TENSION TEST

EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT:

TENSION TEST

VIDEO TITLE:

TENSION TEST

utilizing axial loading are generally performed to

determine material properties.
When materials for engineering projects are
procured, the engineer often must specify
material
property
requirements
to
the
manufacturer. After the material is received it is
generally good practice, if not mandatory, to
perform acceptance tests to verify the material
properties before the materials are used.
Therefore, it is important to understand which
material properties are relevant and how those
properties are obtained.

OBJECTIVES:
(1) Obtain a general understanding of how
different materials behave under uniaxial tensile
loading.
(2) Determine and compare material properties
of various materials.
INTRODUCTION:

Results from simple tension tests, similar to the

test described in this experiment, can provide
information from which several material
properties can be determined. The experiments to
be completed for Tension I and Tension II will
illustrate the usefulness of the simple tension test
and demonstrate the mechanical behavior of
different materials. Later tests in this course will
introduce other relevant properties.

This experiment will consist of two parts. The

first will serve to introduce the MTS testing
equipment and testing procedures. For the first
experiment, a 0.25-inch nominal diameter hotrolled steel sample will be tested to failure. Loadversus-strain and load-versus-stroke diagrams
will be produced during the test and these
diagrams will subsequently be used to determine
material properties. The second part to this
experiment, which will be performed during the
first laboratory rotation, will consist of similar
tests on aluminum and stainless steel specimens.

Figure 1 shows a typical tensile specimen both

before and after testing. Notice that the crosssection decreased significantly (necked) at the
failure location, indicating ductile material.
Brittle materials display significantly less necking
and thus the cross-sectional area does not
decrease appreciably prior to failure.

The student will learn how to properly conduct a

tension test and obtain the relevant material
properties from the results. Further, the student
will discover how different materials behave
under similar loading conditions as well as how
material properties differ.

Strain is a measure of the deformation that has

occurred in a material. In the case where the
magnitude of deformation is the same over the
entire length of a body, strain may be defined as:

BACKGROUND:
Stress is a measure of the intensity of an internal
force. Stress is defined as the force per unit area:
Stress=

=
Where:

Load/Area = P/A [psi]

L f Lo
Lo

[in/in]

Lo is the initial length

Lf is the final length

When a specimen is loaded so that the resultant

force passes through the centroid of the specimen
cross-section, the loading is categorized as axial
and can be either tensile or compressive. Tests

For cases where the deformation differs

throughout the body, the lengths Lo and Lf must

25

TENSION TEST
EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY
be reduced to a sub-region of the body where the
deformation is constant.

Units: psi
ELASTIC LIMIT, E: Maximum stress for which
stress will be directly proportional to strain. The
end to the straight-line portion of the stress-strain
curve. Equal to proportional limit.

Units: psi
ELASTIC MODULUS, E: The ratio of stress to
strain for the initial straight-line portion of the
stress-strain curve. Determined by:

.
di

E=

B A
b A

Units: psi

df
.

MODULUS OF RESILIENCE, UR:

The
maximum energy the material will absorb without
inelastic deformation. Equal to the area under the
elastic portion of the stress-strain curve.
Determined by:

.
.
FIGURE 1

2pl
UR =
2E
Where pl is the proportional limit,
defined later in this section.

A typical stress-strain diagram from a tension test

for hot-rolled steel is shown in Figure 2. This
diagram provides a great deal of useful
information about the material. The particular
properties are designated on the figure and are
individually discussed in the following list.

Units: (in-lb)/in3
MODULUS OF TOUGHNESS, UT: Energy per
unit volume required to rupture the material.
Equal to the area under the entire stress-strain
curve. For materials with a stress-strain similar to
that shown in Figure 2, a trapezoidal
approximation can be used:

DUCTILITY: Characteristic of a material where

the material can undergo large plastic
deformations before fracture, especially in
tension.

U T = ( pl + ult )(1 2 )(%elongation )(1 100% )

ENGINEERING FRACTURE STRENGTH:

Engineering stress at the point of final fracture.
Units: lb/in2 (psi)

Units: (in-lb)/in3
PERCENT ELONGATION: A measure of the
deformation at the point of final fracture.
Determined by:

ENGINEERING STRESS, : The load divided

by the initial cross-sectional area. Note that stress
based on the initial cross-section decreases
beyond the ultimate strength.

26

TENSION TEST
EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY
Percent elongation =
Where:

L f Lo
Lo

PERCENT REDUCTION OF AREA: A

measurement of the fracture ductility. Defined as:
%RA = Ao-Af x 100%

(100%)

Lo is the initial
Lf is the final length

length

Ao
Where: Ao is the initial cross-sectional area

Generally the percent elongation is obtained after

the test by fitting the two halves of the specimen
together and measuring the change in length
between two existing punch marks. The percent
elongation will vary depending on the gage length
(distance between punch marks) used. Therefore
the gage length should be reported along with the
percent elongation.

Af is the final cross-sectional

at the location of fracture.

Values for %RA range from near zero for brittle

materials to high values (approaching 100%) for
ductile materials which can neck severely at
failure.

Units: in/in,

Stress-Strain Curve
Typical Sample
Ultimate Strength

Proportional
Limit

Yield Strength
(2% offset)

[psi]

0.002 0.004

area

[in/in]

FIGURE 2

27

Fracture
Strength

TENSION TEST
EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY
PROPORTIONAL LIMIT, pl : Engineering
stress at the point where the straight-line portion
of the stress-strain curves ends. It is the limiting
value for which the stresses and strains are
proportional to one another. Some materials do
not have a well-defined proportional limit and in
many cases the value may vary with the judgment
of the engineer and the precision of the scale of
the graph. Equal to the elastic limit.

amount of strain. The point at which this line

intersects the stress-strain curve is the yield point
at the specified offset. Yield strength is a
particularly useful measurement for materials
with no definite proportional limit.
Some materials exhibit a decrease in stress
in the yield region, or a yield drop, as shown in
Figure 3. In such cases it is common to report an
upper yield strength which is the highest stress
reached prior to the drop; and a lower yield
strength which is the lowest stress reached before
the stress again begins to increase. Mild steel is
the most common material to exhibit a yield drop.
The upper yield stress is dependent on such
factors as the alignment of the specimen in the
grips of the machine and the rate at which the
specimen is loaded. Poor alignment or very slow
loading rates may result in no yield drop and
initial yielding may begin around the value the
lower yield point would have in a standard test.
Units: psi

Units: psi
TANGENT MODULUS, Et: Slope of the stressstrain curve at a particular stress level.
Units: psi
ult:
Highest
engineering stress reached at any time during the
ULTIMATE

STRENGTH,

test. Also known as the tensile (or compressive)

strength.
Units: psi

Yield Drop
UY
, Stress, psi

TRUE STRESS, : Load divided by the actual

cross-sectional area of the specimen at the
particular load level.
Units: psi
TRUE FRACTURE STRESS, f: Load at
fracture divided by the final cross-sectional area.
Note that the true stress increases until rupture
occurs due to the decrease in the cross-sectional
area (referred to as necking).

PL

0.2
LY

, Strain, in/in
FIGURE 3

Units: psi

MATERIAL TO BE TESTED:
Tension testing will be performed on a total of
three materials:

YIELD STRENGTH, y: Engineering stress that

causes a specified amount of permanent strain.
The specified permanent strain is referred to as
the offset or permanent set. The most commonly
used offset is 0.002 in/in or 0.2%. The magnitude
of the offset should be reported with the value of
the yield strength. The method followed is to
draw a line parallel to the initial slope of the
stress-strain curve, but offset by a specified

Hot-Rolled Steel (SAE 1020)

Stress-proof Steel
Aluminum (6061-T6)
All three materials will be provided in the form of
0.25-inch nominal diameter rods cut to 12-inch
lengths.

28

TENSION TEST
EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY
EQUIPMENT TO BE USED:

1.) Create specimen file tens*.

MTS Testing Machine (20,000-lb Capacity)

2.) Install Specimen in lower grip. Leave upper

grip open.

Extensometer (0.2 in/in Capacity)

3.) Install Extensometer onto specimen.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS:
Never operate machine when someone's hands are
between the grips. Make sure all lab participants
are clear of equipment before beginning or
resuming testing.

4.) Pull Pin out of Extensometer.

5.) Close upper grip.
6.) Measure the distance between the grips
(gage length).
7.) 'AUTO OFFSET' Strain.
8.) Start the scope.

PROCEDURE:

9.) Lock MPT and select specimen.

10.) Press 'RUN'. Let the test proceed through
elastic range until yielding is clearly present
on the scope.

SPECIMEN PREPARATIONS:
The diameter of each specimen must be measured
and recorded. Punch marks must be made at 2
inch intervals along each sample. These should be
measured and recorded after making the punch
marks.

11.) Press 'Pause' (1st operator button) to halt

loading once yielding begins. (Do not allow
more that 0.005in/in strain)

DATA REQUIREMENTS:

12.) Replace pin in Extensometer and remove

Extensometer from specimen.

The student will need to produce a stress-versusstrain curve for all three specimens on one graph.

13.) Press 'Continue' (2nd operator button) and

let test run to failure.
14.) Once failure occurs, press 'STOP'.

MTS SET-UP

15.) Remove specimen pieces from grips.

1.) Follow Start- up Procedures

16.) Unlock MPT and adjust SET POINT to 0.0.

Station Manager

tension

MPT

tension.000

17.) Measure distance between punch marks and

final diameter at location of failure.
18.) Repeat procedure for additional specimens

2.) Turn hydraulics on.

19.) Turn hydraulics off.

3.) Make sure the 'MANUAL OFFSET' = 0 for

Stroke.

16.) Copy data files to diskette.

c:\em327data\tens*\specimen.dat

4.) Adjust 'SET POINT'' to 0.0

17.) Delete specimen tens*.

5.) 'AUTO OFFSET' Load

6.) Set-up Scope to plot a/b.
lbf

2000

POST TESTING PROCEDURE:

Stroke 0.1

in

0.5

Time

min

1.) Record final punch mark distances and

diameter at the failure section on the data
sheet.

Load

500
15

2.) Indicate where the failure occurred, on the

data sheet.
TESTING PROCEDURE:

29

TENSION TEST
EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY
Toughness for the three materials was
accompanied by increasing percent reduction
in area and decreasing Modulus of
Resilience).

REPORT:
The report outline found in Appendix A should
be used for all formal reports handed in for
EM327.

QUESTIONS:
REPORT REQUIREMENTS:

1.

Chances are that the specimens failed

somewhere other than directly in the middle.
What determines where a specimen fails?

2.

For the steel specimen compare the stress in

the bar at rupture, as computed from the area
at the break, with the ultimate strength. Why
isn't the actual area of the fractured crosssection a suitable basis for defining strength?

3.

Why is it often difficult to evaluate the elastic

limit?

4.

What is the effect of poor alignment of the

specimen? Why does a specimen that is
properly aligned provide a more accurate
estimate of the tensile strength compared to
the estimate provided from results from a test
where the specimen was not accurately
aligned?

5.

Why would a stress-strain diagram be

preferable to a load-elongation diagram for
presenting the results of a tension test?

6.

Why is it important to know the gage length

when using percent elongation information?

7.

Explain why the percent elongation in a 2

inch gage section may exceed that of an 8
inch gage section.

8.

Can any conclusions be drawn regarding the

possible effect of the punch marks on the
strength of the bar at the punched sections?

9.

Can the elongation of a specimen be

determined accurately by measuring the
movement of the test machine cross head?
Why?

For each of the three materials tested;

1.

Determine and tabulate

properties:
a. Proportional Limit

the

following

b. Yield Strength
c. Ultimate Strength
d. Modulus of Elasticity
e. Percent elongation for each 2" gage
length between punch marks
(including
the segment containing the failure) and for
the largest combined gage length (6"or8")
inside the grip markings.
f.

Percent reduction in area

g. Modulus of Resilience
h. Modulus of Toughness
i.
2.

True Fracture Strength

Compare b,c, and d to reference values found

in Appendix B. by calculating the percentage
error.

3.

Discuss
possible
discrepancies in (2).

4.

Provide
stress
versus
strain
plot,
appropriately labeled, for all three specimens
tested. (Refer to Appendix A for example).

5.

6.

reasons

for

the

Discuss the consistency of the percent

elongation measurements using different gage
sections. Comment on the possible reasons
for discrepancies obtained for a given
specimen.
Briefly summarize, in words, the similarities
and differences in material properties for the
three materials tested. When observed,
present relationships between various
material properties for the three materials
tested (example: increasing Modulus of

30

TENSION TEST
EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY
EXAMPLE DATA
The data obtained from the MTS machine is similar to the following data set.
Data Acquisition
Axial Load Axial Strain
kip
in/in
0.62910855 1.846371e-004
1.1272926
3.8605928e-004
1.6147344
5.8748142e-004
2.1035187
7.8890362e-004
2.5761893
9.903257e-004

Linear Region
Axial Stroke
in
2.8323776e-003
5.1649134e-003
7.6640593e-003
1.0329815e-002
1.3162179e-002

Time: 55.541504

Data Acquisition
Axial Stroke
Axial Load
in
kip
0.10663022 8.5020294
0.15677974 8.6430254
0.20692927 8.6557817
0.25707877 8.6309404
0.3072283
8.5846128
0.3573778
8.4765158
0.40752733 7.5587025
0.45767686 -5.3712581e-003

Non-Liniear Region

Time: 112.58374

Data Acquisition
Sec
Axial Load Axial Stroke
kip
in
8.6584673
0.46100906
-1.8738974 5.6147482e-002

Ultimate Load

Time: 112.5918

GRAPHS
In order to make the stress versus strain graphs for each specimen, the student must use both the linear
and non-linear data.
The load must be converted to the normal stress, , using the following equation.

Load
Areainitial

For the linear region, the strain can be taken directly from the data.
For the non-linear region, the stroke must be converted to strain, , using the following equation.

Stroke
Lengthinitial

Put all three specimens on the same graph in order to compare the different materials. Be sure to include
a legend and label the axis.

31