NAME; BENJAMIN MOTHUSI SEFORO

ID; 202003798

COURSE; MATERIAL SCIENCE FOR ENGINEERS, CCB 231

LAB; TENSILE TESTING EXPERIMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF MATERIALS USED

OBJECTIVES

AIMS

APPARATUS

PROCEDURE

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES
ABSTRACT
This experiment was used to compare the properties of three materials, wood, mild steel and
aluminum. The tensile strength of a material is crucial when the object is subjected to force as it
predicts the stability of the structure as a whole. Also the tensile strength of material is used
when reinforcing materials and manufacturing of composites. This experiment is used widely by
engineers to test materials that will be used for various structures as it helps minimize the
occurrence of structural failures.
INTRODUCTION
Different materials have different properties due to their various structures. Metals have has high
magnetic and electrical conductivity, polymers on the other hand has elasticity properties, ceramics
materials tend to be more brittle than other materials and composites has combined properties. Therefore
it is important to understand these properties before using a particular material for a certain design. These
properties are as follows; mechanical properties, electrical properties, thermal properties, magnetic
properties, optical properties and deteriorative properties. To determine these properties, tests are
carried out on materials. Mechanical tests determine strength, ductility, and toughness, chemical
tests determine deteriorative properties and optical tests determine nanostructures and
microstructures. These tests are fundamental to material selection process since they tell where a
material is suitable for a particular design or not, and whether it requires processing or not.

Amongst mechanical tests is the tensile testing experiment which measures the tension in a
material. Tension is defined as the act of straining or stretching. During this test, a certain
amount of tension is applied to a material until it fractures. Upon fracture, the strain, stress,
modulus of elasticity, tensile strength and the yield strength of the material will be determined.
The setup of the experiment is shown below;

Figure 1: Instron Universal testing machine,

The specimen is held fast by the holding grips as shown in figure 1. The speed, distance and the
direction of travel can be adjusted in the machine.
Mechanical properties to be tested:

(a)Stress and strain relationship

Hooke’s law states that stress is directly proportional to strain given that the elasticity limit is not
exceeded. This is given by the equations;

Stress = load ÷ sectional area………………..eq1

Strain = extension ÷ original length………….eq2

(b)Elasticity modulus

This is the resistance of a material to deformation caused by stress. It is obtain as the slope in a
stress-strain curve. The equation for calculating the elasticity modulus is;

Elasticity modulus = stress ÷ strain…………..eq3

(c)Yield strength

This is the amount of force required to exceed the elasticity of a material. It is found by
extrapolation from the stress-strain curve as a point where the slope of the graph changes.

(d)Tensile strength

This is the maximum amount of tension a material can sustain. It is found by extrapolation as the
maximum point in the stress-strain curve.

BACKGROUND OF MATERIALS USED

PROPERTY ALUMINUM MILD STEEL WOOD

MECHANICAL -light weight -heavy -light in weight

-ductile -ductile -brittle

-malleable -malleable -low density (floats in

water)
-more denser than -more denser than
water water

MAGNETIC Not magnetic Magnetic (iron is a Not magnetic

constituent)

THERMAL Good conductor of Good conductor of Not a good conductor

heat of heat
 heat

ELECTRICAL Good conductor of Good conductor of Bad conductor of

electricity electricity electricity

OPTICAL -opaque surface -opaque surface -opaque surface

-shiny surface -shiny but not as -dull surface

bright as aluminum

CHEMICAL Corrosion resistant Not corrosion Corrosion resistance

(due to a thin layer of resistant differs across different
alumina formed when types of wood
exposed to oxygen)

OBJECTIVES
This experiment is carried out in order to determine the mechanical properties of the materials;
mild steel, aluminum and wood. These properties are as follows; strain, stress, modulus of
elasticity, tensile strength and yield strength.

AIMS
The aim of this experiment is to compare and contrast the mechanical properties of aluminum,
mild steel and wood.

APPARATUS
- Vernier caliper
- Instron universal testing machine
- 30 cm rule
- Aluminum strip
- Mild steel rod
- wood

- stopwatch

PROCEDURE
The experiment was carried out by following the following steps. Firstly the length and width of
the aluminum was measured using the 30 cm rule, and the thickness was measured using the
vernier caliper. A distance of about 20 cm from left from each end making a total of 40 cm
omitted from the initial length of the strip. The remaining length is called the gauge length.
The strip was gripped by the holding grips from the edge to the 20 cm mark of each end. Then
the speed and direction of travel was set. The meter for measuring the force and extension was
zeroed. Then the machine was started and the force and the corresponding extension was
measured every 20 seconds. Upon fracture, the final force is recorded and the machine is
stopped. Then the strips were removed and the same procedure was performed for the mild steel
rod and the wood strip. For the mild steel rod the vernier caliper will measure the diameter.

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

1. ALUMINUM

Original length: 273 mm

Gauge length: 233 mm

Gauge width: 1.5 mm

Gauge thickness: 3 mm

LOAD (N) EXTENSION TIME (s) STRESS STRAIN (Pa) ELASTICIT

(mm) (N/mm^2) Y (10^3
N/mm

0 0.0 0 0 0 13.04

3035 1.5 20 84 0.006 13.04

6640 3.6 40 184 0.015 11.90

7400 5.0 60 205 0.021 95.53

7540 6.5 80 209 0.027 74.91

7670 8.0 100 213 0.034 62.03

7790 9.5 120 216 0.040 52.97

7890 11.0 140 219 0.047 46.38

7970 12.5 160 221 0.053 41.19

8035 14.0 180 223 0.060 37.11

 8080 16.0 200 224 0.068 22.62

8105 17.5 220 225 0.075 29.95

8120 19.0 240 225 0.081 27.59

TABLE 1. Showing load, extension, time, dress, strain of aluminum

GRAPH OF FORCE AGAINST EXTENSION

2. MILD STEEL

Original length: 263 mm

Gauge length: 223 mm

Gauge diameter: 6 mm

TABLE 2.Showing load, extension, time, stress, strain of mild steel

LOAD (N) EXTENSION TIME (s) STRESS STRAIN (Pa) ELASTICITY

(mm) (N/mm^2) (N/mm2)
0 0.0 0 0 0.000 0
3550 1.5 20 98 0.001 14.57
9000 3.0 40 250 0.013 18.58
10920 4.5 60 303 0.020 15.02
11045 6.5 80 306 0.029 10.50
11130 8.0 100 309 0.036 86.41
11190 9.5 120 310 0.043 72.53
11540 11.0 140 320 0.049 64.87
11835 12.5 160 328 0.056 58.51
12075 14.5 180 335 0.065 51.52
12285 16.0 200 341 0.072 47.52
12460 17.5 220 346 0.078 44.09
12595 19.0 240 349 0.085 40.96
12710 20.5 260 353 0.092 38.39
12800 22.5 280 355 0.101 35.18
12880 24.0 300 357 0.108 33.17
12935 25.5 320 359 0.114 31.39
12985 27.5 340 360 0.123 29.19
13020 29.0 360 361 0.130 27.75
13050 30.5 380 362 0.137 26.46
13070 32.5 400 363 0.146 24.90
 13090 34.0 420 363 0.152 23.80
13095 35.5 440 363 0.159 22.80
13090 37.0 460 363 0.166 21.87
13070 38.5 480 363 0.173 21.02
13035 40.5 500 362 0.182 19.93
12905 42.0 520 358 0.188 19.00
11750 43.5 540 326 0.195 16.71

GRAPH OF LOAD AGAINST EXTENSION

3. WOOD

Original length: 260 mm

Gauge length: 220 mm

Gauge width: 4 mm

Gauge thickness: 3 mm

TABLE 3. Showing load and extension of wood

LOAD (N) EXTENSION (mm)

0 0.0
0665 1.5
1600 3.0