EMII/01492/2021

Solids A Workshop Report

TENSILE TEST MILD STEEL

Objective:

To carry out tensile test to destruction on a mild steel specimen using the
universal testing machine and determine:-
 Young’s modulus of elasticity, E for the material
 The tensile strength
 The yield strength
 The ductility

Apparatus:
 Mild steel specimen
 Universal testing machine
 Vernier

Theory:
fl ₒ
From theory E =
A ₒ∆l

lₒ
Therefore, E= ×slope of elastic linear part of the graph
Aₒ

The mechanical properties of a material are directly related to the response of the material
when discrete engineering stress and strain levels, the basic mechanical properties of a material
are found by determining the stresses and corresponding strains for various critical
occurrences.

A wealth of information about a material's behavior can be determined by mechanical

conducting a simple tensile test in which a cylindrical or flat specimen of uniform cross-section
is pulled until it ruptures or fractures into separate pieces. The original cross sectional area and
gauge length are measured prior to conducting the test and the applied load and gauge
displacement are continuously measured throughout the test using computer-based data
acquisition. Based on the initial geometry of the sample, the engineering stress-strain behavior
(stress-strain curve) can be easily generated from which numerous mechanical properties, such
as yield strength and elastic modulus, can be determined.
EMII/01492/2021
Solids A Workshop Report

Universal testing machines, which can be hydraulic or screw based, are generally utilized to
apply the test displacement/load in a continuously increasing(ramp) manner according to ASTM
specifications.

Metals have excellent tensile properties generally, they tend to be used in machines and
structures where tensile properties are important. To help with engineering design, data on the
tensile properties of metals is widely available to enable Engineers to select the most
appropriate material for their project. Much of the data is obtained from tensile tests which
provide information on Young's Modulus, Yield Stress. Tensile Strength (TS) and breaking
strength. The data are usually linked to the hardness, microstructure of the material and, in the
case of carbon steels, the amount of carbon (alloying material) contained in the steel. By linking
the properties to the composition and microstructure of the material, we are taking the first
steps towards understanding why these materials behave in the way they do, and how to
modify the properties of materials to perform different tasks required for various
engineering applications.

After yielding, many materials work-harden (or strain-harden) as the loads increased. Eventually
a maximum load reached when the material specimen can no longer support any more loads.
At the maximum load, ductile materials fail as they undergo considerable localized plastic
deformation called necking or waisting and the specimen cross-section is reduced to a value
where fracture occurs. During necking, the nominal or engineering stress in the tensile
specimen cross-section decreases.

Procedure:
1. TURN ON the power switch

2. Test materials by test conditions, select clamps and adjust the security travel and set the
distance. Record the material size.

3. Power must be turned on in order to enter the program first and then turn on the computer
system, printers, etc. with power, and according to the “computer software that" complete
input the required data. When finished, stand ready to accept the value of the test to receive
and display the test value or record test data

4. Test material reaches the set value after the destruction and stops automatically. The
computer screen automatically displays the results.

5. Remove the specimen fractured pieces carefully without interfering with their fracture
surfaces.
EMII/01492/2021
Solids A Workshop Report

6. Refit and align the fractured pieces carefully. Measure the final gauge length and fracture
diameter

7. Examine and sketch the fracture surfaces.

Results:
LOAD(kN) 0.00 9.65 20.35 31.70 37.5 38.50 38.0 35.00 30.40
5 0
EXTENSION(mm 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
)

Original diameter of the specimen – 10mm

Original Gauge length of the specimen – 50mm

Diameter of fracture –

Final distance between gauge marks-

From the graph,

EMII/01492/2021
Solids A Workshop Report

stress 350,000−200,000
E= slope = = 75,000 N /mm 2
strain 5−3

Ultimate load 38,600

Ultimate tensile stress = = = 491.2727273 N /mm 2
Aₒ 78.57142857

Yield load 36,000

Yield Stress = = = 458.1818182 N /mm 2
Aₒ 78.57142857

The true maximum tensile stress = 491.2727273 N /mm 2

The nominal stress at fracture =

The actual stress at fracture =

Elongation fracture
% Elongation = ×100 % =
lₒ

Area reduction fracture

% Reduction of area = × 100 % =
Aₒ

Discussion: