Technical Report Writing MENG 242 Sec.

Engineering Department
University of Bahrain

Tensile Strength Testing

Yousif A.Ghaffar AlSharifa

20183758

Date submitted: 19 November, 2019

 ABSTRACT

The report discusses the tensile strength of mild steel and aluminum which is part of mechanical
properties of material and compare their results to stand on which has higher properties in term
of strength. The experiment used the universal testing machine to perform the test, the data
produced, plotted in the form of stress strain curve, subsequently tensile strength, yield
strength, modulus of elasticity, percentage elongation been found and calculated. The
mechanical properties of the specimens are being compared to show the contrast between
the two. From this experiment, it can be seen that mild steel has higher tensile properties than
that for the aluminum. This explains the wide applications of mild steel in many industries and
engineering applications that require high strength.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ...............................................................................................................................ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................... iii

LIST OF TABLE ...................................................................................................................... iv

LIST OF FIGURE..................................................................................................................... iv

1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background ................................................................................................................. 1

1.2 Purpose Of The Report ................................................................................................ 1

1.3 Scope ........................................................................................................................... 1

2 THEORY AND ANALYSIS.............................................................................................. 2

2.1 Tensile Test ..................................................................................................................... 2

2.2 Equipment and Test Machine ......................................................................................... 2

2.3 Materials Of Specimen ................................................................................................... 3

2.4 Stress- Strain Curve, ....................................................................................................... 3

2.5 Definition and Equation .................................................................................................. 4

2.5.1 Stress: .......................................................................................................................... 4

2.5.2 Strain: .......................................................................................................................... 4

2.5.3 Modulus of elasticity: .................................................................................................. 4

3 EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS ............................................................................................ 5

3.1 Experimental procedure .................................................................................................. 5

3.2 Result .............................................................................................................................. 5

3.2.1 Mild steel Result ...................................................................................................... 5

3.2.2 Aluminum Result..................................................................................................... 7

3.3 Result Analyses ............................................................................................................... 8

4 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................. 9

5 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 10

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 LIST OF TABLE

Table 1. Dimension Of The Specimen .................................................................................... 3

Table 2. Mild Steel Specimen Data ......................................................................................... 6
Table 3. Aluminum Specimen Data ........................................................................................ 7
Table 4. Comparison Between Mild Steel And Aluminum .................................................. 8

LIST OF FIGURE

Figure 1. The universal Testing Machine .............................................................................. 2

Figure 2. Round Specimen ...................................................................................................... 3
Figure 3. Stress-Strain Curve ................................................................................................. 3
Figure 4. Stress vs Strain Curve Of The Of The Mild Steel Specimen ............................... 5
Figure 5. Stress vs Strain Curve Of The Aluminum Specimen ........................................... 7
Figure 6. Comparison Of Tensile Strength Between Mild Steel & Aluminum Specimens
.................................................................................................................................................... 8

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background
One of the design requirement, in the engineering fields is the strength of material selected
for the application. Studying the mechanical properties of the different materials, help to
segregate the different material in term of strength, ductility, hardness, toughness and other
characteristic.

To explore the mechanical properties of metals, it needs material testing and experiment. The
tensile strength test experiment is one of them, and it is usually carried out to stand on the
tensile strength, yield strength, percentage elongation, ultimate tensile strength (necking),
modulus of elasticity, ductility, resilience, and toughness of the material.

1.2 Purpose Of The Report

The purpose of this report, is to evaluate, the tensile properties of two different materials, mild
steel and aluminum specimens, through an understanding of Stress- Strain Relationship
Curve, analyze the data to obtain the necessary mechanical properties result from it, and
perform comparison between the two materials.

1.3 Scope
The scope of experiment is to explore the mechanical properties of two different specimens
under a tensile test. The materials to be investigated are mild steel and aluminum.

By carrying out the test and then by plotting curve, we can determine, the mechanical
characteristics of both specimens like modulus of elasticity, yield strength, percentage
elongation, and ultimate strength, fracture point, and others characteristic. We also, going
to do some comparison between the two. In term tensile properties.

It should be noted that, the test will be carried in accordance to the “ASTM standard E8 &
E8M – Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials”. [1, p.1]
2 THEORY AND ANALYSIS

2.1 Tensile Test

Tensile test is a method used to measure the strength of any material by giving a static load on
uniaxial direction of the specimen.

2.2 Equipment and Test Machine

The two specimens (mild steel and Aluminum) will take form of a round rod. The test will be
performed by placing the two specimens under a “universal testing machine”, Figure 1. The
specimen will be connected to a fixed jaw and adjustable crosshead. The machine will exert a
tensile load on the specimen causing it to extend. The load exerted to create each increment of
the extension is displaced on the machine along with the total extension. For this tests the force
exerted for every 10 seconds is to be recorded to stand on the increment of extension.

Figure 1. The universal Testing Machine

Source: “Tensile Testing, Second Edition (#05106G) - Chapter 1- Introduction to Tensile Testing”

https://www.asminternational.org/documents/10192/3465262/05105G_Chapter_1.pdf/e13396e8-a327-490a-
a414-9bd1d2bc2bb8

Accessed November 12, 2019.

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2.3 Materials Of Specimen
We will use mild steel and aluminum specimen in the experiment, in accordance to the ASTM
standard, the dimensions of the specimen of tensile test is as follow:

Table 1. Dimension Of The Specimen

Item Size in Illustration

mm
The reduced 50
section A
The diameter D 6
The large diameter 10
The gauge length G 36
Figure 2. Round Specimen
The radius R, 10
Source: - William D. Callister, Jr. and David G.
Overall length 70 Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering- An
Diameter D : gauge 1:4 Introduction, 9th ed. USA: Wiley, October 2013.
length G

2.4 Stress- Strain Curve,

The curve shows the following
stages:

 from start until it reaches

yield strength point, is called
the Elastic Strain, and it is
usually that the specimen will
retain its original shape and
size. Slope of the curve in this
stage is called Modulus of
Elasticity. [2, p.170] Figure 3. Stress-Strain Curve
Source: Effect of Specimen Geometry on Tensile Testing
 From, yield point until Results
https://www.admet.com/effect-specimen-geometry-tensile-
ultimate tensile strength is testing-results/
called Uniform Plastic Accessed November 12, 2019.

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 Deformation, the specimen retains its shape but not the size. Permanent deformation
or non-recoverable deformation occur. [2, p.170]

 From ultimate tensile strength till failure point is called Non- Uniform Plastic
Deformation, the specimen starts Necking, which means, the material goes through
strain softening process, it will continue till failure. [2, p.170]

 The point specimen brakes is called fracture point. [2, p.170]

2.5 Definition and Equation

2.5.1 Stress:
The engineering stress () used in this stress-strain curve is the average longitudinal stress in
the tensile specimen. It is obtained by dividing the load (P) by the original area of the cross
section of the specimen (Ao): [3, p.22]

𝑃
𝜎=
𝐴𝑜

2.5.2 Strain:
The strain, () used for the engineering stress strain curve is the average linear strain, which is
obtained by dividing the elongation of the gage length of the specimen (L) by its original
length (Lo): [3, p.22]

∆𝑙 𝑙 − 𝑙𝑜
𝜖= =
𝑙𝑜 𝑙𝑜

2.5.3 Modulus of elasticity:

The linear relationship between stress and strain for a bar in simple tension or compression is
expressed by the equation below, in which  is the axial stress,  is the axial strain, and E is a
constant of proportionality known as the modulus of elasticity for the material. The modulus
of elasticity is the slope of the stress-strain diagram in the linearly elastic region, as mentioned
previously in Section 2.4. Since strain is dimensionless, the units of E are the same as the units
of stress. [4, p.25]

𝜎
𝐸=
𝜀

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3 EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS

3.1 Experimental procedure

a) Dimension of the mild steel and aluminum pieces has been taken using the Vernier calipers,
to ensure compliance with ASTM E8 &E8M, they were both measured in term of diameter
6mm and gauge length 50mm.

b) The machine vices were adjusted to fit the specimen, and fix the extensometers on the
reduced sections of the gage specimen. To read any change in length.

c) Ensure that the computer reader is on, and it is set to deal with the selected specimen on
the software, i.e. with mild steel or aluminum.

d) Adjust reader to zeroing on universal tensile machine load cell, and make sure to set it, to
measure only the tensile load on each specimen inserted.

e) Ensure the data will be recorded and properly save, so it can be retrieved for calculation
and plotting of the graphs.

3.2 Result

3.2.1 Mild steel Result

the result of the mild steel specimen can be seen in Table 2, and figure 4 as follow:

350

300

250

200
Stress (MPa)

150

100

50

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
-50
Strain (mm/mm)

Figure 4. Stress vs Strain Curve Of The Of The Mild Steel Specimen

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Table 2. Mild Steel Specimen Data

Time (s) Extension (mm) Load (N) Stress (Mpa) Strain (mm/mm)
0 0 0.9 0.1 0.00
10 0.83 4694.3 238.9 0.01
20 1.67 4831.4 245.9 0.02
30 2.5 4781.1 243.3 0.03
40 3.33 4918.8 250.3 0.04
50 4.17 4926.6 250.7 0.05
60 5 5257.1 267.5 0.06
70 5.83 5437.0 276.7 0.07
80 6.66 5575.9 283.8 0.08
81 6.75 5584.2 284.2 0.08
81.1 6.76 5584.0 284.2 0.08
81.2 6.77 5591.6 284.6 0.09
81.3 6.77 5588.0 284.4 0.09
100 8.33 5775.2 293.9 0.10
110 9.16 5847.5 297.6 0.12
120 10 5911.0 300.8 0.13
130 10.83 5965.4 303.6 0.14
140 11.67 6010.5 305.9 0.15
150 12.5 6042.6 307.5 0.16
160 13.33 6072.3 309.0 0.17
170 14.16 6092.9 310.1 0.18
180 15 6113.2 311.1 0.19
190 15.83 6129.7 311.9 0.20
200 16.67 6140.4 312.5 0.21
210 17.5 6146.4 312.8 0.22
220 18.33 6148.1 312.9 0.23
230 19.16 6149.2 312.9 0.24
240 20 6147.2 312.8 0.25
250 20.83 6142.2 312.6 0.26
260 21.66 6130.6 312.0 0.27
270 22.5 6120.4 311.5 0.28
280 23.33 6099.7 310.4 0.29
290 24.16 6050.8 307.9 0.30
300 25 5940.2 302.3 0.31
310 25.83 5675.3 288.8 0.32
320 26.67 4725.5 240.5 0.33
322.2 26.84 358.0 18.2 0.34
322.2 26.85 79.0 4.0 0.34
322.2 26.85 -8.0 -0.4 0.34

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3.2.2 Aluminum Result
The result of the Aluminum specimen can be seen in Table 3, and figure 5 as follow:

Table 3. Aluminum Specimen Data

Time (s) Extension (mm) Load (N) Stress (Mpa) Strain (mm/mm)
0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.000
10.0 0.8 2687.8 106.6 0.010
20.0 1.7 2884.2 114.4 0.021
30.0 2.5 2981.6 118.3 0.031
40.0 3.3 3048.8 121.0 0.042
50.0 4.2 3071.7 121.9 0.052
60.0 5.0 3112.2 123.5 0.062
70.0 5.8 2877.5 114.2 0.073
80.0 6.7 -645.5 -25.6 0.083
81.0 6.7 -780.2 -31.0 0.084
81.1 6.8 -792.0 -31.4 0.084
81.2 6.8 -801.0 -31.8 0.085
81.3 6.8 -809.4 -32.1 0.085

140

120

100

80
Stress (MPa)

60

40

20

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
-20

-40
Strain (mm/mm)

Figure 5. Stress vs Strain Curve Of The Aluminum Specimen

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Table 4. Comparison Between Mild Steel And Aluminum

Mild Steel Aluminum

Yield Strength 240 MPa 108 MPa
Ultimate Tensile Strength 330 MPa 125 MPa
Modulus Of Elasticity 240 GPa 83 GPa
The percentage of elongation 3.25% 0.74%
The fracture Points 290 MPa 115 MPa

350

300

250

200
Stress (MPa)

150

100

50

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
-50
Strain (mm/mm)

Mild Steel Stress (MPa) Aluminum Stress (MPa)

Figure 6. Comparison Of Tensile Strength Between Mild Steel & Aluminum Specimens

3.3 Result Analyses

It can be seen from Table 4 and figure 6, that the value of the yield strength of mild steel 240
MPa, while it is 108 MPa for aluminum. The Ultimate tensile strength for the mild steel is 330
MPa and125 MPa for aluminum. The value for Modulus of Elasticity (E), for mild steel and
aluminum are calculated from using the yield stress shown on the graph in figure 6, and they
are 240 GPa and 83 GPa respectively. From The graph Figure 4, the elongation occur in the
mild steel 3.3 % of the total length, while graph Figure 5, the elongation occur in the aluminum
0.74 % of the total length. The fracture point for mild steel and the aluminum are 290 MPa and
115 MPa respectively.
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4 CONCLUSION

The Stress Strain graph shows that, the mild steel is more robust since the ultimate tensile
strength is nearly double of that for the aluminum. It is also more ductile than aluminum since
the break point of mild steel is twice that of the aluminum, It can absorb more energy than
aluminum since the area under curve of the mild steel is nearly eight times the size of aluminum
curve. The aluminum sample experience less ductility deformation since the mild steel has
higher percentage of elongation. The mild steel has higher fracture point than that for the
aluminum.

In design selection of material there are number of factors dictate that selection such as cost,
workability, forming, maintenance, life span, and others characteristic. But when it comes to
strength. we can safely conclude that, the mild steel has higher tensile proprieties than
aluminum, making it a favorite selection of material when strength is require.

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5 REFERENCES

[1] Designation: E 8/E 8M – 08, Standard, Test Methods For Tension Testing of
Metallic Materials. USA Publisher ASM international.

[2] William D. Callister, Jr. and David G. Rethwisch, Materials Science and
Engineering- An Introduction, 9th ed. USA: publisher Wiley, October 2013.

[3] J.R. Davis, Tensile Testing. Second Edition. Edited by Davis & Associates,
publisher ASM International.

[4] Barry G, and James Gere, Mechanics of Materials, 9th ed. USA: publisher
Cencagey, 2013.

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