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LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MAE101.1503
ENGINEERING LABORATORY I

EXPERIMENT 1.2.1 Tension Test
9/20/2014








Student: Larisa Vlad


Group Members:
James Valdez
Michael Vasquez











Instructor: Professor Yves Ngabonziza




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ABSTRACT

In this experiment will be tested 3 rubber rods for tension, and will be used weights in
order to exaggerate the change in length. All the rubber rods have different length and diameters,
therefore will illustrate the relationship between applied loads and the measured elongations, also
the applied stress and the strain, for the three cases. Will be used the Hookes law to determine
the elongation.

INTRODUCTION

Tension is created when a structural member is pulled from both sides. Under the effect
of tension the structural members length will increase and the cross sectional area will decrease.
The elongation is a function of the load applied, the cross sectional area, the length, and the type
of the material the member is made of.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this experiment is to understand tension loading and how the cross
sectional area and the original length relate to elongation.

BACKGROUND

Hookes law states that the elongation is proportional to the force that describes the
elastic, linear behavior of a material. The relationship is expressed as

Hookes law Normal stress Strain
The normal stress =P/A is determined by dividing the magnitude P.
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The elongation, l= l - l
0,
of a structural member with uniform cross section subjected to
axial loading can be determined by l=

APPARATUS
Test specimens of rubber:
One 17.25 inch long rubber rod, 0.2545 in diameters
One 11.5 inch long rubber rod, 0.2520 in diameter
One 12.75 inch long rubber rod, 0.6425 in diameter
Test weights and Weight holder
Rulers
Two Support stands
Clamps

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Case 1- One 17.25 inch long rubber rod, 0.2545 in diameters
The rubber rod was hanged from the top of the stand using clamps. The rubber rod was
leveled on top of the stand with the aid of a spirit level. A weight holder was then hanged
through the hole drilled at the bottom of the rod. The initial length, l between the holes at the
bottom and the top of the rod was measured. A 2 lb. load was then applied on the rod and the
elongation was measure, which is l = l + l. The load was continued to increase each by 1 lb. up
to 6 lb., and the elongated length was measured each time.
Case 2- One 11.5 inch long rubber rod, 0.2520 in diameter
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The steps described in case 1 were repeated using a shorter rubber.
Case 3- One 12.75 inch long rubber rod, 0.6425 in diameter
The same steps used in case 1 and case 2 were repeated with a rubber that has the
diameter bigger than the other rubbers and with a medium length
RESULTS
Data and Calculations:
Length
after load
Case 1
l = 17.25 inch
Case 2
L
0
=11.5 inch
Case 3
L
0
=12.75 inch
L
2 lb.
18.5 12.5 13.25
L
3 lb.
19.25 13.00 13.75
L
4 lb.
20.00 13.75 14.00
L
5 lb.
20.75 14.75 14.25
L
6 lb.
21-3/8 15.25 14-5/8
















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Case 1
l = 17.25 inch
D = 0.2545 inch

= 0.0509 in
2




Table I: Elongation of 17.25 inch long rubber rod

P (lbf) l=l-l (in) =P/A (psi) = l/l l=Pl/AE (in)
2 1.25 39.293 0.072 2.717
3 2.00 58.938 0.116 4.076
4 2.75 78.585 0.159 5.434
5 3.50 98.232 0.203 6.793
6 4.125 117.870 0.239 8.151

a) Change in length l= l - l
0
(inch)

l
2
=

18.5 - 17.25= 1.25
l
3=
19.25 - 17.25= 2.00
l
4 =
20.00 17.25= 2.75
l
5=
20.75 17.25 = 3.5
l
6=
21.375 17.25 = 4.125
b) Stress =P/A (psi)

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c) Strain l/ l
0

d) Theoretical elongation l=Pl/AE (in)
E for rubber = 1.72 MPa = 1.72 x10
6
N/m
2
Pa = 249.465 lbf/in
2

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e) The relationship between the applied stress and the strain in case 1

Case 2
l = 11.5 in, D = 0.2545 in

= 0.0499 in
2
Table II: Elongation of 11.5 inch long rubber rod
P (lbf) l=l-l (in) =P/A (psi) = l/l l=Pl/AE (in)
2 1.00 40.080 0.087 1.811
3 1.50 60.120 0.130 2.717
4 2.25 80.160 0.196 3.623
5 3.25 100.200 0.283 4.528
6 3.75 120.240 0.326 5.434

a) Change in length l= l - l
0
(inch)

l
2
=

12.5 11.5 = 1.00
l
3=
13.00- 11.5 = 1.5
l
4 =
13.75 11.5 = 2.25
l
5=
14.75 11.5 = 3.25
l
6=
15.25- -11.5 = 3.75
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b) Stress =P/A (psi)

c) Strain l/ l
0

d) Theoretical elongation l=Pl/AE (in)
E for rubber = 1.72 MPa = 1.72 x10
6
N/m
2
Pa = 249.465 lbf/in
2

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e) The relationship between the applied stress and the strain in case 2




Case 3
l = 12.75 in, D = 0.6425 in

= 0.3242 in
2

Table III: Elongation of 12.75 inch long rubber rod
P (lbf) l=l-l (in) =P/A (psi) = l/l l=Pl/AE (in)
2 0.50 6.169 0.039 2.008
3 1.00 9.254 0.078 3.012
4 1.25 12.338 0.098 4.016
5 1.50 15.423 0.118 5.021
3 1.875 18.507 0.147 6.025
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a) Change in length l= l - l
0
(inch)

l
2
=

13.25 12.75 = 0.5
l
3=
13.75 12.75 = 1.00
l
4 =
14.00 - 12.75 = 1.25
l
5=
14.25 12.75 = 1.5
l
6=
14.625 12.75 = 1.875



b) Stress =P/A (psi)

c) Strain l/ l
0

d) Theoretical elongation l=Pl/AE (in)
E for rubber = 1.72 MPa = 1.72 x10
6
N/m
2
Pa = 249.465 lbf/in
2

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e) The relationship between the applied stress and the strain in case 3


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Analysis of Results:
The result were affected by the length of the rubber and its diameter.
Therefore case 1 and case 2 plots are very similar because the diameters were
almost the same, even though their length were very different. In Case 3 Because
of the bigger diameter the stress had a lower value than in the other cases, therefore
stress is inverse proportional with diameter.
the slope of the stress-strain is increased when the strength of the material is higher
The initial slopes of each case were similar which proved the fact that the modulus
of elasticity is constant and depends on the kind or properties of the material used.







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CONCLUSION:

The elongation is directly proportional with the load, so when the load was
increased the elongation increased. Therefore the load was the principal influence for
increasing the length, elongation, stress, and strain. So in each case the load influenced
different because of the characteristic of the rubber- diameter, length and elasticity.











REFERENCES:
Engineering Laboratory Tension Test, Report Sample
Benenson, Ganatos, Ghosn. Activities and Assignments for ENGR 10100: Engineering
Design Freshman Manuel. Third Edition. 2006.