CE 53A, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING LABORATORY

LABORATORY ACTIVITY #4: Tensile Strength of Deformed Steel Bars

SUBMITTED BY:
Marie Ann Terese S. Emano
GROUP #5
CENBSCE 4AX F(4:00-7:00 P.M.)

SUBMITTED TO:
Engr. Ruby G. Española
INSTRUCTOR

December 11, 2017

(1ST SEMESTER 2017-2018)
 I. INTRODUCTION
Deformed steel bars are commonly used as reinforcement especially to concrete
and masonry and to other materials of which the tensile strength is low. Steel is known to
have a high tensile strength which is one of the structural properties of a material to resist
tensile force and elongation. Steel reinforcing bar, or rebar, is embedded in concrete to
improve the overall strength of the concrete that surrounds it. (Tidbits and Strength, 2017)

The tensile strength of a material is the maximum amount of tensile stress that it can
be subjected to before failure. The definition of failure can vary according to material type
and design methodology. Maximum load that a material can support without fracture when
being stretched, divided by the original cross- sectional area of the material is an important
concept in engineering, especially in the fields of material science, mechanical engineering
and structural engineering. (Science Daily, 2011)

Tensile strengths have dimensions of force per unit area and in the English system of
measurement are commonly expressed in units of pounds per square inch, often
abbreviated to psi. When stresses less than the tensile strength are removed, a material
returns either completely or partially to its original shape and size. As the stress reaches the
value of the tensile strength especially when the material is ductile, it has already begun to
flow plastically rapidly forms a constricted region called a neck, where it then fractures.
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011).

II. OBJECTIVES
To determine the tensile strengths of store bought reinforcement steel bars. To measure
which store has the highest quality factor.
 III. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

A. Materials Used
The materials used were steel bars with different diameters, weighing scale, foot ruler,
and vernier caliper. (See Figures 1.1,1.2 and 1.3)

Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2 Figure 1.3

B. Measuring of Steel bars

Each steel bar was measured prior to testing. Diameter of steel bars were measured
using a Vernier caliper. Lengths were measured using the foot rule. Mass was determined by
using the weighing scale. (See figures 2.1 and 2.2)

Figure 2.1 Figure 2.2

 C. Testing of steel bars

Each steel bar was then subjected to test using the Universal Testing Machine. First
tested was steel bars with the largest diameter measured and then in a descending order to
the smaller diameter. Pulling process of steel bars was not interrupted during testing if rupture
was not achieved. After each was tested, the steel bars diameter and length was then
measured using again the foot ruler and the Vernier caliper. Data was then recorded. (See
figure 3.1)

Figure 3.1
 IV. Results and Discussion

MARKED TO NECKING AREA

NECKING AREA
LENGTH (cm)

CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA
ACTUAL DIAMETER (mm)

TENSILE STRENGTH (MPa)

MAXIMUM LOAD (kN)

LENGTH FROM 0.15m

DIAMETER (mm)

LENGTH (cm)

MASS (kg)
GRADE

(cm)

(m2)
SHORT LONG

8 5.77 60.433 111.333 21.18 0.634 4.987 26.08 2.615(10)-5 809.998

9 7.33 60.133 200.333 25.58 8.667 15.47 23.33 4.219(10)-5 606.182

33
10 9.67 60.167 359.667 44.827 7.966 11.043 27.09 7.344(10)-5 610.375

12 11.33 60.967 524.667 59.867 8.266 9.703 29.53 1.008(10)-4 593.797

Table 1. Data from the Goodwill Store bought steel bars

Table 1 shows the result of the bought steel bars from goodwill store. Diameters
obtained were different to the requested diameter to the store. Diameter of 8mm obtained
the most tensile strength during the test while the largest diameter which was 12 mm got the
lowest tensile strength.

GROUP 5 – GOODWILL HARDWARE

1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Graph 1. Diameter Vs. Tensile Strength of Goodwill store bought steel bars
 MARKED TO NECKING AREA

NECKING AREA
LENGTH (cm)

CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA
ACTUAL DIAMETER (mm)

TENSILE STRENGTH (MPa)

MAXIMUM LOAD (kN)

LENGTH FROM 0.15m

DIAMETER (mm)

LENGTH (cm)

MASS (kg)
GRADE

(cm)

(m2)
SHORT LONG

GROUP 1 – ERNESTO HARDWARE

8 5.933 60 144.667 25.867 1.333 -0.337 31.67 2.765(10)-5 935.637

9 6 60.67 201.667 28.113 2.163 4.063 28.77 2.827(10)-5 994.294

33
10 8.3 60 350 40.407 6.267 6.597 29.67 5.411(10)-5 746.811

12 10.5 60.2 502.33 59.106 7.533 12.063 25.67 8.659(10)-5 682.595

GROUP 2 – NVM HARDWARE

8 5 60 144.333 22.167 5.433 1.163 34.27 1.963(10)-5 1,128.96

9 5.533 60 168 27.12 6.1333 10.033 26.1 2.404(10)-5 1,127.92

33
10 8.766 60.03 347.33 52.493 6.836 13.196 23.67 6.035(10)-5 869.778

12 9.9 59.967 510.667 72.913 7.566 5.863 31.67 7.698(10)-5 947.206

GROUP 3 – LUCKY CVK HARDWARE

8 6.65 59.983 143.533 21.713 5.85 10.733 25.1 3.473(10)-5 625.194

9 7.35 59.933 208.333 29.933 3.734 8.167 25.5 4.243(10)-5 705.467

36
10 9.57 59.667 327.6 47.613 6.166 7.163 28.67 7.193(10)-5 661.935

12 11.67 59.933 503.867 72.14 6.567 14.73 21.77 1.069(10)-4 674.836

 GROUP 4 – MAK HARDWARE

8 5.2 59.57 144.177 25.473 1.797 3.697 27.67 2.124(10)-5 1,199.45

9 5.5 60.1 203.444 25.793 4.167 8.397 25.87 2.376(10)-5 1,085.56

33
10 8.933 59.9 345.755 44.62 9.2 10.77 28.33 6.267(10)-5 711.943

654.238
12 10.667 59.67 512.555 58.467 8.563 4.563 33.67 8.937(10)-5
2
GROUP 5 – GOODWILL HARDWARE

8 5.77 60.433 111.333 21.18 0.634 4.987 26.08 2.615(10)-5 809.998

9 7.33 60.133 200.333 25.58 8.667 15.47 23.33 4.219(10)-5 606.182

33
10 9.67 60.167 359.667 44.827 7.966 11.043 27.09 7.344(10)-5 610.375

12 11.33 60.967 524.667 59.867 8.266 9.703 29.53 1.008(10)-4 593.797

Table 2. Tensile strengths of different store bought steel bars

GROUP 1 – ERNESTO HARDWARE

1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Graph 2. Diameter of Ernesto Hardware bought steel bars Diameter Vs. Tensile strength
 In can be seen in graph 2 that tensile strength got decreased when diameter of 8 mm
was tested. Largest value of tensile strength achieved was the 9mm diameter.

GROUP 2 – NVM HARDWARE

1,400.00

1,200.00

1,000.00

800.00

600.00

400.00

200.00

0.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Graph 3. Diameters of NVM hardware bought steel bars Vs. Tensile Strength

In graph3 lowest tensile strength was achieved by the 10 mm diameter. The

highest tensile strength was achieved by the 9mm diameter.

GROUP 3 – LUCKY CVK HARDWARE

1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Graph 4. Diameters of steel bars bought on Lucky CVK Hardware Vs. Tensile Strength
 In graph 4, tensile strengths achieved by different diameters were in close
values ranging from 600 to 800 MPa

GROUP 4 – MAK HARDWARE

1,400.00
1,200.00
1,000.00
800.00
600.00
400.00
200.00
0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Graph 5. Diameter of steel bar bought from Mak Hardware Vs. Tensile Strength

It can be seen that graph 5 is at a ascending order of tensile strength. The graph shows
a relation ship of inverse proportionality between steel bar diameters and tensile strength.
The smaller the diameter, the larger the tensile strength achieved.

Graphs shown above displayed different numerous values of tensile strengths. Though
diameters of store bought steel bars were close to each other, tensile strength results from
different stores were in consistent. Mak Hardware achieved the largest tensile strength from
its 8mm diameter seconded by the NVM hardware with a percentage difference of 5.9%
while the smallest tensile strength achieved was the 9mm diameter from goodwill.

V. Conclusion

Based from the results, the tensile strength achieved of all the stores 8mm diameter
ranged from 600 MPa to 1200 Mpa with the highest In Mak hardware and the least in Lucky
CVK Hardware. In the 9mm diameter tensile strength, values ranged from 600 Mpa to 1150
Mpa with the highest from the NVM hardware and lowest from Goodwill Hardware. In the
10 mm diameter, values ranged from 600 MPa to 900 MPa with the highest from NVM
hardware and the lowest from Goodwill hardware.
 And lastly in the 12 mm diameter, values of tensile strength ranged from 500 MPa to
1000 Mpa with the highest from NVM hardware again and lowest from the goodwill
hardware. Though Mak hardware got the highest in tensile strength, overall, NVM hardware
had the most high quality of steel bars with a negligible difference in percentage of 5.9%
of the 8mm diameter tensile strength.

VI. Problems Encountered

Steel manufacturing processes can affect tensile strength of steel bars. Problems
encountered during manufacturing sold steel bars may have affect the accuracy of the
results. Steel bars diameter according to hardware stores were different when actually
measured. Circular edge surfaces were not really circle resulting to unsureness of the
measured diameter. Some of the edges of the steel bars were flexed,

VII. Recommendations

Trace the root of the manufacturer of hardware stores so that original information
about steel bars can be achieved and so that its dependency of the quality when used will
be safe and effective during field constructions.

VIII. Reference

Tidbits, M. and Strength, T. (2017). Tensile Strength. [online] All Metals & Forge Group.
Available at: http://www.steelforge.com/literature/metal-tidbits/tensilestrength [Accessed 11
Dec. 2017].

S. P, E. (2012). Tensile Tests on Reinforcing Steel Bars in the Nigerian Construction

Industry. IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 4(2), pp.06-12.

Go.instron.com. (2017). Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. [online] Available at:
http://go.instron.com/-/media/literature-library/whitepapers/2015/03/rebar-tensile-testing-
guide.pdf [Accessed 11 Dec. 2017].

En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Ultimate tensile strength. [online] Available at:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_tensile_strength [Accessed 11 Dec. 2017].