UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN

PHILIPPINES FOUNDATION
Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE

Department of Mechanical Engineering.

ME 413L: ENGINEERING MATERIALS

LABORATORY

Name: JORAQ L. YANIS Experiment #:

Course/Year Level: BSME 4 Date Submitted: Sept 19, 2016

TENSILE STRENGTH
TENSILE TEST
Object
To determine the load/elongation curve for the mild steel specimen provided. To
calculate for the specimen:
i)  The tensile strength
ii) The percentage elongation (indication of ductility).
Equipment/ Apparatus
• Tensile testing machine,
• specimen,
• extensometer,
• dividers,
• Steel rule.

Set Up
Procedure
The specimen was set between the jaws of the testing machine. The extensometer was
attached to the specimen with its locating points set at 'gauge length' distance apart.
 A tensile load was applied to the specimen and the elongation was measured on the
extensometer. The load was increased and the corresponding elongation was
measured again. These measurements were repeated as the load was progressively
increased in steps of 10 kN.
 It was noted that at just over 40 kN the increase in length was no longer proportional
to the increase in load. At this point the test had exceeded the elastic limit of the
specimen (shown as 'E' on the graph). The extensometer was removed so it would not
be damaged by the specimen fracturing. Subsequent measurements were taken using
the dividers and steel rule.
 The maximum load applied was 80 kN and at this point 'necking' was observed. Even
though the load was reduced, elongation continued until the specimen fractured at
load of 60 kN. The specimen was removed and its broken ends fitted together so the
gauge length could be measured at the moment of fracture.

Observation & Results

Load at moment of fracture 60 kN; elongation 16.5 mm

Specimen: Annealed mild steel, diameter 15 mm, gauge length 75 mm

Graph
 Load/ Elongation Curve for Mild Steel
 

Calculations

Conclusion
The specimen exhibited elastic properties up to a load of approximately 40 kN. The
maximum load was approximately 80 kN, after which necking commenced. After this
point the stress increased until the specimen fractured. This occurred at a load of
approximately 60 kN.
 Calculations showed that the specimen had a tensile strength of 453 Newtons per
square millimeter and a percentage elongation of 22%. These results indicate that mild
steel has relatively high tensile strength and ductility.