KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ME 217: Material Lab

Student Name Mohammed S. ALHARBI

Student ID # 201763790

Section # 13

Experiment No. & Title NO.3 Hardness Test

Instructor Name Dr. Morsi Mohamed Mahmoud

Date 6 Oct 2019

Cover Page 0

Introduction & Objectives 3

Experimental Procedure 3

Results & Discussion 10

Conclusion 4

Total 20
Introduction & Objectives

Hardness is a property of a material that enables it to resist plastic deformation. Measuring the depth or
area of an indentation left by a pressing indenter (ball, diamond, etc.) is considered the common way to achieve
a hardness value. Generally, the harder the material, the higher the resistance, therefore the tinier the
indentation. Each hardness test is defined by the type of the indenter and the specified minor and major load.
Depending on the previous criteria, the experiment will be conducted by three different hardness tests the
Vickers Hardness Test (HV), the Rockwell Hardness Test (HR) and the Brinell Hardness Test (HB). The
objectives of this experiment are the understanding of differences between these techniques and using them to
measure the hardness of metallic materials.

Experimental Procedure
In this experiment, three metals - aluminum, steel and brass - will be tested and all
have to be polished. Likewise three hardness tests will be conducted.
Firstly, the Vickers Hardness Test (HV), it and its indenter as shown in
figure 1 and 2 respectively. The experiment is done by firstly turn on
the tester and then placing specimen in the tester and turn the 40X
objective lens into place. Next, focusing on the specimen until surface
features can be seen and turning the loading handle clockwise to raise
the weights and the indenter. Following, turning the indenter for 10 to
15 s and then Raising the indenter. Measuring the length of both
diagonals of the indentation with the scale in the microscope by
Focusing on the specimen surface. Finally, the hardness value will be
displayed on the screen. Secondly, the Rockwell Hardness Test (HR) Figure 2: Vickers Hardness
Testing. (n.d.). Retrieved Figure 1: Qualitest. (n.d.).
of type B, it and its indenter are shown in figure 3 and 4 respectively. from Vickers Hardness Tester.
The procedure is done by first placing the specimen on the anvil and https://www.struers.com/ Retrieved from
en/Knowledge/Hardness- https://www.worldoftest.com
then raising the specimen into contact with the penetrator until the testing/Vickers. /vickers-hardness-tester.
small pointer is to the dot on the dial faceplate. Next, adjusting the
outer bezel and releasing the crank handle clockwise. Finally, when all motion stops read the Rockwell hardness
value. Lastly, Brinell Hardness Test (HB), it and its indenter are shown in figure 5 and 6 respectively. The
experiment is done by firstly placing the specimen on the anvil. Using the right hand, turn the large side
handwheel in counterclockwise. Then, with the left hand, lift the anvil by adjusting the capstan clockwise until
the specimen contact with the front ball. Next, slowly apply load for 15 to 30 s after that release the load
gradually. Following, lower the specimen until it clears the indenter. Finally, measure the diameter and Brinell
hardness value will be displayed on the screen.
 Figure 3: Mahmoud,M,
M. (2019). Hard Test. Figure 4: Kopeliovich, D. (2014, Figure 5: Mahmoud,M,
Retrieved from CAMS May 3). Materials Engineering. M. (2019). Hard Test. Figure 6: Brinell
Retrieved from Retrieved from CAMS Hardness Testing:
https://www.substech.com/dokuwi Buehler. (n.d.).
ki/doku.php? Retrieved from
id=hardness_test_methods. https://www.buehler.co
.uk/brinell-hardness-
testing.php.

Results & Discussion

1- The Vickers Hardness Test (HV)
HV
Alumi
Material num Steal Brass
Trial 1 110.6 259.1 131.8
d1 (micro) 90.2 59.3 82.2
d2 (micro) 92.9 60.3 85.5

Trial 2 110.1 237.7 134.9

d1 (micro) 91.2 62.7 81.8
d2 (micro) 92.3 62.3 84

Trial 3 104.3 242.3 130.1

d1 (micro) 95.3 61.3 83.2
d2 (micro) 93.2 62.4 85.6

108.3 246.3 132.2

Average 333 667 667

The data was calculated using The Vicker’s hardness formula as shown below:
2- The Rockwell Hardness Test (HR)
HRB
Alumin Ste Bra
Material um al ss
90. 65.
Trial 1 51.7 3 6
d1 (micro)
d2 (micro)  

93. 65.
Trial 2 54.2 6 7
d1 (micro)
d2 (micro)  

90. 65.
Trial 3 52.2 9 8
d1 (micro)
d2 (micro)  

91. 65.
Average 52.7 6 7
The load that was used is 100 kg force.
The data was calculated according to the formula:
θ 1854.4 P
VHN =2 P sin( )/d 2=
2 d2
3- Brinell Hardness Test (HB)

HB
Aluminu
Material m Steal Brass
Trial 1 100.4 171.8 99.4
d1 (micro) 868 676.8 883.1
d2 (micro) 884.8 671.8 877.6

Trial 2 102.4 179.4 106.7

661.4
d1 (micro) 866.57 8 843.9
d2 (micro) 869.6 658.7 843.3

Trial 3 101.6 181 109

d1 (micro) 868.9 658.4 840.4
d2 (micro) 873.3 656.4 843.3

105.033
Average 101.4667 177.4 3

Uses D = 2.5 mm diameter W ball indenter.

Applied load is 62.5 kg.
The data was calculated according to the formula:

A sample of calculation:

Converting hardness numbers with other equivalent hardness scale can be done using figure 7:
 Figure 7: : Mahmoud,M, M. (2019). Hard Test. Retrieved from CAMS

Generally, the values of hardness in all three tests look consistent, except in some cases such as Steal in HV
tests which indicates human source error because the human eye is inaccurate.

Answer i:

Because 3000 kg is considered to heavy load compare to 500 kg.

Answer ii:
CONCLUSION
In the end, three sample as shown in figure 8 was conducted by three different hardness tests. From the
previous data, was concluded that Steel is the harder than Aluminum than Brass. In summary, hardness
measurement is important because it can describe the mechanical properties of materials in a fast and non-
destructive manner.

Aluminum
Figure 8:
Brass
Mahmoud,M,
Steel M. (2019).
Hard Test.
Retrieved from
CAMS