Name Dhrmendra Sablaniya

Roll number 16110051

Lab-5_
“Three Point Beam Bend Test”
Objective:
Determination of the modulus of elasticity in bending of flat metallic strips or sheets for spring
application.

Theory: Three-point bend test is used to calculate the elastic modulus, flexural strength and the flexural
stress-strain behavior of materials. Flexural Strength is ability to resist deformation underapplied load
(bending moment). Also known as Bending Strength. And the modulus correspond to this flexure stress is
called flexure modulus. Also known as rupture modulus
The specimen is subjected to a bending load that is shown below figure-

The advantage of 3-point bend test is that the sample preparation is vary easy. But the disadvantage of
this test is that the results are depends on the specimen geometry, applied load and strain rate. To mesure
the flexural stress and elastic modulus, the graph between bending load and deflection plotted. And the
slop of the gives the desired mechanical properties.

Flexural strength (σ ) or rupture strength of materials is given by-

3 FL
σ=
2b d 2

And the flexural modulus is given by-

L3 F
E=
4 b ⅆ3 δ

Where σ is flexural strength, F is load, L is the length of the support span, b is width, d is thickness and δ
is the deflection in specimen
Apparatus:

Applicator Geometry—The load applicator shall have a 60° angle with a radius of 0.005 in. (0.13 mm). In
the case of three-point loading the load is applied at mid-span, using one such applicator.
Specimen Dimensions as per ASTM E855:

Span Length (L) = 150 times Thickness (h) if 0.25 mm thickness (h)≤ 0.51 mm
100 times thickness (h) if 0.51 mm ≤thickness ( h)
Width (b) = 3.81mm if 0.25 mm ≤ thickness( h)≤ 0.51 mm
12.7mm if 0.51 mm ≤thickness ( h)
Total Length = 250 times thickness if 0.25 mm ≤ thickness( h)≤ 0.51 mm
165 times thickness if 0.51 mm ≤thickness ( h)

Procedure:
1. Measurement of the specimen dimensions .
2. Loading of sample considering span length, sample must be symmetrically placed from the point
of application of load.
3. Preload corresponding to approximately 20% of the proof strength shall be applied.
4. Both load and displacement at the mid-span shall be measured either incrementally or
continuously up to 50% of the estimated proof strength value.
5. At least five measurements shall be taken from the preload to the maximum load for each
specimen.
6. Average modulus of elasticity in bending shall be determined for a minimum of six specimens,
half of which shall be tested with concave facing upwards and half with convex facing upwards.
7. Note down data form bluehill software that provide the data in the form of graphs and observe
them
Result and observation:
The data and the plots of the three-point bend test are shown below: -
Form the above figure we can note down that the maximum flexure stress is around 1000 Mpa at around
0.035 strain. Now by putting the value in the below equation we get,
3 FL
σ=
2b d 2

3 x 1480 x 15 cm
σ=
2 x 3 mmx 2.5 cm2
σ = 177.6Mpa
L3 F L2 σ
Now from the equation E= =
4 b ⅆ3 δ 6 ⅆ1δ

15 cm2 x 177.6
E=
6 x 2.5 cm1 x 0.00145
By solving we get E=183.724Gpa

L3 F 15 3 x 900
Now from the equation, E= we get E= , E=184.09Gpa
4 b ⅆ3 δ 4 x 3 2.53 2.2

Discussion: -
Three-point bend test is used to calculate the elastic modulus, flexural strength and the flexural stress-
strain behavior of materials. Flexural Strength is ability to resist deformation underapplied load (bending
moment). Also known as Bending Strength. The flexural strength of materials depend on the level of
applied load, time duration, strain rate and also depend on the properties of materials. The advantage of
this test is that the sample preparation is much easy. Our group sample was AA 5xxx series, while doing
the test there is some permanent deformation occurs in the specimen, because we did the test above
elastic region by which the is some plastic deformation take placed that is cause of parament deformation

Reference:
  Lab manual

Image Attachment:-