Tension Test of an Aluminum Alloy

Mechanics of Materials Laboratory

AEM-251

Submitted by:
Khaled Almutairi
Submitted to:
Dr. M. E. Barkey

Submission Date:

Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics

The University of Alabama
Section-C: Procedure
 First it was being determined that which type of material to be tested and then measured the

initial diameter in the gage section.

 The specimen was sketched as it looked before the test.

 Permanent marker was used to mark a 1 inch gage length.

 The load cell calibrated and zeros the load cell.

 They placed the specimen in the testing machine grips.

 The extensometer was attached to the specimen at the pen markings.

 Then proceeded with the test as instructed.

 The extensometer was removed when the specimen begins to neck, if the extensometer

travel length is about to be exceeded and recorded the final gage length and diameter of the

broken specimen.
 Section-D: Lab Report
Material Aluminum Alloy

Initial Length (in) Final Length (in) Initial Diameter (in) Final Diameter (in)

1.09 1.36 0.25 0.13

Sketch of Specimen before and after test:

 Aluminum Stress strain
50000
45000
40000
35000
Stress ( PSI)

30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
0.00E+00 1.00E+02 2.00E+02 3.00E+02 4.00E+02 5.00E+02 6.00E+02 7.00E+02 8.00E+02 9.00E+02
Strain

Summarizing the results below:

 Ultimate Stress: 45,323.67 psi

 Tangent Modulus is equivalent to Young’s Modulus.

 Modulus of Elasticity: 12840473.74 psi

 Yield Stress: 42,378 Psi.

Section-E: Questions

1. How does the value of the modulus of elasticity compare to the accepted
value? Calculate the percent difference.
The accepted value of is 10000000 psi and calculated was 12840473.74 psi so it is about 14%
difference from the accepted value.

1. How does the value of the yield stress compare to the accepted value?
Calculate the percent difference.
The accepted value of is 40000 psi and calculated is 42378 psi so it is about 5.2% difference from
the accepted value.
 Yield Stress Graph
50000
45000
40000
35000
Stress (Psi)

30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
0.00E+00 5.00E-03 1.00E-02 1.50E-02 2.00E-02 2.50E-02

Strain

2. Sketch the stress state from a tension test. Indicate the formula for
calculating axial stress.
…The formula for calculating the axial stress:

P /A
fa=¿ c/t

3. Sketch the strain state from a tension test. Indicate the formulas for
calculating the axial and transverse strain.
… Axial and transverse strain is calculated by the formula:

∆L
∈=
L
Section-F: Discussion
The load and force was transformed into the stress and strain because the force given to us was
not according to unit area when we converted the load into stress then it was according to unit
area of specimen. The strain shown us how much difference in length was achieved. Because of
these things we calculated the modulus of elasticity of every material. If the material was loaded
in the plastic region then unloaded then the material cannot go back to elastic region and its
deformation was unchanged. We can’t take the material back to elastic region once it’s entered
into plastic region. The measured values of the materials were less than the expected values
because of the reason that the jaws of machine might not hold the material properly or due to
friction losses.

It was also observed from the experiment that when load was applied to the aluminum specimen,
there was increase in deformation of the specimen as well as increase in load applied to that
specimen. Load was increased up to a certain point when there was no increase in load but
increase in deflection in specimen. Moreover, there was decrease in diameter of the specimen
used known as necking phenomenon. Difference between initial and final diameter of the
specimen was not more than 30%. The yield stress was calculated as 42378 psi. The ultimate
tensile strength of steel was 45323 psi with the modulus of elasticity was 12840473.74 psi
having 14% error which is a ductile material.