Building Materials 10 - Testing Methods

14. TESTING OF STEEL

14.1 Marking of Steel

The most common type of marking in Czech republic is by five-digits number (eventually six-digits), for
example 10 335,or 11 373, where

first two digits material group sign 10 ….. building steel,
11 ….. machine steel

second two digits for steels from group 10 33 … 1/10 of yield strength in MPa
other steels 37 … 1/10 of tensile strength in MPa

fifth digit some important property, for example
5 ….. good weldability
8 ….. cold worked steel

complementary sixth digit state of steel for ex. 1 ….. normalised steel

14.2 Basic Properties of Reinforcing Steel

3

Volume weight 7850 kg/m
2

Modulus of elasticity 210 000 MPa (N/mm )
-6 -6

Thermal expansion coefficient 11.10 – 13.10 1/K

Thermal conductivity 75 W/mK (pure iron). With increasing carbon
content decreases to 50 W/mK

Tensile strength 250 – 2000 MPa
in relation to carbon content 0,1-0,15 % of C……….. 370-450 MPa
0,58 % of C ………….. 700 MPa
in relation to temperature at temperature > 300°C decreases
at temp. > 500°C decreases to 50 % of
original value

The basic properties of common types of Czech reinforcing steels are given in Tab.:32 and Tab.:33

Tab.:32 Main properties of reinforcing steel

Mark of steel Standard requirement [ MPa] minimum

minimum yield tensile strenght ductility
strength [%]

10 216 E 206 max. 539 24

∅ > 16 226 26
11 373 EZ min. 363
∅ ≤ 16 235 27

10 245 K 245 min. 363 18

10 335 J 325 min. 471 18

10 338 T 325 min. 390 12

10 425 V 410 min. 569 14

10 505 R 490 min. 550 12

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Tab.:33 Shape of some types of reinforcing steel

Nominal
Mark of steel diameter Shape and surface

10216 E 5,5 – 12

> 16
10 373 EZ ≤ 16

10 245 K
6 – 50

10 335 J 10-32

6,5
10 338 T
8

10 425 V 8 and 10

10-32

10 505 R 6 – 36

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14.3 Tensile Test

Tensile test is one of the most common tests for steel. The test is described by standard EN 10 002.
The test involves straining a test piece by tensile force, generally to fracture, for the purpose of
determining tensile strength, yield strength, event. ductility and reduction of area.

14.3.1 Definitions

gauge length (L) - length of cylindrical or prismatic portion of the test piece on which elongation is
measured at any moment during the test [m]

original gauge length (L0) - gauge length before application of force [m]

final gauge length (Lu) - gauge length after rupture of the test piece [m]

elongation - increase in the original gauge length at the end of the test

ductility – percentage elongation after fracture (A) - permanent elongation of the gauge length
after fracture , expressed as the percentage of the original length:
Lu - L0
A= [%]
L0

extension – increase of the original length at a given moment of the test

percentage reduction of area (Z) - maximum change of cross sectional area, which was
occurred during the test, expressed as a percentage of the original cross-sectional area .

S 0 - Su
Z= [%]
S0
2
where S0 is original cross-sectional area before testing [m ]
2
Su minimum cross-sectional area after fracture [m ]

maximum force (Fm) - the greatest force which the test piece withstand during the test [N ]

stress (σσ) - force at any moment during the test divided by the original cross-sectional area (S0) of
the test piece :
F
σ= [MPa]
S0

tensile strength (Rm) - stress, corresponding to the maximum force Fm :

Fm
Rm = [MPa]
S0

yield strength (Ry) – when metallic material exhibits a yield phenomenon, a point is reached
during the test at which plastic deformation occurs without any increase in the force :
Fy
Ry = [MPa]
S0
where Fy is force at the point of yield [N]

proof strength (Rp) – stress at which extension is equal to a specified percentage of the gauge
length. the symbol used is followed by a suffix giving the prescribed percentage,for example Rp, 0,2

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Fig.:36 Stress –strain diagram

a) steel with yield point b) steel with proof strength Rp,0,2

σ [N/mm2] σ [N/mm2]
( F [N] ) ( F [N] )

Rm tensile strength Rp,0,2 proof strength

fracture

Ry yield strenght

elastic limit
proportionality limit

ε [-] ε [-]
( ∆l [mm] ) 0,2 % ( ∆l [mm] )

14.3.2 Test Pieces

The shape and dimensions of the test pieces depend on the shape and dimensions of the metallic
products the mechanical properties of which are to be determined.
The test piece is usually obtained by machining a sample from the product. However product of
constant cross-section may be subjected to test without being machined. The cross section of the test
pieces may be circular, square, rectangular, annular or, in special cases, of some other shape.

14.3.3 Determination of Original Cross-Section Area

The original cross-section area S0 shall be calculated from measurements of the dimensions of the test
piece.

for products of circular cross-section and smooth surface S0 may be calculated from formula:

π.d 2
S0 =
4
[mm ] 2

where d is the arithmetic mean of two measurements carried out in two perpendicular direction

for products of ribbed surface S0 may be determined from the mass of a known length L and its
3
density (7850 kg/m ) according the formula :
m m m
ρv =
V
=
S0 × L
and from it : S0 =
ρv × L
[m ] 2

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14.3.4 Determination of Original Gauge Length

Elongation is not equal through the whole length of the test piece. At the point of fracture is biggest and
decreases with the distance from this point. This is the reason, why the percentage elongation after
fracture is determined on special length – original gauge length. Test pieces could be proportional and
non-proportional.

proportional test pieces have the original gauge length in relation with the original cross-section
area according the formula:
L 0 = k . S0
where k is equal to 5,65 ( eventually 11,3 )
S0 original cross-sectional area
In the case of test pieces with the circular cross-section this formula gives:
Lo = 5 d ( and for k = 11,3 Lo = 10 d ), where d is diameter of the test piece

non-proportional test pieces may be used if specified by the product standard.

Test pieces of circular cross-section shall preferably have the dimensions given in Tab.:34

Tab.:34 Dimensions of circular cross-section pieces

k Diameter d Original cross- Original gauge Total length Lt

section area S0 length
mm
L0 = k S0
2
mm mm
mm
20 ± 0,150 314,2 100 ± 1,0 Depends on the method of
fixing the test piece in the
5,65
10 ± 0,075 78,5 50 ± 0,5 machine grips.
In principle: Lt > Lc + 2d
5 ± 0,04 19,6 25 ± 0,25

14.3.5 Determination of Final Gauge Length

Standard EN 1002 – 1 says that measurement of final gauge length is valid only if the distance
between the fracture and the nearest gauge mark is not less than one third of the original gauge
length. In order to avoid having to reject test pieces in which fracture may occur outside the limits, the
method based on sub-division of L0 into N equal parts may be used:
Before the test sub-divide the original gauge length into N equal parts. Recommended value of N is 10
and the size of one part is than L0/10. Make the complementary scale (scale division is equal to one
part) along the total test piece.
After fracture the two broken pieces of the test piece are carefully fitted back together so that their axes
lie in a straight line. Special precaution shall be taken to ensure proper contact between the broken
parts.
From the point of fracture measure five parts on each side (together 10 parts) and it is final gauge
length Lu. If there is not enough parts (less than five) at one side, than final gauge length is determined
in this way (see Fig.:37):

on the shorter piece measure the distance from the fracture to the last mark. This distance is La

on the longer piece measure the distance from fracture to the mark, corresponding to five parts -Lb

on the longer piece find the parts, symmetrically (from fracture) corresponding to the parts, which
miss on the shorter part. This distance is Lc

final gauge length is than equal to :
Lu = L a + L b + L c

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Fig.:37 Determination of the final gauge length

Lc

Lb La Lc

Lu

14.3.6 Testing Procedure

before testing measure diameter of the test piece, determine cross-sectional area S0 and original
gauge length L0. Complementary scale (according 14.3.5) shall be marked along the whole test
piece. The marks could not result in premature fracture.

grip the test piece in the jaws of the test machine. Ensure that test pieces are held in such a way
that the force is applied as axially as possible.

prepare writing device for making of stress-strain diagram

apply load by prescribed rate of stressing. Within the elastic range the rate of stressing shall be
within the limits given in Tab.:35. Within the plastic range the straining rate shall not exceed
0,0025/s for determination of yield strength and 0,008/s for determination of tensile strength

after fracture put down the maximum force Fm, measure the final gauge length Lu (according
14.3.5) and minimum diameter after fracture. From stress-strain diagram find the force at the point
of yield Fy (by the rule of three).

determine tensile strength Rm, yield strength Ry, percentage elongation after fracture A, minimum
cross-sectional area and percentage reduction of the area Z according chap. 14.3.1.

Tab.:35 Rate of stressing

Rate of stressing
Modulus of elasticity of the 2 -1
N/mm . s
material
2 min. max.
N/mm
< 150 000 2 10

≥ 150 000 6 30

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14.3.7 Evaluation of Results

Determined values of tensile strength yield strength and ductility (i.e. percentage elongation after
fracture) should be compared with requirements given in the appropriate standards. Basic
requirements for common types of steel are given in Tab.:32. Value of the percentage reduction of the
area is only informative and is not given in standards.

Note: Integral part of the laboratory report is stress-strain diagram, obtained from testing machine,
completed by axes, description and scale.

Vocabulary

strain deformace
cold worked steel ocel tvářená zastudena
ductility tažnost
elongation prodloužení
extension protažení
final gauge length konečná měřená délka
gauge length měřená (odměrná)délka
grip pevně uchytit
jaw čelist
original gauge length počáteční měřená délka
percentage elongation after fracture tažnost
percentage reduction of the area stažnost (kontrakce)
proof strength smluvní mez kluzu
reinforcing steel betonářská ocel
ribbed žebrovaný, s vroubkovaným povrchem
stress napětí
stress-strain diagram pracovní diagram
weldability svařitelnost
yield kluz, průtažnost
yield strength mez kluzu

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