Laboratory Manual

Of
Tensile Test

Materials Engineering
Department
Experiment 2: To determine the Tensile strength of given specimen by using
Universal Testing Machine (UTM).

Objectives :

 To conduct tensile test on Mild steel and Aluminium samples and to determine the
following :
 Yield strength
 Ultimate strength
 Breaking stress (Nominal)
 Breaking stress (Actual)
 Elongation on gauge length
 Reduction in area
 Proportional limit
 Elastic limit.

APPARATUS :

 Universal Testing Machine

 Mils steel and Aluminium Samples
 Vernier Caliper
 Schematic Diagram of UTM

Universal Testing Machine (walter + bai), 100 kN capacit

Standard nomenclature of test specimen:

Theory :

When a member is subjected to axial loads within elastic limit, a deformation in length takes
place along the length and the deformation so produced is proportional to the load producing it.
Only if the stress are in the elastic limit. Hook’s law holds good with in the elastic limit of the
material. If a further load is applied when an elastic limit is reached, a permanent deformation
takes place, and the material starts yielding. Stress corresponding to this load is called yield
stress. Further load addition causes a plastic flow of material and finally neck is formed which
result into fracture of the material along the portion. Stress corresponding to breaking load is
called breaking stress and that corresponding that corresponding to max load to which the
material is subjected during the testing is known as ultimate stress. If a load extension curve is
drawn, from the data obtained during a tensile test all above mentioned specific stress can be
calculated easily.

Yield stress: Py / A N/mm2

Ultimate stess: Pu /A N/mm2
Breaking stress (nominal): PB /A N/mm2
Breaking stress (actual): PB /A1 N/mm2

% elongation of gauge length: (𝐿1 – 𝐿/L ) * 100

% reduction of area: (𝐴 − 𝐴1 /A) * 100

Where,
L = original gauge length of the specimen.

L1 = final gauge length of the specimen when

fractured.

A = original cross-section area of the point of

fracture.

A1 = minimum cross-section area at the point of

fracture.

Py = load in kgs at which yielding take place.

Pu = maximum load in tons during the test.

Pb = load in N at which the test piece breaks.
 Stress – Strain Diagram

Limit of proportionality is the maximum stress during a test up to which the hook’s law holds
good and this can be obtained from the load extension curve. Similarly, elastic limit is the max
stress up to which the material has elastic behaviour, this can also be obtained from the above-
mentioned curve. In case of mild steel this stress has a value in between the yield stress and the
limit of proportionality. Yield point is not obtained in case of brittle materials i.e. cast iron.

Test procedure :
 Take the Digital Vernier Caliper and set it at zero before start taking reading of the
specimen.
 Measure the Gauge diameter, Gauge Length, Total Length, Shoulder Length of each
Aluminium and Mild Steel Sample respectively with the help of Vernier Caliper. The
gauge length will be used only to calculate the %age elongation.
 To start the UTM, turn on the water chiller pump and ensure the temperature of the water
to be below 20ºC.
 When the temperature falls well below 20 ºC, turn on the compressor
otherwise wait for the water temperature to drop below 20 ºC.

 Turn the main switch of the hydraulic power pack on.

Hydraulic Power pack Display

 As we switch on the power pack, the remote control handset and the machine unit
will getturn on.

Remote control handset and control unit

 Open the software and turn the flushing pump on using the software which will
help todevelop the necessary pressure to hold the specimen.
 Install the specimen and close the grips using remote control handset.
 Perform the final check on the entire setup.
 Set the parameters on the software itself which are necessary for the experiment.
 SOFTWARE FOR FEEDING TEST SPECIMEN DATA

 Start loading the specimen using the software. A stress strain graph will get generated
on thedisplay window to the computer as the load increases.
 Note down the elongation of the specimen.

 Note down the yield point, ultimate stress point.

 During the test, carefully observe the specimen as it is being deformed, and
observe the change in the shape.
 After the specimen fails, remove the specimen pieces from the testing machine.
 Make a detailed record of the general features of the fractured surfaces, and
measure thediameter of the specimen at the point of failure.
Observation Table:

S.NO. LOAD (N) ORIGINAL EXTENSION STRESS STRAIN

GAUGE (mm) (N/mm2)
LENGTH
(mm)

Calculations:
𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑
 Ultimate Tensile Strength (N/mm4) = 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑
 Stress (N/mm2) = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
 Strain = 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡

 Young Modulus of Elasticity (N/mm4) = 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛

𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦

 Proportional Limit = 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

 Average diameter of the test piece (mm)

 Gauge length of the test piece (mm)

 Cross-section area of the test piece (mm2)

 Yield load (N)

𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑
 Yield Strength (N/mm4) = 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝐸𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
  Breaking load (N)
 Maximum load (N)
 % Elongation (mm)
 Distance of fracture from gauge mark (mm)
 Diameter of fracture (mm)
 Area at fracture (mm2)

Analysis of Results
 Tabulate data in your practical notebook as per the table
 Plot the stress-strain curve from the table and calculate the modulus of elasticity
by any point of the straight line portion of the curve.
 Perform calculations and tabulate the result as required in the object of the experiment.
 Your understanding of the results obtained and referred literature in view of the
following.
 Behaviour of mild steel and cast iron under test.
 Type of fracture for mild steel and cast iron.
 Breaking load is less than the maximum load.
 Mention the possible source of error, if any

Safety Precautions:
 During Testing do not touch samples or components of the machine.
 Always Keep sufficient safe distance from the machine while the machine is in loading
condition.
 Make sure that the specimen should be properly clamped between the jaws.
 In case of any danger, immediately stop the testing machine by pressing the emergency
stop button.