Faculty of Engineering and built environment.

Department of Metallurgy.

MPRMTB1
Metallurgy engineering practice 1B
GROUP E-9
Tensile and charpy impact test of brass lab report.

Student Surname Student Name Student no

Danisa Siyasanga 223007756
Shibambo Mbhoni 218086387
Ntshangase Siyabonga 220097734

Lecture: Ms. Maja

Submission date: 01 September 2023.
Table of contents
1. Abstract ....................................................................................................................... 4
2. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 5
3. Literature review ......................................................................................................... 6
4. Experimental procedure .............................................................................................. 7
5. Results and Discussion of results ................................................................................ 9
6. Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 14
7. Reference list ............................................................................................................. 15
Table of Figures.

Figure 1: Stress-strain curce................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 2: Engineering strain-stress curve. ............................................................................................. 9
Figure 3: strain-stress curve showing the offset line and the modulus line. .......................................... 9
Figure 4: Brass specimen after tensile lest ........................................................................................... 11
Figure 5: Computer software result of load versus actuator ................................................................ 13

Table of Tables

Table 1. Computer software collected results and the measured results .................................................... 12
table 2: Brass specimen on charpy test results ....................................................................................... 13
1. Abstract

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the mechanical properties of brass using
both tensile and Charpy impact testing. Brass alloys possess remarkable properties such as high
strength, good corrosion resistance, and excellent formability, making them widely used in various
industries. However, understanding the behavior of brass under different loading conditions is crucial
for optimizing their performance and ensuring their safe application in engineering structures. The
experimental study involved the collection of brass samples, which were then subjected to tensile and
Charpy impact testing. Tensile testing was conducted to determine the mechanical response of brass
under tensile loading. The test specimens were subjected to a gradual increment of tensile loading until
they experienced failure. This allowed for the determination of important mechanical properties such
as ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation.
2. Introduction

Tensile and charpy impact testing are very important methods used to determine the mechanical
properties of a material. Tensile test known as a tension test, tests a material’s strength. It’s a
Mechanical test where a pulling force is applied to a material from both Sides until the sample
changes its shape or breaks. Whereas the Charpy impact test is a common method used to
measure the impact strength of materials and this test is particularly useful for brittle materials
such as brass, as it can provide valuable information about the material's resistance to brittle
fracture. In this experiment, Tensile and charpy impact tests were conducted on a brass
specimen to determine how much load can be applied until the brass specimen fractured.
During the experiment, the final length and cross-sectional area of the specimen were measured
to calculate percent of elongation and percent reduction of area, respectively. These quantities
indicate the ductility of the material. By using the instantaneous length and cross-sectional area,
the true stress and true plastic strain were calculated from the load and elongation. The strain
hardening properties of the brass material were then determined from the stress versus the strain
graph. Thus, from this experiment, a large amount of information can be obtained about the
mechanical properties of brass material.
3. Literature review

Brass Chemical Composition

Brass is an alloy composed of copper and zinc, with varying amounts of other elements such as lead,
tin, or aluminium added to improve its properties. The chemical composition of brass varies depending
on the specific alloy, but generally, it contains between 60-90% copper and 10-40% zinc (Hinds,
Durham, Lingenfelter, and McCreary, 2019).

Mechanical Properties and Tensile Strength

In terms of mechanical properties, brass has excellent ductility and malleability, making it easy to work
with through machining, casting, and forging. Its tensile strength ranges from 200 to 600 MPa, and it
has a high Modulus of Elasticity of around 100-125 GPa. It also exhibits good corrosion resistance,
especially when compared to other metals like steel and iron (Hinds, Durham, Lingenfelter, and
McCreary, 2019). .

Stress-Strain Curve

The stress-strain curve of brass shows a linear elastic region where the material responds elastically to
applied stress, followed by a plastic region where deformation occurs without causing failure. The
curve then shows a peak, indicating the maximum stress before the material undergoes necking or
eventual fracture. The yield strength of brass is determined by the point where the material deviates
from the linear elastic behaviour. An example of a stress-strain curve on figure:1

Figure 1: Stress-strain curce

Measures

In terms of measures of strength, brass has a yield strength and ultimate tensile strength that are
dependent on the specific alloy. The ultimate tensile strength of brass typically ranges from 200 to 600
MPa, while yield strength generally ranges from 50 to 400 MPa, depending on the temperature and
composition of the alloy.

The Modulus of Elasticity of brass is a measure of its stiffness and reflects its ability to resist
deformation. It ranges between 100-125 GPa for most brass alloys.

Brass is known for its excellent ductility, which is crucial for its use in various applications, such as
plumbing, decorative uses, and musical instruments. Brass also exhibits high percentages of elongation
and reduction in area, ranging between 20-60% and 40-90%, respectively(Hinds, Durham,
Lingenfelter, and McCreary, 2019)..

Charpy impact

The Charpy impact test is not commonly performed on brass as this material is typically considered as
a ductile material with low toughness (AZO materials, 2005). However, some brass alloys with
specially added elements such as lead, or aluminium may exhibit higher toughness and could be
subjected to Charpy impact testing.

Overall, brass is used in a range of industries, including construction, transport, and aerospace, where
its excellent combination of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance make it a versatile material
for various applications.

4. Experimental procedure

Tensile and Charpy testing are commonly employed techniques to evaluate the mechanical
properties of materials, such as brass. Brass, a copper-zinc alloy with varying composition, is
extensively used due to its excellent strength, corrosion resistance, and aesthetic appeal. To
comprehensively assess its mechanical behaviour, both tensile and Charpy tests are conducted.
The following academic-level explanation outlines the experimental procedure involved in
each test.
1. Tensile Testing:
 Tensile testing aims to determine the strength, ductility, and other mechanical properties of a
material under tensile (pulling) forces. To conduct this test on brass, the following steps are
involved:
 We started by measuring the initial gauge of brass which was 50mm and the final gauge length
was 57,17mm.
 The initial diameter was 12,68mm and the final was 11,60mm.
 Then we took the brass to the tensile testing machine.

2. Charpy Testing:

Material and equipment used:

 Charpy Notch Broach
 V-notched EN3
 Centering tongs
 Charpy impact testing machines (358 Joules capacity)

Methodology Chary:
 Use a Charpy notch broach, to create a 2mm deep V-notch (at 45 degrees) with a tip of o.25
mm on one of the faces (across the length) of brass.
 Perform a zero-error test. This is done to ensure that your machine is well calibrated.
 Use cantering tongs to transfer the brass to the Charpy impact testing machine, makes sure
the brass is in position and that the notch is faced away from the strike of the pendulum.
 The energy absorbed by the brass specimen was recorded.
5. Results and Discussion of results

5.1. Tensile test results and discussion.

5.1.1 Engineering stress-strain curve

Engineering stress strain curve

450
400
350
300
250
Stress

200
150
100
50
0
-500,00 0,05 0,10 0,15 0,20 0,25

-100
Strain
S…

Figure 2: Engineering strain-stress curve.

5.1.2. Brass mechanical properties from extensometer.

Figure VVVV shows the relationship between the stress and strain of the extensometer.

Stress-strain curve
400
350 y = 102225x - 204,45
R² = 1
300 y = 102 250,47x + 0,00
R² = 1,00
250
A
200
Stress (GPa)

150
100
50
0
0,000 0,002 0,004 0,006 0,008 0,010 0,012 0,014 0,016 0,018 0,020 0,022
strain (mm/mm)
Strain-Stress curve Moduls line OFFSET LINE

Figure 3: strain-stress curve showing the offset line and the modulus line.
  Modulus of Elasticity, the gradient of the modulus line (figure3) has been determined using
stress-strain curve of figure 3 and it was found to be 102,225 GPa.

 0.2% offset yield strength was also determined by drawing an offset line that crosses the
stress and strain curve at point A of the vertical axis of figure 3 and was found to be 202,
55 MPa.

5.1.3. Mechanical properties of brass from engineering stress strain curve.

 Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) can be determined by the following formula.

ultimateforce(F) 48,8982 𝐾𝑁
𝜎= = = 387,229 𝑀𝑃𝑎
Origionalcrosectionalarea(A) 126,277 × 10−6 𝑚2

From the engineering stress graph, the UTS is found to be 387,2276 MPa.

 %Elongation

Final guage length − Origional guage length

Elongation =
Origional guage length

57,17 − 50 𝑚𝑚
= = 0,143
50 𝑚𝑚

Therefore, %elongation = 0,1434 × 100 = 14,34 %

 % Reduction of area

Origional area − Final area

𝑅𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 =
Origional area

126,28 − 105,68 𝑚𝑚
= = 0,1949
105,68 𝑚𝑚
 Therefore, %elongation = 0,1949 × 100 = 19,49 %

5.1.4. Discussion results of tensile test on brass specimen.

According to Weinhandl (2021), brass is an alloy metal that is made up of copper and zinc and
is known for being easily formed. Weinhandl further elaborates that brass materials are known
to be ductile where brass materials with lower zinc content are more ductile and variations with
higher zinc content being less so. Figure 4 shows a ductile fracture of the brass material that is
characterized by significant plastic deformation before failure.

Figure 4: Brass specimen after tensile lest

In the tensile test experiment our main goal was to find the Modulus of 0.2% offset yield
strength, modulus of elasticity, % elongation, % reduction of area, and the Ultimate tensile
strength (UTS) of the brass specimen. The stress of the brass material was calculated and
computed by dividing ultimate force over area. The calculated UTS was found to be
387,229 𝑀𝑃𝑎 which is the same as the computed UTS. The original area of our sample
was 126,278 mm2 and final area was 105,68 mm2 whereas the load force started from 1.281
KN up to 48,898 KN where the specimen deformed totally and failed.
 According to reference data (Engineering toolbox, 2003), the modulus of elasticity of brass
is between 102-125 GPa. The young modulus of our brass specimen is 102,225 GPa, this
shows that the tensile test was conducted well. Figure 3 was plotted based on the original
number, which was taken from our software. But it was shifted to find the exact value of
module of elasticity and R2. The module of elasticity is the slop of our graph. In another
word, the module of elasticity was calculated from diving stress over strain. Table1 shows
the value of the stress and strain related to the forces that were applied to our sample.

Table 1. Computer software collected results and the measured results

Test Run Results

Display Name Computer Calculated results Units
software results
Test Run End Reason Break Detected Break detected
UTS 387,2 387,228 MPa
Peak Load 48,898 48,898 kN
Strain at Peak 0,148 0,1434 mm/mm
Strain at Break 14,821 14,34 %
Modulus 101,545 102,225 GPa
Stress at Offset Yield 200,815 202, 55 MPa
Grip Separation 50 50 mm
Diameter 12,680 12,680 mm
Tensile test (brass)
Initial final
Length
50 57,17 mm
Diameter 12,68 11,60 mm

Based on the graph of stress versus strain, the stress of the material at, Ultimate tensile strength and
modulus of elasticity points were recorded and shown in table 1. Before Yield strength point, our
sample is in elastic range. But once the force increases and passes this point, our material will go to
plastic phase which means it will deform totally and never come back to its original shape. To find the
value of each point from graph, a straight parallel line with the 0.002 shifts and same slop of the
original graph was drawn. This line is shown in figure 3. The original graph, which was recorded from
computer software, was illustrated in figure 5.

Figure 5: Computer software result of load versus actuator

5.2. Charpy Impact Test results and discussion.

table 2: Brass specimen on charpy test results

Brass specimen on charpy impact test

Energy absorbed (J) 11
Notch (mm) 2

From the results of the experiment, it can be seen from table 2 that the 2mm deep notch brass
specimen absorbed 11 Joules upon impact. The less energy absorbed by the specimen, the less
toughness the materials that will be (AZO materials, 2005). Well, the amount of energy
absorbed by a brass specimen during a Charpy impact test is directly related to its impact
strength. So, as brass specimen absorbed 11 Joules during the test it means that it has an impact
strength of 11 Joules. Impact strength is a key property for brittle materials like brass, as it
indicates how well the material can resist cracking or breaking when subjected to an impact
 load. So, in this case, the brass specimen would have a relatively low impact strength,
indicating that it is not resistant to brittle fracture, and this is due to the 2mm deep notch.

Figure 6: Brass specimen after charpy impact test.

By observing the surface of brass specimen, we see that it broke completely into two parts and
the broken surfaces do not look smooth. Specimen with lowest absorbed energy means it's
brittle and has least toughness which can break easily and cannot withstand the sudden high
loads (AZO materials, 2005).

6. Conclusion

The mechanical properties of the material are directly related to the response of the material
when it is subjected to mechanical stress. As a conclusion, the load force, stress and strain are
very important when dealing with mechanical properties of materials e.g., Modulus of 0.2%
offset yield strength, modulus of elasticity, % elongation, % reduction of area, and the Ultimate
tensile strength (UTS). The energy that a specimen can absorb during the impact test can be
related to the toughness and the fracture surface of the specimen. In this experiment,
mechanical properties of brass specimen were identified through tensile and charpy impact test
7. Reference list

AZO materials, (2005). Charpy Test - Determination of Impact Energy Using the Charpy Test.
Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/retail/slips.html. [ accessed: 09, August 2023].

ASTM International. (2017). ASTM B927-17 Standard Specification for Brass Rod, Bar, and
Shapes. ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520 /B0927-17

Blue Risk Group. (2020). Common uses for brass. Available from:
https://www.meadmetals.com/blog/common-uses-for-
brass#:~:text=All%20brasses%20are%20known%20to,zinc%20content%20being%20less%20so
(Group, n.d.).. [ accessed: 27, August 2023].

Hinds, G., Durham, S. D., Lingenfelter, E., & McCreary, R. (2019). Understanding Materials
Science: A Guide to Properties and Applications. J. Wiley & Sons

Mitra, R. (2015). Materials Science and Engineering: A First Course. CRC Press:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/retail/slips.html. [ accessed: 27, August 2023].