LAB 3

FAKULTI TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN

MEKANIKAL DAN PEMBUATAN
UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA
BMMM 2303 SOLID MECHANICS

LAB SHEET 3

TENSILE TEST

Learning LO2 Display appropriate experimental techniques in mechanics of

Outcome (LO): material through laboratory experiments.
Program PO5 Ability to select and apply appropriate techniques, resources
Outcome: and modern engineering tools, with an understanding of their
limitations.
Synopsis: This lab activity will enrich students’ knowledge on tensile test. Students
are exposed to the concept of mechanical tests that can be used to
determine the mechanical behaviour and properties of a material.

Related 1. Stress (Topic 1)

Lecture’s Topic:
2. Strain (Topic 2)

3. Mechanical properties of Material (Topic 3)

Prepared by: Dr Omar bin Bapokutty Date 25 March 2021
:
Approved by Dr Ridhwan bin Jumaidin Date
LM/SLM/HOD
QMS : REVISION RECORDS
Date Approved by
Prepared by
Revision No Description (DD/MM/Y LM/SLM/HO
:
Y) D:
1.0 THEORY
When a sample of metal with the original gauge length (L0) as shown in Figure 1 (a) is
subjected to a uniaxial tensile load (P), deformation and elongation (L) of the metals
occurs as shown in Figure 1(b). If the metal returns to its original dimensions, particularly
when the tensile load/force is released before reaching its elastic limit, the metal is said to
have undergone elastic deformation. The amount of elastic deformation a metal can
undergo is small, since during elastic deformation the metal atoms are displaced from their
original positions but not to the extent that they take up new positions. Thus, when the
force on a metal that has been elastically deformed is released or removed, the metal atoms
return to their original position and the metal takes back its original shape. If the metal is
subjected to a tensile load beyond the elastic limit or being deformed to such an extent that
it cannot fully recover its original dimensions, it is said to have undergone plastic
deformation. During plastic deformation, the metal atoms are permanently displaced from
their original position and take up new positions. The ability of some metals to be
deformed plastically, without fracture is one of the most useful engineering properties of
metals. In metal forming industry, this plastically deformed material is also used to define
the strain-hardening characteristics of the material.

The tensile test is used to obtain the stress-strain diagram where mechanical properties
and overall behaviour of the metals and alloys may be determined. During the test, the
sample is subjected to the tensile load at a constant rate and it is pulled until failure occurs.
The data of load against elongation obtained from the tensile test can be converted to
engineering stress-strain data, and a graph of engineering stress versus engineering
strain can be plotted.

P
–––––

Lo
L

Fig.1(a)P = 0 Fig.1(b) P ≠ 0

Mechanical properties of metals and alloys that are of engineering importance for the
structural design and metal forming purposes and can be determined from the tensile test
results are:
1. Modulus of elasticity
For the elastic region of the engineering stress-strain curve and based on the
Hooke's law, modulus of elasticity E, is defined as;
E   /  = (∆P/∆L)(Lo/Ao) (1)
where P/L represents the slope of the elastic region of the load vs elongation
graph. Lo is the original gage length of the test specimen and ∆L = changes in
elongation for the elastic region (= L - Lo).

2. Yield strength of the material

The yield strength or yield stress of the test material is given by;
 y  Py / Ao
(2)
P
where y = load at yield point and Ao = original cross-sectional area (within
the gauge length and before load P is applied). It is a very important property
for use in the design of the structure or engineering components based on the
elastic theories of failure. It is also a point where the tested material begins to
experience yielding or plastic deformation.

Since most metallic alloys fails to show a clear or well-defined yield point on
the stress-strain curve, where elastic strain ends and plastic strain begins, then
the yield strength of these type of materials are chosen when a definite amount
of plastic strain has occurred. Normally, a point when 0.2 percent plastic strain
has taken place during the tensile test is defined as a yield strength of such
materials as recommended by the American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or
British/European (BS/EN) standards. This is also known as a proof stress or
strength of the material.

3. Ultimate tensile strength

The ultimate tensile strength is the maximum strength reached in the
engineering stress-strain curve. This is also called simply the tensile strength.
 ult  Pult / Ao (3)
where, Pult = Ultimate load (the highest load) as given by the load – elongation
graph. When the material achieved its ultimate tensile strength, the test
specimen develops a localized decrease in cross sectional area (commonly
called as necking) the engineering stress will decrease with increasing strain
until fracture occurs.
4. Fracture strength
The engineering fracture strength, f, is obtained from the load at fracture point,
Pf, which is not necessarily the highest load reached during the test.

f = Pf / Ao
For a very brittle materials such as glass or ceramics based materials, u = f.

5. Percent of elongation
It is the amount of elongation (or deformation in its general term) that a tensile
specimen undergoes during tensile test which represents the degree of ductility
of a material. In general the higher the percent elongation, then it shows that the
tested material has a higher level of ductility.
Percent of elongation, %∆L = 100(Lf – Lo)/Lo (4)
Lf = Final gauge length of the specimen.

6. Percentage reduction in cross-sectional area

The ductility of a material can also be expressed in terms of the percent
reduction in area.
Percent reduction in area %∆RA = 100(Ao-Af)/Ao (5)

Percentage of elongation and percentage of reduction in area are also two material
properties that are normally used to describe the “formability properties” of the
materials especially in the field of metal forming. Generally, the ability of a
material to undergo deformation when subjected to an applied load may be defined
through these values.
2.0 EQUIPMENTS/ EXPERIMENT APPARATUS/ CONSUMABLE MATERIALS

Figure 2 Tensile tester

As shown in Figure 2;
1. Machine base (1) with hand grip (11)
2. Support with cross head (2)
3. Load frame with upper (3) and lower cross-member (4)
4. Hydraulic system consisting of a main cylinder (5) and a master cylinder with a
hand wheel (6)
5. Force display (7)
6. Elongation display via a dial gauge (8)
7. Gripping heads (9) with specimen (10)
3.0 PROCEDURES/ METHODOLOGY
The test device is set up as follows:
1. Untwist the hand wheel on the master cylinder as far as it will go and move the load
frame to its lower position.
2. If this is not yet done, insert the gripping heads in the upper cross-member and the
cross-head.
a) Screw down the gripping head with the short bolt at the bottom and with the
pressure pad (a).
 b) Gripping head with long bolt at the top (b).
3. Insert the required tensile specimen as shown in Figure 3
a) Screw the specimen into the lower gripping head by hand as far as the end stop.
b) Screw the sample into the upper gripping head as far as the end stop, by rotating
the gripping head itself.
c) Tighten the nut on the upper gripping head by hand until the gripping head is
seated without slack in the upper cross-member.

Figure 3 Procedure of fitting the specimen

4. Adjust the dial gauge as shown in Figure 3

a) Push the dial gauge upwards on the support bar until the tracer pin is touching the
driver.
b) Push further up the dial gauge and pre-stress to 8 mm.
c) Lightly pre-stress the sample using the hand wheel until the pointer on the force
display moves. This compensates slack.
d) Set the rotating scale on the dial gauge to zero.
e) Set the maximum pointer on the force display to zero.
f) Set force-measuring system to zero by simultaneously pressing (1) and (2) on
force display (Figure 4).

Figure 4 shows the Force indicator

5. Performing experiment;
Slowly and constantly load the sample by rotating the hand wheel.
a) Application of the force should be extended over a period of 5~10 minutes.
b) It is essential to avoid sudden or jerky load application of force.
c) Observe the dial gauge. Read the force from the display every 0.1 mm and make a
note of it with the corresponding extension. From 1 mm extension, the reading
 interval can be extended to 0.2 mm.
d) Monitor the sample and note when constriction begins. From now on, the sample
will no longer increase, but instead, will tend to decrease.
e) ATTENTION! Don’t be startled! Particularly with steel, rupture of the sample
occurs with a loud bang.
f) Remove the sample from the gripping heads.
g) Twist back the hand wheel on the master cylinder as far as it will go and move the
load frame down.

6. Repeat the above procedure for other specimen

4.0 RESULT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
Type of material:
Initial dimensions of specimen (before load P is applied):
Original Gauge Length (Lo): 112.38 mm

Average Original Diameter (Do): 10.03 mm

Final dimensions of specimen (after fracture):

Final gauge length (Lf) : 156.38 mm

Final diameter (Df) : 6.4 mm (*)

Note (*): In order to obtain this data (*), the fractured specimen need to be reconnected
closely, before the final diameter (Df) at the necking zone may be measured.

Table 1 Tensile Test Raw Data

Elongatio Test Observation Elongatio Test Load Observation
n (mm) Load n (mm) (kN)
(kN)
0.5 7.1 9.0 25.8
1.0 21.2 9.5 26.2
1.5 23.5 10.0 26.2
2.0 23.6 10.5 26.4
2.5 23.6 11.0 26.5
3.0 23.6 11.5 26.6
3.5 23.9 12.0 26.8
4.0 23.6 12.5 26.9
4.5 23.6 13.0 27.1
5.0 23.6 13.5 27.1
5.5 24 14.0 27.2
6.0 24.1 14.5 27.3
6.5 24.6 15.0 27.5
7.0 24.9 15.5 27.6
7.5 24.9 20.0 27.6
8.0 25 20.5 27.9
8.5 25.4 21.0 28
21.5 28.1 33.0 32.5
 22.0 28.1 33.5 32.6
22.5 28.4 34.0 32.7
23.0 28.5 34.5 32.9
23.5 28.6 35.0 33.0
24.0 28.9 35.5 33.2
24.5 29.0 36.0 33.3
25.0 29.2 36.5 33.4
25.5 29.3 37.0 33.5
26.0 29.4 37.5 33.9
26.5 29.5 38.0 34.0
27.0 29.6 38.5 34.1
27.5 29.8 39.0 34.3
28.0 29.9 39.5 34.4
28.5 31.0 40.0 34.6
29.0 31.1 40.5 34.7
29.5 31.3 41.0 34.8
30.0 31.4 41.5 34.9
30.5 31.6 42.0 35.2
31.0 31.8 42.5 35.5
31.5 32.0 43.0 28.5
32.0 32.3 43.5 26.5
32.5 32.4 44.0 26

Table 2 : Calculated results of the tensile test

 No Mechanical properties Results (Units)
1 Modulus of Elasticity, E 840.46 MPa
2 Yield Strength, y 329.1 Mpa
3 Ultimate tensile strength, ult 449.3 Mpa
4 Fracture strength, f 360.7 Mpa
5 Ductility: Based on %EL 39.15 %
6 Ductility: Based on %RA 59.285 %

1. MODULUS OF ELASTICITY, E
FORCE
Stress (σ) = Strain (S) =
AREA
change of length
initial length
26 kN
= =
π ¿¿
156.38 mm−112.38mm
112.38 mm
26 kN
= = 0.391529
79.012m m2
26 kN
=
π ¿¿
= 329.064 MPa

Stress(σ ) 329.064 MPa

MODULUS OF ELASTICITY, E = = = 840.46 MPa
Strain( S) ¿ 0.391529

28.5 kN
Fracture strength, f =
79.012m m2
28.5 kN
=
79.012m m2
= 360.7 Mpa
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
1. Based on the measured data shown in Table 1, plot the overall graph of Load P
(kN) versus Elongation ∆L (mm) for each specimen. Indicate and label this graph
with the important parameters such as yield and ultimate points, elastic and plastic
regions and the fracture point. Calculate y and ult from Eqs. (2) and (3).

Ultimate
Yield Point
tensile point

Fracture
Point

Elastic region

26 kN
Yield Strength,y =
79.012m m2
= 329.1 Mpa

35.5 kN
Ultimate tensile strength, ult =
79.012m m2
35.5 kN
=
79.012m m2
= 449.3 Mpa
 2. Plot another graph for the elastic region only and from the slope of the straight line
of this graph, determine the modulus of elasticity (E) for each specimen by using
Eq. (1).

3. By using Eq. (4) and Eq. (5), calculate the percentage of elongation and reduction
of area of the fractured specimen.

Percent of elongation, %∆L = 100(Lf – Lo)/Lo

( 156.38 – 112.38 )
= 100 ×
112.38
= 39.15 %

Percent reduction in area %∆RA = 100(Ao-Af)/Ao

( 79.012 – 32.17 )
= 100 ×
79.012
= 59.285 %

4. Draw the fractured surface of each specimen and briefly explain of your
examination of this surface.
The fracture is preceded by only a moderate amount of necking.The fracture process occurs 
in several stages which is necking begins and form the interior of the cross section. Then th
e crack is enlarge an
finally the fracture ensues by the rapid propagation of a crack around the outer perimeter of 
the neck. 

5.0 DISCUSSION
For discussion, you should answer all questions as follows:

i. Discuss the results of this testing work, especially the mechanical properties
and the overall deformation behaviour of the materials. Give your
interpretations of the graphs and relate its to the behaviour of the ductile or
brittle materials. Support your descriptions with the relevant diagram /
figures.

Based on the result of this lab section experiment, especially the mechanical
properties and the overall deformation behaviour of the material is more to ductile
fracture. The physical shape of the material is change after the experiment. For
example, the shape of material is change from original size, the material also
become longer and smaller diameter after the tensile test process. In the ductile
fracture, extensive plastic deformation (necking) take place fracture. The term
rupture describe the ultimate failure of ductile material loaded in tension rather
than cracking the material “pull apart” and it leaving a rough surface. With the
increase of load at same point, the load pointer remains stationary. Load
corresponding to this indicates the yield point. With future increase in load, the
pointer goes backward and specimen breaks. The load before this breaking is the
ultimate load. The load at the breaking of the specimen is called breaking load.
 Ductile materials are which can be down when tension is applied and can draw
into sheet when compress load is applied for the above mentioned properties the
material should have a tendency to elongate for a lower value of stress, the strain

produce in much higher.

Initially when the force is applied to the specimen, stress which develop, are
proportional to strain. Hence OA is a straight line. Range from Point O to Point A
is called the limit of proportionality. For a short period beyond the point A, the
material may still be elastic in the sense that the deformations are completely
recovered when the load is removed. The limiting point B is termed as Elastic
Limit.

Beyond the elastic limit, plastic deformation occurs and strains are not totally
recoverable. There will be thus permanent deformation or permanent set when load
is removed. These two points are termed as upper and lower yield points
respectively. The stress at the yield point is called the yield strength.

A further increase in the load will cause marked deformation in the whole volume
of the metal. The maximum load which the specimen can with stand without failure
is called the load at the ultimate strength. The highest point ‘E' of the diagram
corresponds to the ultimate strength of a material.

Beyond point E, the cross‐sectional area of the specimen begins to reduce rapidly
and the bar is said to form a neck, which is called necking. This necking takes
place whilst the load reduces, and fracture of the bar finally occurs at point F.

ii. Compare between the experimental and theoretical (as may be obtained from
any references / handbooks) results as defined in this work. Explain the
 differences.

Tensile test experiment is the destructive method in engineering and material

science to determine the maximum tension of material. Tensile experiment, a dog‐
bone shaped specimen is gripped at its two ends and is pulled to elongate at a
determined rate to its breakpoint. The reading load continuously monitored during
the experiment run until the material is fracture. Based on the result in this
experiment, the differences between experimental and theoretical isn’t so much.
This is because the experimental graph is almost the same to theoretical graph.

iii. State the main factors that may be considered as the source of discrepancies /
differences (experiment errors). Justify your answer / arguments.

1. Human error

There are bigger chances to mistook the value of load for every 0.5 elongation
because the
elongation must be steady and constant.

2. Wrong grip

The grip is where the sample and the test equipment interface. Selecting the right
grip can be
as important as selecting the right tensile tester and load cell range. When
measuring
elongation, for example, if the grip is not able to secure the product properly,
slippage will
produce an erroneously high travel measurement. This measurement would be of
little worth,
and potentially damaging if it’s relied upon to make product design decisions.
Another angle
to consider is the ability of a grip to allow for visual inspection before, during,
and after
testing. If the sample is obscured, it may be difficult to ensure that it is loaded
properly.

3. Axial misalignment

Common, uniaxial tensile testers are designed to pull a sample along a single,
straight axis. If the grips and samples are loaded properly, the sample is pulled
axially, and the test should yield meaningful results, ceteris paribus. If the sample is
misaligned, these moments and offsets can skew the measurement, distort the
sample, exert force on only a portion of the sample, and if significant enough, even
damage the test equipment.
 4. Incorrect specimen measurements
There might be error while measuring the specimen dimension due to not
calliberating the measuring tools properly. By measuring using uncalibrated
measuring tools, we won’t get the accurate measurements of the specimen.

6.0 CONCLUSION

Give your conclusion of this experiment work / report. Summarize its main findings.

From the tensile test experiment by using tensile test machine, the mechanical properties of
the specimen can be obtained. When the material is being stretched, it experiencing elastic
and plastic deformation. The strain hardening phenomenon is occur when the material is
getting strengthened until it goes to fracture. It undergoes ductile fracture because there
was a reduction of area at the fractured point which concludes that mild steel is a ductile
material.

LAB 3

7.0 OTHERS

The report must be prepared as APPENDIX.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Your response to each task will be graded separately based on the checklist attached. To
obtain maximum marks, ensure that your response addresses each of the tasks in the question
accordingly.

Assessment checklist for Lab Activity 3

Assessment tasks Mark LO PO C/P/A

allocation level
Procedure (Ability to
P1 -
perform procedure for lab 10 LO2 PO4 Perception
activity)
Work Process
(Ability to construct and
10 LO2 PO4 P2 - Set
understanding of tensile
readings)
Outcome (Excel P3 – Guide
20 LO2 PO4 Response
graph & Result)
Outcome P3 – Guide
30 LO2 PO4 Response
(Discussion)
P5 -
Outcome
20 LO2 PO4 Complex Overt
(Conclusion) Response

Discipline (Ability to
perform lab activity and 10 LO2 PO4 P2 - Set
submission)
TOTAL 100

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in ENGLISH .
2. Submit your lab report HARDCOPY & ONLINE using ULEARN in a SINGLE file.
3. Submission date: One Week after Laboratory done.
4. This lab report/activity accounts for 5% of the total marks for the course.

LAB 3
FAKULTI TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN
MEKANIKAL DAN PEMBUATAN
UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA
BMMM 2303 SOLID MECHANICS