Experiment #2: Young's Modulus and Poissons Ratio

Paul Hart
UIN# 0051 7256

Experiment Performed on Tuesday

September 14, 2010 at 7:10 PM Eastern
Objective of the Experiment

1. The objective of the experiment is to give the student an applied understanding of material property
relationships. This lab is concerned with the following properties of Aluminum Alloy 6061 T-6:

-Physical Dimensions (length, width, thickness)

-Incremental Loads (Approximately 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000lbf)
-Engineering/Nominal Stress
-Engineering/Nominal Strain (Longitudinal, and Lateral)

The measurement of these properties will enable the student to determine the following for Aluminum Alloy:
-Young's Modulus
-Poisson's Ratio

Machines, tools and gages used:

Hardware Components:
-Wheatstone Bridge circuit
-Voltmeter
-Strain Gauges
-Bar Specimen (Aluminum 6061-T651)
minum Alloy:
Modified Data: Aluminum 6061-T651

w0= 2.002 w0=Initial width(in.) P=Tensile Load (lbf)

t0= 0.1225 t0=Initial thickness(in.) ε=Engineering Strain (in./in.)
P0= 100 P0=Pre-Load (lbf) σ=Engineering Stress (lbf/in.2)
A= 0.245245 A=Cross Sectional Area(in2)

Series# P εLONG 1 εLONG 2 εLONG AVG εLAT 1 εLAT 2 εLAT AVG |εLAT AVG| σ
1 206 73 105 89 -31 -30 -30.5 30.5 839.9764
2 400 149 195 172 -55 -65 -60 60 1631.022
3 600 232 284 258 -90 -95 -92.5 92.5 2446.533
4 800 321 387 354 -115 -126 -120.5 120.5 3262.044
5 1014 414 480 447 -154 -155 -154.5 154.5 4134.641
Sample Calculations
Report Requirements/ Results/ Aquired Data

Aluminum Alloy 6061-T6

EExperimental 9.20 (103)ksi

EPublished 10 (Hibbeler 7th Ed.)
%Difference 7.9703 %

vExperimental 0.3464 unitless

vPublished 0.35 (Hibbeler 7th Ed.)
%Difference 1.03751 %
 Aluminum 6061-T651
4500 Stress V. Longitudinal Strain
4000

3500

3000
Stress (lb/in2)

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Longitudinal Strain (in/in)

Aluminum 6061-T651
180
Lateral Strain V. Longitudinal Strain
160

140

120
tress (lb/in2)

100

80
 120

Stress (lb/in2)
100

80

60

40

20

0
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Longitudinal Strain (in/in)
Answers to Questions

1) Young's Modulus and Poissons Ratio are a measure of stiffness of a material.

Define stiffness.
Stiffness is a property that gauges the resistance to deformation of a structure or body.
Actually Young's Modulus is a property dependent only on the material, whereas stiffness
is a structural property dependent not only on the material, but the geometry as well.

2) Discuss the deformation and strength characteristics of a high strength steel and a low strength steel.
(Both have same E and v)

3) What fraction of yield stress did you subject the specimen to?

4) If a machine part of a given size and shape is required to have little deformation under load,
would you make the part from aluminum or steel?

5) If a structure of given weight and length is required to have great strength,

would you make it from aluminum or steel? Why?
Discussion

Summary

Theoretical Comparison

Sources of errors
References

Textbook: Mechanics of Materials (7th Edition) by Russell C. Hibbeler

For documented Modulus values.

Internet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strength_of_materials
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-strength_low-alloy_steel