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 #: 14

Course/Year Level: BSME 4 Date Submitted: Oct.05, 2016

HARDNESS DETERMINATION
THEORY:

The hardness of metals can be determined by measuring the resistance of

the material to indentation. The two most common methods of measuring
hardness of metals use Rockwell and Brinell hardness test machines. In this
experiment, these machines will be used to measure the hardness of various
metal samples. Determine the Brinell, Rockwell "B", and Rockwell "C"
hardness values for the samples provided.

APPARATUS:

Brinell hardness Tester Brinell Hardness Number Chart

Rockwell Hardness Tester

Various metal samples such as:

Aluminium alloy Brass

Cast Iron Thin zinc sheet (0.010 inch) Mild steel bar

Stainless steel

PROCEDURE:

BRINELL HARDNESS TESTING:

1. Close the air control valve located on the right side of the machine
near the dial face. (Turn CCW to the 100 mark on the dial.)
2. If necessary, connect the air hose to the machine and open the shut-
off valve at the wall.
3. Use the air control valve to adjust the load to 500 kg for soft metals or
3000 kg for hard metals. (Turn CW to achieve setting.)
4. Place the sample to be tested on the anvil and turn the capstan hand
wheel until the sample touches indenter.
5. Apply the load by pulling the release valve knob. (Located on the left
side of the machine near the dial face.)
6. Release the load by pushing in the release valve. Lower the anvil and
remove the specimen.
7. Place the Brinell microscope over the indentation and read and record
its diameter in mm. (Press button to turn on light to illuminate the
specimen.)
8. Repeat steps 3 through 7 for each specimen.
ROCKWELL HARDNESS TESTING:

1. Place 1/16" ball indenter in the Rockwell machine.

2. Adjust the weights on the hanger on back of machine to show 100 kg.
(NOTE: Weights fit together only in specific combinations. The number
on the top weight is the total load being applied.)
3. Place a sample on the anvil. (Start with aluminium.)
4. Turn capstan hand wheel until the test piece touches indenter.
Continue turning the capstan until the small needle on the gage
reaches the dot on the dial. The large hand should be nearly vertical.
(The minor load now has been applied.)
5. Turn the face of the gage until the large pointer coincides with the
"set" point.
6. Release the load lever with a light touch. When the handle stops
moving, return the lever to its normal position.
7. Record the applicable dial reading for each sample.

o Read the red "B" scale to determine the Rockwell "B" hardness

(1/16" ball indenter).

OR

o Read the black "C" scale to determine the Rockwell "C" hardness

("Brale" indenter).

SET-UP:

1. Take three such readings and determine the average. (When doing
Rockwell hardness tests, it is desirable to take at least three readings.)
2. Repeat steps 3 through 8 for each sample.
3. Replace the 1/16" ball with the diamond ("Brale") indenter.
4. Adjust the weights to show 150 kg.
5. Repeat steps 3 through 99.
OBSERVATION:

Rockwell tests:

Brinell tests:

Use the following formula to calculate the Brinell hardness number for one of
the specimens (i.e. ‘sample calculations’).

The actual Brinell hardness number is obtained from the following formula:

Which gives the hardness number in terms of kilograms load per square
millimetre of impression area, where:

 P = Load applied (use 3000 kg for hard metals and 500 kg for soft
metals
 D = Diameter of steel ball (10 mm)
 d = Diameter of depression.

Usually it is not necessary to compute the hardness number each time from
the diameter obtained as charts are supplied with the instrument. These
charts give direct Brinell hardness numbers for any depression with either
load.
CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, hardness of certain materials can be determine by means of

the Brinell and Rockwell tester. These testers determine the strength of the
material; material hardness is very important especially in material
selection, to give and provide maximum efficiency in structures and
construction.