EDWARD W.

EAVES
MEEN 316
Strength Lab
Poisson’s Ratio
11/14/08

10/10/2008 7 Eaves
Objective

The purpose of this lab is to measure the Poisson’s Ratio of an

aluminum alloy beam and find established values of Poisson’s ratio for

selected materials. Poisson’s ratio is considered one of the two basic elastic

constants connecting stress to strain in a biaxial stress field.

Background

When a material is subjected to deformation, it not only changes on

the axis of the applied load, but also in the perpendicular direction as well.

This is known as Poisson's effect and can be predicted by Poisson's ratio.

Poisson’s ratio is named after the French mathematician Simeon Denis

Poisson (1781-1840), and is noted as υ . Axial strain is the strain along the

primary sensing axis of a strain gage. Transverse strain is the strain in a

direction perpendicular to the primary sensing axis of a strain gage.

10/10/2008 7 Eaves
Poisson’s ratio can be measured readily with two strain gages on a uniaxially

stressed beam. The error of transverse sensitivity can be corrected by

finding the correction factor (C).

Theory

Hooke’s Law for biaxial stress state can be written as:

Ε
sx= [1 − (υ × υ ) * (ε × x + υ × ε × y )]
Ε
sy= [1 − (υ × υ ) * (ε × y + υ × ε × x]

Where s=stress, psi, (N/m^2)

Poisson’s ratio is defined as

ε longitudinal
υ=− ⋅C
ε lateral

Absolute value sign makes sure that Poisson’s ratio is always positive.

υ =in/in or m/m

Et/ea

The transverse sensitivity factor, (Kt), can be found using the following

correction factor chart:

10/10/2008 7 Eaves
 Figure 1

Equipment

The following equipment was used during this experiment:

1. Flexor, cantilever flexure frame

2. Aluminum alloy beam

3. Micro-measurements temperature-compensated strain gages (2)

10/10/2008 7 Eaves
 4. Model P-3 Strain Indicator.

Procedure

1) Back out the loading screw until beam has been inserted into the

Flexor. Where the gage end must be in the clamp and the

longitudinal gage on the upper surface.

2) Center the free end between the sides of the Flexor and firmly

clamp the beam in place with the clamping screw.

3) Connect the soldered leads of the strain gage to the flexor as shown

with the supplied wiring diagram.

4) With the loading screw clear of the beam, connect one of the two

common leads from the Flexor to the S- binding post of the strain

indicator and the other common lead to the appropriate D post

(D120).

5) Connect the independent lead from the longitudinal strain gage to

the P+ binding post of the strain indicator.

6) Set the indicator in the correct mode with the loading screw clear

of the beam.

10/10/2008 7 Eaves
 7) Record the zero-beam-deflection reading as zero micro-strain.

There is no need to adjust the P-3 throughout the rest of the

experiment.

8) Rotate the loading screw clockwise, until the indicator reads a

registered number of 500 micro strains.

9) Record the micro strain reading for the top gage.

10) Using the transverse strain divided by the axial strain and the value

of K(t), given on the beam; find the correction factor using the

chart supplied.

11) Determine Poisson’s Ratio by calculating 500(C)/bottom gage

reading.

Results

The calculated Kt for this experiment was 1.05. The findings are as

follows:

υ=−
( − 525) C =−
( − 525)(1.05) = 0.3323
εˆlongitudinal 1580

K= 1.0%

The published values of Poisson’s ratio:

10/10/2008 7 Eaves
Material Poisson’s Ratio Source
Al. Alloy(6061-T6) 0.33 Engineeringtoolbox.com
Steel, mild 0.303 Engineeringtoolbox.com
Cork 0 Engineeringtoolbox.com
Concrete 0.2 Engineeringtoolbox.com
Plastic(Cycolac DH) 0.35 Engineersedge.com
Plastic(Ultem 2200) 0.40 Engineersedge.com
Rubber 0.48 Engineeringtoolbox.com

Conclusion

The measured Poisson’s Ratio was .3323 and the actual ratio is .33.

The percent error is:

υ std − υ calculated 0.33 − 0.3323

%error = × 100 = × 100 = 0.697%
υ std 0.33

, which is very accurate. A more precise (C) value, could have given a better

Poisson’s ratio. This was a very successful experiment in finding Poisson’s

ratio of an aluminum beam.

Appendix

10/10/2008 7 Eaves
10/10/2008 7 Eaves