SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

TENSION TEST OF STEEL

MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION LABORATORY

LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 13

Performed by:

MARAVILLA, BENNY Y.
PAGARAN, JOHN HARVEY A.
PALMERA, EARL ROBERT M.

Submitted by:

PAGARAN, JOHN HARVEY A.

Submitted to:

ENGR. ROBERT A. ROMERO

March 12, 2018

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I. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this exercise is to determine the strength and elastic behavior of steel. The
exercise will also be the basis for the student to observe the behavior of the materials under the load
and to study the fracture of the materials.

II. EQUIPMENTS

a. Universal Testing Machine (UTM)

b. Steel rod (12in)

III. PROCEDURE

Ask for assistance to the laboratory assistant before starting this exercise. The students are not
allowed to operate the UTM for it is too fragile and could break if it is handled poorly.

1. Obtain three 12 inches long steel rod for three consecutive trials. Give the specimen to the laboratory
assistant for testing.

2. Stand back as the laboratory assistant places the specimen on the UTM. Never come too close to the
machine when testing is in progress.

3. After fracture, record the data. This procedure is repeated three times. Never imitate procedure done
by the laboratory assistant onto the UTM since the machine is off-limits for the students.

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 IV. TABULATION OF DATA, CALCULATIONS, and ANALYSIS

6
Using E steel =29 ×10 psi:
TRIAL LENGTH (in) DIAMETER (in) LOAD PEAK (kips) DEFLECTION (in) STRESS (ksi) STRAIN (in/in)
1 12.0 0.40 4.80 0.01581 38.20 −3
1.318 ×10
2 12.0 0.40 5.00 0.01646 39.80 −3
1.372× 10
3 12.0 0.40 4.95 0.01630 39.39 −3
1.358 ×10
Average 39.13 1.349 ×10−3

Deflection: 3
P 4.95× 10 lb
σ 3= =
δ 1=
PL
AE
=(4.8 ×10 3 lb)¿ ¿
A π
4
¿¿¿ ()
PL 38.20 ksi+39.80 ksi+ 39.39 ksi
δ 2=
3
=(5.0 ×10 lb)¿ ¿ σ ave = =39.13 ksi
AE 3

PL
δ 3= =(4.95 ×10 3 lb)¿ ¿ Strain:
AE
δ1 ¿
ϵ 1= =0.01581∈ ¿
L −3
12∈¿=1.318 ×10 ∈¿∈¿ ¿
Stress:
δ2 ¿
P 4.8× 10 lb
3 ϵ 2= =0.01646∈ ¿
σ 1= = L 12∈¿=1.372 ×10−3∈¿∈¿ ¿
A π
4
¿ ¿¿ () ϵ 3=
δ3
=0.01630∈ ¿ ¿
L 12∈¿=1.358 ×10−3 ∈¿∈¿ ¿
P 5.0 ×10 3 lb
σ 2= =
A
()
π
4
¿¿¿ ϵ ave =
1.318 ×10−3 +1.372 ×10−3+1.358 ×10−3
3
=1.349× 10−3

 From the tabulated data above, it can be observed that the ultimate tensile stress of each
specimen differs only by a fraction from each other, and the values obtained are significantly
high as well. It is expected that the tensile stress would be much closer to each other since the
specimen used are all the same. And since the specimen used was homogenous and all are in
uniform texture, we took the average for the stress and strain. The average stress on our sample
steel bar was found to be 39.13 ksi and the average strain was found to be 1.349 ×10−3 ∈¿∈.

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V. DOCUMENTARY

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VI. REMARKS

During the experiment, the students are advised to stand back because at fracture point,
particles could fly off to the eyes causing injuries. It is unwise to perform the experiment alone since the
UTM is a complicated machine and it is very expensive. Always ask for assistance for this kind of
experiment. It is observed as well that the specimens used are almost rusted and have irregularities on
their cross-sectional area. The necking of each specimen happened on different points, some happened
at the topmost while others happened at the bottommost.

VII. CONCLUSION

Steel is widely used as reinforcements on concrete since they help withstand large amount of
tensile forces. Concrete is categorized as a brittle material since it breaks easily when tension is applied
onto it. Steel, on the other hand, is considered as a ductile material because ductile materials tend to
have an occurrence of necking during the application of tension. This is also the reason why concrete is
being reinforced with steel. So in conclusion for this experiment, reinforcing concrete with steel is a
necessity because steel holds concrete together when heavy tension is applied onto it. The average
stress on our sample steel bar was found to be 39.13 ksi and the average strain was found to be
−3
1.349 ×10 ∈¿∈.

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