NAME; BENJAMIN MOTHUSI SEFORO

ID; 202003798

COURSE; MATERIAL SCIENCE FOR ENGINEERS, CCB 231

LAB; TENSILE TESTING EXPERIMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT 3

INTRODUCTION 4

BACKGROUND OF MATERIALS USED 6

OBJECTIVES 7

AIMS 7

METHODOLOGY 7

APPARATUS 7

PROCEDURE 7

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 8

DISCUSSION 14

CONCLUSION 15

RECOMMENDATIONS 16

REFERENCES 17
ABSTRACT
This experiment was used to compare the properties of three materials, wood, mild steel and
aluminum. The tensile strength of a material is crucial when the object is subjected to force as it
predicts the stability of the structure as a whole, Dieter (1988). Also the tensile strength of
material is used when reinforcing materials and manufacturing of composites. This experiment is
used widely by engineers to test materials that will be used for various structures as it helps
minimize the occurrence of structural failures.
INTRODUCTION
Different materials have different properties due to their various structures. Metals have high magnetic
and electrical conductivity, polymers on the other hand have elasticity properties, ceramics materials tend
to be more brittle than other materials and composites have combined properties. Therefore it is important
to understand these properties before using a particular material for a certain design. These properties are
as follows; mechanical properties, electrical properties, thermal properties, magnetic properties,
optical properties and deteriorative properties, Czichos (2006). To determine these properties,
tests are carried out on materials. Mechanical tests determine strength, ductility, and toughness,
chemical tests determine deteriorative properties and optical tests determine nanostructures and
microstructures. These tests are fundamental to the material selection process since they tell
where a material is suitable for a particular design or not, and whether it requires processing or
not.

Amongst mechanical tests is the tensile testing experiment which measures the tension in a
material. Tension is defined as the act of straining or stretching. During this test, a certain
amount of tension is applied to a material until it fractures. Upon fracture, the strain, stress,
modulus of elasticity, tensile strength and the yield strength of the material will be
determined. The setup of the experiment is shown below;

Figure 1: Instron Universal testing machine,

The specimen is held fast by the holding grips as shown in figure 1. The speed, distance and the
direction of travel can be adjusted in the machine.
Mechanical properties to be tested:

(a)Stress and strain relationship

Hooke’s law states that stress is directly proportional to strain given that the elasticity limit is not
exceeded. This is given by the equations;

Stress = load ÷ sectional area………………..eq1

Strain = extension ÷ original length………….eq2

(b)Elasticity modulus

This is the resistance of a material to deformation caused by stress. It is obtain as the slope in a
stress-strain curve. The equation for calculating the elasticity modulus is;

Elasticity modulus = stress ÷ strain…………..eq3

(c)Yield strength

This is the amount of force required to exceed the elasticity of a material. It is found by
extrapolation from the stress-strain curve as a point where the slope of the graph changes.

(d)Tensile strength

This is the maximum amount of tension a material can sustain. It is found by extrapolation as the
maximum point in the stress-strain curve.

BACKGROUND OF MATERIALS USED

PROPERTY ALUMINUM MILD STEEL WOOD

MECHANICAL -light weight -heavy -light in weight

-ductile -ductile -brittle

-malleable -malleable -low density (floats in

water)
-more denser than -more denser than
water water

MAGNETIC Not magnetic Magnetic (iron is a Not magnetic

constituent)

THERMAL Good conductor of Good conductor of Not a good conductor

heat of heat
 heat

ELECTRICAL Good conductor of Good conductor of Bad conductor of

electricity electricity electricity

OPTICAL -opaque surface -opaque surface -opaque surface

-shiny surface -shiny but not as -dull surface

bright as aluminum

CHEMICAL Corrosion resistant Not corrosion Corrosion resistance

(due to a thin layer of resistant differs across different
alumina formed when types of wood
exposed to oxygen)

OBJECTIVES
This experiment is carried out in order to determine the mechanical properties of the materials;
mild steel, aluminum and wood. These properties are as follows; strain, stress, modulus of
elasticity, tensile strength and yield strength.

AIMS
The aim of this experiment is to compare and contrast the mechanical properties of aluminum,
mild steel and wood.
METHODOLOGY

APPARATUS
- Vernier caliper
- Instron universal testing machine
- 30 cm rule
- Stopwatch
- Aluminum strip
- Mild steel rod
- Wood

PROCEDURE
The experiment was carried out by following the following steps. Firstly the length and width of
the aluminum was measured using the 30 cm rule, and the thickness was measured using the
Vernier caliper. A distance of about 20 cm from left from each end making a total of 40 cm
omitted from the initial length of the strip. The remaining length is called the gauge length. The
strip was gripped by the holding grips from the edge to the 20 cm mark of each end. Then the
speed and direction of travel was set. The meter for measuring the force and extension was
zeroed. Then the machine was started and the force and the corresponding extension was
measured every 20 seconds. Upon fracture, the final force is recorded and the machine is
stopped. Then the strips were removed and the same procedure was performed for the mild steel
rod and the wood strip. For the mild steel rod the Vernier caliper will measure the diameter.
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

1. ALUMINUM

Original length: 273 mm

Gauge length: 233 mm

Gauge width: 18 mm

Gauge thickness: 1.5 mm

Initial cross sectional area: 27 mm2

Final cross sectional area: 19 mm2

Final length: 252 mm

Final width: 19 mm

Final thickness: 1 mm

LOAD, EXTENSION, TIME, STRESS AND STRAIN

LOAD (N) EXTENSION TIME (s) STRESS STRAIN (Pa)

(mm) (N/mm^2)

0 0.0 0 0.0 0

3035 1.5 20 112.4 0.006

6640 3.6 40 245.9 0.015

7400 5.0 60 274.1 0.021

7540 6.5 80 279.2 0.028

7670 8.0 100 284.1 0.034

7790 9.5 120 288.5 0.041

7890 11.0 140 292.2 0.047

 7970 12.5 160 295.2 0.054

8035 14.0 180 297.6 0.060

8080 16.0 200 299.3 0.069

8180 17.5 220 303.0 0.075

8120 19.0 240 300.7 0.082

Table 1. Showing load, extension, time, stress, strain of aluminum

GRAPH OF FORCE AGAINST EXTENSION

LOAD (N) AGAINST EXTENSION (mm)

9000
8000
7000
6000
LOAD (N)

5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
EXTENSION (mm)
Graph of load against
extension

GRAPH OF STRESS (N/mm2) AGAINST STRAIN (Pa)

 STRESS (N/mm2) AGAINST STRAIN (Pa)
350

300

250
STRESS (N/mm2)

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
STRAIN (Pa)
Graph of stress
against strain
2. MILD STEEL

Original length: 263 mm

Gauge length: 223 mm

Gauge diameter: 6 mm

Initial cross sectional area: 28.274 mm2

Final cross section area 7.0686

Final length: 263.5 mm

Final diameter: 1.5 mm

LOAD, EXTENSION, TIME, STRESS AND STRAIN

LOAD (N) EXTENSIO TIME (s) STRESS STRAIN

N (mm) (N/mm2) (Pa)

0 0.0 0 0.0 0.000

3550 1.5 20 125.5 0.007

9000 3.0 40 318.3 0.013

10920 4.5 60 386.2 0.020

11045 6.5 80 390.6 0.029

11130 8.0 100 393.6 0.036

11190 9.5 120 395.8 0.043

11540 11.0 140 408.1 0.049

11835 12.5 160 418.6 0.056

12075 14.5 180 427.1 0.065

12285 16.0 200 434.5 0.072

12460 17.5 220 440.7 0.078

12595 19.0 240 445.5 0.085

12710 20.5 260 449.5 0.092

 12800 22.5 280 452.7 0.101

12880 24.0 300 455.5 0.108

12935 25.5 320 457.5 0.114

12985 27.5 340 459.3 0.123

13020 29.0 360 460.5 0.130

13050 30.5 380 461.6 0.137

13070 32.5 400 462.3 0.146

13090 34.0 420 463.0 0.152

13095 35.5 440 463.1 0.159

13090 37.0 460 463.1 0.166

13070 38.5 480 462.3 0.173

13035 40.5 500 461.0 0.182

12905 42.0 520 456.4 0.188

11750 43.5 540 415.6 0.195

Table 2. Showing load, extension, time, stress, strain of mild steel

GRAPH OF LOAD AGAINST EXTENSION

 LOAD (N) AGAINST EXTENSION (mm)
14000

12000

10000
LOAD (N)

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
EXTENSION (mm)
Graph of stress
against strain

GRAPH OF STRESS (N/mm2) AGAINST STRAIN (Pa)

Graph of stress
against strain

3. WOOD

Original length: 260 mm

Gauge length: 220 mm

Gauge width: 24 mm

Gauge thickness: 4 mm
Initial cross sectional area: 12mm2

Final length: 263 mm

Final width: 24 mm

Final thickness: 4 mm

LOAD, EXTENSION, TIME, STRESS AND STRAIN

LOAD (N) EXTENSION TIME (s) STRESS (N/mm2) STRAIN (Pa)

(mm)

0 0.0 0 0.00 0

0665 1.5 20 55 0.004

1600 3.0 40 133 0.011

Table 3. Showing load, extension, time, stress and strain of wood

GRAPH OF LOAD (N) AGAINST EXTENSION (mm)

LOAD (N) AGAINST EXTENSION (mm)

1800
1600
1400
1200
LOAD (N)

1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
EXTENSION (mm)
Graph of load against
extension

GRAPH OF STRESS (N/mm2) AGAINST STRAIN (Pa)

 STRESS (N/mm2) AGAINST STRAIN (Pa)
140

120

100
STRESS (N/mm2)

80

60

40

20

0
0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.01 0.012
STRAIN (Pa)
Graph of stress
against strain
DISCUSSION
From the graph of load against extension for wood aluminum and mild steel, it was observed that
mild steel had a steeper curve than aluminum and wood which shows that it had a larger gradient
than aluminum and wood. This shows that mild steel needed more load to create the same
amount of extension as in aluminum and wood. From the graph of stress against strain, it was
observed that the steepness of the curve of mild steel was larger than of aluminum and wood.
This gradient is called elasticity modulus and when it is larger it shows that the material has a
higher tensile strength and when it is lower it shows the material has a lower tensile strength.
And from the results, mild steel has a higher tensile strength than aluminum and wood.
Furthermore, aluminum had larger values of extension than mild steel and mild steel wood. This
shows that aluminum is more elastic than mild steel and wood. Wood on the other hand did not
extend much before it broke apart and it can be seen that wood is more brittle and not malleable
relative to aluminum and mild steel.

As a precaution against errors, the readings from the 30 cm rule and the Vernier caliper were
taken at a perpendicular distance to avoid parallax error which might alter our results by a few
millimeters. Since the readings of force and extension were changing rapidly, one member had to
take the reading of force while the other took the reading of the corresponding extension. To
avoid systematic errors where the instrument did not start the reading at zero, we made sure that
we zeroed the Instron testing machine before starting the machine. Random errors were
eliminated by using a straight aluminum strip, a straight mild steel rod and a straight wood strip,
this helped as much of the force would have been used straightening the material which was not
good for our findings. Also we made sure we cleaned the jaws of our instruments before taking
measurements. The last error that required us to think outside the box was the human reaction
time. We assigned another member the role of video recording with a digital camera so that we
could observe the video again to confirm the interval and the values.

The whole experiment was thrilling and it required more of our concentration and cooperation.
Which is not just an addition to our understanding of the properties of materials, but to the team
spirit in each and every one of us.
CONCLUSION
Mild steel has a generally tougher than mild as it required more force to cause any extension, this
was picked when the first recording for mild steel was 3550 N while for aluminum was 3035 N
and for wood was 665 N. So the toughness increases as we move from mild steel, aluminum to
wood. Finally when the materials broke apart, it was observed that mild steel has a value more
than aluminum and wood, so it has more yield strength than aluminum and wood. The elasticity
modulus was found to be larger at mild steel due to the steepness of the graph in comparison to
that of aluminum and wood. It is concluded that mild steel is hard, aluminum is elastic and wood
is brittle.
RECOMMENDATIONS
To further improve the results of this experiment, I recommend the following. The reliance on
the machine when plotting the load versus extension and the stress versus strain since values
were rounded off before plotting. The use of several specimens of the same materials for
accuracy because one specimen may not provide accurate readings due to common errors.
REFERENCES
- Czichos, Horst (2006). Springer Handbook of Materials Measurement Methods, Berlin:
Springer, pp, 303-304
- Dieter,G,E (1988), Mechanical Metallurgy, British Library