MATERIAL & STRUCTURE’S LABORATORY

A COMPLETE TENSILE TEST ON MILD STEEL BAR

AIM:
 To study the behaviour of a mild steel bar under uniaxial tension.

APPRATUS:
 Mild Steel specimen, Universal Testing Machine (UTM), Vernier Calliper,
Scale, Graph Paper.

THEORY:
 Strength of material plays an important role in design of structures. Hence, it is
necessary to test materials under different types of load and check the quality
and important properties. In this laboratory, mechanical properties of structural
materials will be determined and compared with those recommended by
Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
 The primary use of the testing machine is to create the stress-strain diagram.
 Tensile test determines the strength of the material subjected to a simple
stretching operation. Typically, standard dimension test samples are pulled
slowly (static loading) and at uniform rate in a testing machine while the strain
(the elongation of the sample) is defined as:
Engineering Strain = 𝜀 = (change in length) / (original length) = ∆𝐿/L0
and the stress (the applied force divided by the original cross-sectional area) is
defined as:
Engineering Stress = 𝜎 = (applied force) / (original c/s area) =P/A0
 The aim of the test is to assess some mechanical characteristics of testing
material: its elasticity, ductility, resilience and toughness.

Mechanical Properties
1. Strength: Strength is the greatest stress resisted by the material without
failure.
2. Stiffness: Load which is required for the unit deformation of material is called
stiffness. In other words, ability of material to resist the deformation.
3. Elasticity: It is a property of the material by virtue of which the deformations
produced due to the applied stresses completely disappear when the stresses
are removed.
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4. Plasticity: It is a property of the material by virtue of which the material

undergoes permanent change in shape without failure.
5. Ductility: It is the ability of the material to undergo larger deformation before
failure, Eg. Mild Steel, Copper.
6. Brittleness: It is the property of the material that will fail suddenly without
undergoing noticeable deformations. Eg. Glass, Cast-Iron, Concrete, Ceramic.
7. Hardness: It refers to its resistance to scratching, abrasion of indentation.
8. Malleability: It is the property of material by means of which it can be rolled
in to the thin sheets.
9. Tenacity: It refers to material’s resistance or rupture in respect of tearing.

Steel is an alloy predominantly of iron and carbon, usually containing measurable amounts of
manganese, and often readily formable. The various types of steel can be grouped under two
major groups:

 Carbon Steel: A steel in which the main alloying element is carbon, Carbon steels are

further divided in to three groups:

Low carbon steel: This steel has a carbon content of less than 0.30 percent. It is the most
common type and is often called mild steel. It is relatively inexpensive, ductile, soft, and is
easily machined and forged. Mild steel could not be heat treated (hardened). Low carbon steel
is, general purpose steel.

Medium carbon steel: This steel has a carbon content between 0.30 percent and 0.50 percent.
Harder and stronger than mild steel, it can be hardened by heat treating. Medium carbon steel
is most commonly used for forgings, castings and machined parts for automobiles,
agricultural equipment, machines and aircraft.

High Carbon Steel: This type of steel is easily heat treated to produce a strong, tough, part.
The material has a carbon content above 0.5 percent. It finds wide use in hand tools, cutting
tools, springs and piano wire.

 High Alloy Steel: These steels contain significant amounts of other elements such as
manganese, chromium, etc. in addition to carbon.
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STRESS STRAIN BEHAVIOR

 Typical Stress - Strain behaviour for mild steel bar under uniaxial tension is as shown in
Fig. Important points on the plot are explained below:

Figure 0.1 Stress Vs Strain Graph For Mild Steel

 Proportionality limit – A: Defined as the greatest stress that a material is capable of
developing without deviation from straight-line proportionality. Stress
corresponding to point A on the plot is known as proportional limit.
 Elastic limit – B: Defined as the greatest stress that a material is capable of
developing without permanent change in shape and size upon removal of stress.
After point A, the behaviour is non-linear elastic till point B. Beyond point B, if the
material is stressed, the behaviour is no longer elasticity.
 Yield points – C and D: Mild steel exhibits definite upper and lower yield points as
shown. At a stress beyond elastic limit, there occurs a marked increase in strain
without substantial increase in stress. Stress corresponding to point C is known as
yield stress of the material.
 Ultimate point E: –It is the maximum stress developed in the material and is
computed based on maximum load carried by the specimen and the original cross
sectional area.
 Breaking point – F: Beyond point E, specimen contracts markedly or “necks down” to
final rupture at F Stress at point F is called conventional breaking stress as it is
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calculated based on original cross sectional area. Dotted line in the plot represents
behaviour if the load at any stage of loading is divided by actual cross sectional area,
which decreases under tensile loading. Value of breaking stress calculated based on
this cross-sectional area is known as true breaking stress as denoted by point F’. In
this test, a prepared specimen of mild steel is subjected to gradually increasing
uniaxial tensile load until “failure” occurs.

STANDARD SPECIMENS FOR THE TENSILE TESTING

 Shape of the test piece
In general, the test piece is machined and the parallel length shall be connected by means of
transition curves to the gripped ends which may be of any suitable shape for the grips of the
test machine. The minimum transition radius between the gripped ends and the parallel
length shall be:

— 0.75 d (d being the diameter of the gauge length) for the cylindrical test pieces;
— 12 mm for the prismatic test pieces.

Sections, bars, etc., may be tested unmachined, if required.

The cross-section of the test piece maybe circular, square, rectangular or, in special cases, of
another shape.

For test pieces with a rectangular cross-section it is recommended that the width to
thickness ratio should not exceed 8:1.

In general, the diameter of the parallel length of machined cylindrical test pieces shall be not
less than 4 mm.

 Parallel length of machined test piece

The parallel length (LC)shall be at least equal to:

(a) LO+ d/2 in the case of test pieces with circular cross-section;

(b) LO+ 1.5√𝑆 in the case of prismatic test pieces.

Depending on the type of test piece, the length LO+ 2d or LO+ 25√𝑆 shall be used in cases of
dispute, unless there is insufficient material.
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 Length of unmachined test piece

The free length between the grips of the machine shall be adequate for the gauge marks to
be at a reasonable distance from these grips.

 Original Gauge Length L0

 Proportional test pieces

As a general rule, proportional test pieces are used where the original gauge length (LO)is
related to the original cross-sectional area (S.) by the equation

LO = k√𝑆

where k is equal to 5.65.

Test pieces of circular cross-section preferably have the dimensions given in table C.1. of IS
1608.

The scale given in annex F of IS 1608 makes it easier to determine the original gauge length
(LO)corresponding to the dimensions of test pieces of rectangular cross-section.

 Non-proportional test pieces

Non-proportional test pieces may be used if specified by the product standard.

Circular cross section specimen is recommended by I.S. 1608 in order to get

uniform distribution of stress. In addition, central portion of the specimen is of smaller
cross sectional area than the end portions in order to cause failure at a section where the
stresses are not affected by the gripping device. To avoid stress concentration, transition
from end to reduced section is made by an adequate fillet.
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TEST SPECIMEN

PROCEDURE
 Measure initial diameter and gauge length of mild steel specimen.
 Insert the specimen in Universal Testing Machine for testing.
 Insert a graph paper on the machine at the appropriate place before applying the
load.
 Apply uniaxial tensile load on the specimen gradually till the specimen fails.
 After the completion of test, measure the final diameter and final gauge length of the
specimen.
 Calculate yield stress, ultimate stress, true and conventional breaking stress, %
elongation, % contraction in area, etc.

OBSERVATION DATA

1. Initial Diameter of specimen = mm

2. Initial Gauge length of specimen = mm
3. Final Diameter of specimen = mm
4. Final Gauge length of specimen = mm
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CALCULATIONS:
Original Cross Sectional Area =

Final Cross Sectional Area =

Yield Stress =

Ultimate Stress=

Breaking Stress (Conventional) =

Breaking Stress (True) =

% Elongation =

% Reduction in area =
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FAILURE PATTERN:

RESULTS:
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CONCLUSION