ME320 - Mechanics of Materials Laboratory

TEST TITLE: Combined Stress & Pop Can Experiments

NAME: Insert Your Name Here

Summary:

Objective

This experiment aims to demonstrate how rosette strain gages are used with the help of

computer-aided system that collects data which experimentally identifies plane stress. This

experiment also demonstrates the application of superposition in calculating the stress that results

from a combination of normal and shear loads.

Procedures

This lab is performed by collecting data from a hydraulic liquid that fills a hollow tube which is

mounted with a perpendicular loading arm. On the surface, strain gages are mounted. These will

measure the three-dimensional loading on the specimen. Before a load was applied to the loading

arm, the system must be calibrated first to reduce percentage errors on the data. The data that

will be collected will be translated into axial and circumferential stress and max shear. These are

listed on the table below. The dimensions and material properties will be used for calculations.

Results

In the experimental results, the principal stresses for σ 1 is between 14234.40 psi and 13482.40

psi while the value of σ 2 is between 1869.60 psi and 1405.60 psi. Based on these values, the

shear stress was calculated to be between 6168.90 psi and 6038.40 psi. The theoretical values for

a thick-walled tube are σ 1 =15856.36 psi, σ 2=2824.84 psi, and has a maximum shear stress value

of 6515.76 psi. The theoretical values for a thin-walled tube are σ 1 =17257.66 psi, σ 2=4319.28

psi, and has a maximum shear stress value of 6469.19 psi.

 Table 1. Test Results
εa εb ε a+ ε b
Torque Only Pressure Only Combined
(a) (b) Sum of (a) and Torque and
(in-lb) (psi) (b) Pressure
(experiment) (experiment) (experiment)
Gage 1 0.0000056 0.0000872 0.0000928 0.0000883
Delta Gage 2 -0.0002005 0.0002585 0.0000580 0.0000574
Gage 3 0.0001994 0.0002609 0.0004603 0.0004583
Gage 4 0.0000180 0.0000716 0.0000896 0.0000917
Rectangula
Gage 5 -0.0002294 0.0001805 -0.0000489 -0.0000471
r
Gage 6 -0.0000250 0.0003065 0.0003355 0.0002806

Table 2. Principle Stains

ε1 ε2
Delta Rosette 0.0004589 -0.0000563
Rectangular Rosette 0.0004377 -0.0000655

Calculations
(ε 1 + v ε 2) E (ε 2+ v ε 1) E σ 1−σ 2
σ1= 2
σ 2= 2
τ max =
1−v 1−v 2

where E=30× 106 psi ; v =0.25

Delta Rosette
(ε 1 + v ε 2) E [0.0004589+(0.25×(−0.0000563))]×(30 ×10 6 psi)
σ1= = =14,234.4 psi
1−v 2 1−( 0.25 )
2

(ε 2 + v ε 1) E [−0.0000563+(0.25×(0.0004589))]×(30 ×10 6 psi)

σ1= = =1869.6 psi
1−v 2 1−( 0.25 )
2

σ 1 −σ 2 14234.4 psi−1869.6 psi

τ max= = =6168.9 psi
2 2

Rectangular Rosette
(ε 1 + v ε 2) E [0.0004377+(0.25×(−0.0000655))]×(30 × 106 psi)
σ1= = =13,482.4 psi
1−v 2 1−( 0.25 )
2
 (ε 2 + v ε 1) E [0.0004377+(0.25×(−0.0000655))]×(30 × 106 psi)
σ1= = =1405.6 psi
1−v 2 1−( 0.25 )
2

σ 1 −σ 2 14205.6 psi−1869.6 psi

τ max= = =6038.4 psi
2 2

Theoretical Values
Thick-Walled Tube

p r 2i 2 T ro
σ a= 2
σ =2 σ a τ =
2 c
r o−r i π (r 4o−r 4i )
1 1
σ −σ σ a−σ c 2 2 2 σ −σ 2
(
σ 1,2 = a c ±
2 ) [(
2 )
+ τ τ max = a c + τ 2
2 ] [( ) ] 2

p r 2i (2000 psi)( 0.4352)

σ a= 2 2 = =6227.07 psi
r o−r i 0.52−0.435 2

σ c =2 σ a=2 ( 6227.07 psi )=12454.13 psi

2T r o
τ= =2 ( 480 lb−¿ ) ¿ ¿
π ( r 4o−r 4i )
1 1
σ a −σ c 2 2 2 6227.07−12454.13 2
τ max= [( ) ] [ (
2
+τ =
2
2
+(5723.73)2 =6515.76 psi ) ]
1
6227.07+12454.13 6227.07−12454.13 2
σ 1,2 =( 2
±
2 ) [( + ( 5723.73 )
2
) ] 2

¿ 9340.6 psi± 6515.76 psi

σ 1 =15856.36 psi ; σ 2=2824.84 psi

Thin-Walled Tube
r o +r i
Sincer m= ∧t=r o −r i ,
2
 σ a=
p ( r 2+r ) σ =2 σ τ=
o i

T
c a
2 ( r o−r i ) r o +r i 2
2π ( )
2
t

1 1
σ a+ σ c σ a −σ c 2 2 2 σ a −σ c 2 2
(
σ 1,2 =
2
±
2 ) [(
+τ τ max =
2
+τ ) ] [( ) ] 2

σ a=
p ( r 2+r ) = 2000( 0.5+0.435
o i
2 ) =7192.31 psi
2 ( r o−r i ) 2(0.5−0.435)

σ c =2 σ a=2 ( 7192.31 psi )=14384.62 psi

T 480
τ= 2
= =5377.55 psi
r o−r i 0.5+0.435 2
2π ( 2 )
t 2π
2 (
( 0.5−0.435) )
1 1
σ −σ 2 7192.31−14384.62 2
[( ) ] [ ( 2
τ max= a c + τ 2 =
2 2
2 2
+ ( 5377.55 ) =6469.19 psi ) ]
1
7192.31+14384.62 7192.31−14384.62 2
(
σ 1,2 =
2
±
2 ) [(
+ ( 5377.55 )
2
) ] 2

σ 1 =17257.66 psi ; σ 2=4319.28 psi

Table 3. Theoretical Values Calculated Using Thick and Thin-Walled Pressure Vessel Eq.
σ1 σ2 τ max
Experiment (delta) 14234.40 psi 1869.60 psi 6168.90 psi
Experiment (rectan.) 13482.40 psi 1405.60 psi 6038.40 psi
Thick-wall calc. 15856.36 psi 2824.84 psi 6515.76 psi
Thin-wall calc. 17257.66 psi 4319.28 psi 6469.19 psi

Discussion:
1. The experimental values are observed to be within the acceptable error range after comparing

the values across individual and combined loadings which proves that the superposition method

applied on the experiment is valid and the values of strain are accurate.
2. Because the experimental values are within the acceptable error range, this comparison proves

that the two sets of data, experimental and analytical values, are consistent. However, the

analytical values are more accurate than experimental values because the data was collected

without consideration to experimental errors.

3. The cause of errors in analytical calculations could be due to rounding errors and errors in data

collection.

4. The cause of errors in experimental values could be due to human error while performing the

experiment. There is a possibility that the machine was run, loaded, or set up incorrectly and this

could affect the data. The instability of the weight could have also affected the values.

Conclusion:

In this experiment, the use of rosette strain gages was demonstrated together with the collection

of data through a computer-aided system which was used in determining the plane stress. The

application of the superposition method was also used in calculating the theoretical or analytical

values of stress caused by normal and shear loads. Both methods were proven to be accurate

which verifies that the methods are consistent, however, the application of the superposition

method was more accurate than the other one, although the experimental results is within the

acceptable error range.

 THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSEL EXPERIMENT

Summary:

Objective

This experiment aims to let students practice utilizing a strain gage for analyzing stress and

calculating the pressure of the liquid contained in an aluminum can.

Procedures

The experiment was started by installing strain gages on the beverage can along the

circumferential direction. It is then connected and balanced into a strain gage indicator. The

value of strain is read from the indicator. To calculate the pressure, the diameter and thickness of

the can were measured.

Results

Using the formula of pressure with the values of diameter as 2.6005 inches, strain value as -840

x 10-6 in/in, wall thickness as 0.0038 inches, modulus of elasticity as 10 x 10 6 psi, and Poisson’s

ratio as 0.33, the pressure was calculated to 29.40 psi.

The given values are listed below:

 Diameter = 2.6005 inches

 Strain value = -840 x 10-6 in/in
 Wall Thickness = 0.0038 inches
 E = 10 x 106 psi
 v = 0.33

The formula for pressure is

2tE ε t
P= =2¿ ¿
r (2−v )
Discussion

1. The formula of pressure for a thin-walled pressure vessel may not accurately represent a

beverage can because there is a possibility that the modulus of elasticity (E) and Poisson’s ratio

(v) is not the same for every aluminum beverage can. Thus, these two factors will create

inconsistencies and will make the pressure to not be accurate.

2. The maximum shear strain can be determined when the strain gage is mounted in the 45 o

direction.

E 2T
τ =Gε ; G= ; τ= 3
2 ( 1+ v ) πr

Observing this, T will now be equal to

Eεπ r 3
T=
4 (1+v )

Conclusion:

2tE ε t
The pressure of the thin-walled pressure vessel was calculated using the formula P= .
r (2−v )

The values of diameter as 2.6005 inches, strain value as -840 x 10 -6 in/in, wall thickness as

0.0038 inches, modulus of elasticity as 10 x 10 6 psi, and Poisson’s ratio as 0.33 were plugged

into the formula and using a calculator or by solving manually, the final answer 29.40 psi will be

the result.