 1 is displayed to the
learner

5
 Step 2.3.2: Deformation due to dislocation
1

2
2

Interactiv Instruction to animators

ity type Results and output
(IO 1/IO
2)
Click
3 •As necking start appearing in the earlier slide
simultaneously show the first fig with the dots in
it
1. Deformation of a material by
the method of void formation.

• then as necking progress the show necking

occurring in this sample also with the size of the
voids increasing
•Next show the voids increasing in size
4 •After that show the voids coalescing with each
other and growing in size also show the area
near the voids narrowing up.
•Finally Show the sample ruptured and label it as
deformation due to dislocation

5
1 Step 2.4: T1: Tensile Test for ductile material - stress – strain curve

Stress

Crack L
4

2 Clasps

START

3 Interactivit
y type (IO
1/IO 2)
Instruction to
learners

Click the start

1.

button for
Instruction to animators

o Once the start button is clicked it is

removed
Text to be displayed

further loading o the graph starts moving also the Cracks being formed on
1.
sample starts to tear up from the the sample
necked region
o Text one is displayed

4 o

o
As the material starts tearing apart
Text 2 and text 3 are displayed
Facture or Failure
1.The material starts to
crack once it has crossed
its ultimate tensile strength
until the point of complete
failure or fracture of the
material.
2.Microstructure of the

fractured sample

5
1 Step 3.1: T1: Tensile Test for brittle material - stress – strain curve

Stress
A0

L0

2 Clasps
Original
Fractured Region
START

3 Interactivit
y type (IO
1/IO 2)
Instruction to
learners

1.Notice the initial

length L0 and
Instruction to animators

•
Mark and show L0 andA0 in the sample
Show the sample being placed in the machine
Text to be displayed

1.Stress is a function of
Load / cross sectional area
the initial area of • Show the zoomed up Lo part of the rod in (A0)
the specimen between the machine clasps.
A0.
2.Click on red 1.Strain is defined as the
4 button to start
the experiment
• Show instruction to learner 2. change in length/ original
length on application of
load.
•The learner clicks on the red button
As the red button is clicked it vanishes the
•

graph starts but no significant change in the

sample is seen and it stops as the graph
reaches the orange dot 3. Brittle fracture has
occurred in the element

5 •On reaching the orange dot the sample

suddenly breaks showing the phenomenon of
brittle fracture
•Display test 3 to the learner and mark the

fractured region
1 Step 3.2: T1: Tensile Test for brittle material - Microstructure

3
microscopic Image
Zoom
in SEM image
type
http://pwatlas.mt.umist.ac.uk/internetmicroscope/micrographs/failure/brittle-steel_z9.html

Interactivi Instruction to Instruction to animators Text to be displayed

ty type learners
Take the fractured sample. Notice the various
4
o 1.

o Zoom into the fractured region of the regions of the

Zoom sample and show the schematic image fractured sample and
in to the learner also the region along
type o Further zoom into the image shown and which fracture has
SEM image to the learner. taken place

2. SEM image shows more

detailed into the fractured
regions
5
1 Step 4: Types of Brittle fracture

Schismati
c Image

2
http://

3 Transgranular Intergranular

Interactivi Instruction to animators

ty type (IO Text to be displayed
1/IO 2)

4 Point
Show two completely intact images of
•

grains simultaneously (images on the right

without the black cracks) 1.Observe the Differences
out Transgranular Fracture-Fracture
In one of the grains show it cracking along
•
along the grain
the grain label it as transgranular Intergranular Fracture-Fracture along
the grain boundary
In the other one show the crack
• 1.One of the two fractures has occurred

propagating along the grain boundaries in the above case

(blue lines) label it as intergranular

5
APPENDIX 3
Questionnaire
1
1. Which of the following components will take the maximum time for fracture?
Answers: a) Steel b)Wood c) Plastic d) Glass
2. Phenomenon of necking occurs in?
2 Answers: a)Brittle Cast Iron b)Stainless Steel c) Dolomite d) Graphite
3. Ductile Fracture occurs basically due to?
Answers: a)Rusting b)Grain boundary fracture c) Corrosion d) Void Formation
4.Which of this is absent in Brittle metals ?(multiple choice)
Answers: a) Yield Strength b) Plastic deformation c) Fracture d)Necking
3

4
5
1
Instruction to Animators
2
•Master layout 1 shows both the ductile and the brittle sample out of which one has to be selected
•. If the ductile specimen is selected then the slides 9-14 are shown to the learner.
•The Slide 14 is to be shown if ductile specimen is selected this shows the specific process of void

formation which leads to ductile fracture.

•Slide 15-16 are shown if the brittle specimen is selected.

•In both the cases the microstructures are to be shown as zoomed out from the specimen itself.

•Slides 17-18 should be shown to the user to find the difference in both the processes.

4
5
 APPENDIX 2

Links for further reading

Reference websites:
http://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=fracture_toughness
http://www.engineersedge.com/strength_of_materials.htm
http://www.feppd.org/ICB-Dent/campus/biomechanics_in_dentistry/ldv_data/basic.htm
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Materials/Mechanical/Tensile.htm
http://www.feppd.org/ICB-Dent/campus/biomechanics_in_dentistry/ldv_data/basic.htm

Books:
Mechanical Metallurgy – George E. Dieter
Mechanical Behavior of Materials.- Thomas H. Courtney
APPENDIX 3

Summary
• Elastic deformation:
• The stress and strain initially increase with a linear relationship.
• In this region of the curve, when the stress is reduced, the material will return to its original shape.
•Yield point: From this point on in the tensile test, some permanent deformation occurs in the
specimen.
•Plastic deformation: The material will not return to its original, unstressed condition when the load is

removed.
•The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) or, more simply, the tensile strength, is the maximum

engineering stress level reached in a tension test.

•Failure/ Fracture: The point at which the material breaks.

•Stiffness is resistance of a material to elastic deformation. The higher the elastic slope the higher the
stiffness of the material.
•Ductility is the maximum elongation before failure/ fracture.