Navales, Dwight C.

February 6, 2015

BSME – LP 3

Experiment No. 4

Pre-load Harness Tester

I. OBJECTIVE:

To determine the hardness number of different materials by the use of


pre-load hardness tester.
 To determine:
a) Rockwell hardness number (HRB)
b) Rockwell hardness number (HR)
c) Brinell harness Number (HB)
d) Vickers Harness Number (HV)
II. THEORY:

Hardness is a measure of how resistant solid matter is to various kinds of

permanent shape change when a compressive force is applied. In our
experiment, we define hardness as resistance of a material from deforming or
having a scratch under a specific load. Hardness as a term is not defined
precisely. Hardness, depending upon the context, can represent resistance to
scratching or indentation and a qualitative measure of the strength of a
material.
Brinell test method - a predetermined test load (F) to a carbide ball of fixed
diameter (D) which is held for a predetermined time period and then removed.
The resulting impression is measured across at least two diameters – usually at
right angles to each other and these result averaged (d). Its result measures
the permanent width of indentation produced by a carbide indenter applied
to a test specimen at a given load, for a given length of time.
 Vickers hardness test – this method can be used for all metals and has
one of the widest scales among hardness tests. The unit of hardness given by
the test is known as the Vickers Pyramid Number (HV) or Diamond Pyramid
Hardness (DPH). The hardness number can be converted into number of
pascals, which also has units of pascals.
𝐹
HV = 1.854 𝑑2

Rockwell hardness test – this test uses a small-diameter steel ball for soft
materials and a diamond cone, or Brale, for harder materials. This method
measure the permanent depth of indention produced by a force/ load on an
indenter.

III. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT:

 Pre-load hardness tester
 120 cone indicator
 2.5 mm steel indenter
 Quadrilateral diamond pyramid indenter (Vickers)
 Set of weights B1 to B6
 Set of weights V30 to V60
 Cold rolled steel
 Aluminium
 Brass

IV. DIAGRAM

Brinell hardness Test Vickers hardness Test

F = Applied load
D = Indenter diameter
d= Indentation diameter
 Hardness tester

V. Discussion of Data and Results

a. Brinell Testing Method (HB) – Steel

A = πDh
D = 2.5mm

Trial Area (mm2) Height (mm)

1 0.287 0.0365
2 0.338 0.0431
3 0.2405 0.0306
4 0.3376 0.043
5 0.2869 0.036
average 0.298 0.0378
 b. Rockwell Testing in Scale C (Diamond Cone)
Hnet = 0.002mm
(E - HR)

Trial Reading (mm)

1 0.068
2 0.0496
3 0.08
average 0.066 mm
c. Rockwell Testing in Scale B (Steel)

Trial Reading (mm)

1 0.0824
2 0.1034
3 0.0998
average 0.0952
d. Vicker Hardness Test

Trial Hardness Hardness

number (30Kg) number (60Kg)
1 183.87 1525.93
2 131.64 1779.84
3 183.87 1645.56
4 154.5 1525.93
5 168.23 1418.88
average 164.422 1274.042

VI. Conclusion
In this given experiment, we found out that every little size of space really
do count because it’ll give you a wrong result. And as for the 3 hardness
tests, they have their similarities and differences. The hardness number of
each trial can be found using the conversion table. This type of tests are
really that important because it will determine the material’s quality used
in the experiment.
VII. Bibliography
 Science and Engineering of Materials, 6th edition by Askeland, Fulay,
and Wright
 http://engineersedge.com/material_science/hardness.htm
 http://www.hardnesstesters.com/Applications/Brinell-Hardness-
Testing.aspx
 http://www.engineersedge.com/manufacturing_spec/vickersl_hardne
ss_testing.htm