Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC) ©Structural & Materials Testing Laboratory (SML)

Department of Civil Engineering

Structural and Materials Testing Laboratory

Module Name: ECE 107 Materials Science Level: 01 Semester : 02

Name of the Practical
Tensile test 02
Practical: No:
Student Name:
Group No:
Registration
No.:
Date of Resubmission
Date Due:
Performance: Date:

Assessed By:

Signature: Date:

Lecturers’
Remarks:

PLAGIARISM
Although research and discussion are an essential part of the assignment, the deliberate copying
of someone else’s work or unacknowledged copying from printed or electronic sources is NOT
permitted. You may be subject to disciplinary procedure if you are found guilty with plagiarism.
You should sign this sheet to show that you comply with these regulations.

Signature of
Date:
the Student:

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LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this experiment, the student is expected to achieve the following Learning
Outcomes (LOs) outlined in the module specification:

1. Discuss how to test the physical properties and the usability of materials (LO 3)

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this lab experiment is to perform a tensile test and the significance of the stress-
strain curve in determining major mechanical properties of materials.

THEORY

Mechanical properties are of interest to engineers utilizing materials in any application where
forces are applied, dimensions are critical, or failure is undesirable. Three fundamental mechanical
properties of metals are the elastic modulus (E), the yield point (σy), and the ultimate strength (σ
ult).

When forces are applied to materials, they deform in reaction to those forces. The magnitude of
the deformation for a constant force depends on the geometry of the materials. Likewise, the
magnitude of the force required to cause a given deformation, depends on the geometry of the
material. For these reasons, engineers define stress and strain. Stress (engineering definition) is
given by:
𝐹 (Force)
𝜎= …………….…….Eqn 1
𝐴 (Cross−Sectional Area)

Defined in this manner, the stress can be thought of as a normalized force. Strain (engineering
definition) is given by:
∆𝐿 (Change in length)
𝜀= ………… ……….Eqn 2
𝐿 (Original length)

While the relationship between the force and deformation depends on the geometry of the material,
the relationship between the stress and strain is geometry independent. The relationship between
stress and strain is given by a simplified form of Hooke's Law:

𝜎 = 𝐸 𝜀 ………………….. Eqn 3
Since E is independent of geometry, it is often thought of as a material constant. However, E is
known to depend on both the chemistry, structure, and temperature of a material. Change in any
of these characteristics must be known before using a "handbook value" for the elastic modulus.

Hooke's Law (Eqn 3) predicts a linear relationship between the strain and the stress and describes
the elastic response of a material. In materials where Hook's Law describes the stress-strain
relationship, the elastic response is the dominant deformation mechanism.

The tensile test is a useful common test for determining the mechanical properties of materials.
ASTM standard E-8-69 defines the specimen dimensions and how it is held in the grips of the

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testing machine. The load is applied to the tensile specimen (at a known rate) so that the
deformation can be recorded continuously.

P = applied load
Pm = maximum load
PB = breaking load
lo = original gauge length
lf = final gauge length after fracture
Ao = original cross section area
Af = final (at the neck) cross sectional area

P
1. Engineering Stress:  in N/m2 (Pa)
Ao

2. Engineering Strain:  
o
3. Proportional Limit: stress at which the stress-strain curve begins to show a non-linear
behaviour.
4. Yield Point: stress value at 0.2% offset strain. Proportional limit can also be the yield point
in certain cases.
5. Modulus of Elasticity or Young’s Modulus: 𝐸 = 𝜎/𝜀 (in N/m2 or Pa) slope of the linear
region of the stress-strain curve.
6. Ultimate Tensile Strength: UTS  Pm /Ao (in N/m2 or Pa)
7. Breaking Stress:  BS  PB /AO (in N/m2 ) or Pa
8. Fracture Stress:  F  PB/Af (in N/m2 or Pa)
9. Percent Elongation at fracture: {( f   o ) / o } x 100%
10. Percent Reduction in Area: {( A o  A f ) /A o } x 100%

APPARATUS

 The HSM58 Universal Material Tester, 20 kN - The Universal Material Tester is to be

operated manually by using the handle of hydraulic pump.
 Vernier Caliper
 Dog bone shaped steel/ brass /aluminium tension specimens

PROCEDURE

1. Measure the initial gauge diameter, d0, (four different places) total length L and gauge
length, lo, of the specimen.
2. Load the specimen in the HSM58 Universal Materials Tester.
3. Assemble the extensometer on the specimen.
4. Provide all the necessary parameters in the corresponding boxes at the main software
screen. i.e diameter, specimen total length, gauge length of the extensometer, file name etc.
5. Press start button to start logging the data.

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6. Load the specimen by pumping the handle of the hydraulic pump manually at a slow and
constant rate. The stress – strain plot will be displayed at the screen. Notice how the neck
forms at the gauge length of the specimen after the load reaches its maximum value.
7. After the specimen fractures, stop data logging and remove the specimen pieces and
observe the fracture surface.
8. Measure the total final length of the specimen, the diameter of the neck and the final gauge
length.

ANALYSIS
Using the data given by the instructor,
1. Calculate engineering stress and strain values and plot them on a graph paper with
appropriate scales and titles.
1. (To determine the elastic modulus more accurately you may need to consider the linear
part of the curve separately drawn on a different scale.)
2. Determine all the properties mentioned above.
3. Describe fracture surfaces.

OBSERVATIONS:
Part 1.

Specimen: _______________________(material)

Original diameter of the specimen = i) ii)

iii) iv)

Total length of the specimen =

Gauge length of the specimen =

Total final length of the specimen =

Diameter of the neck =

Final Gauge length =

CALCULATIONS
Percentage reduction in area =

Percentage elongation at fracture =

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TABULATIONS
Part 2.

Using the data provided to by the instructor, calculate the Engineering Stress and Engineering
Strain

RESULTS
Determine the following using an Engineering stress vs Engineering strain plot drawn on a graph
paper.

Ultimate Tensile Strength =

% elongation at fracture =

Proportional Limit =

Young’s Modulus =

0.2% proof stress or Yield strength =

DISCUSSION
 Compare and discuss the differences in the stress strain behaviours in various materials
((e.g. ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and plastics)).
 Are the material properties the same for the different rates of loading? Why or why not?
 How do the different materials compare? Do they all show the same type of behaviour or
are they significantly different? Why or why not?
 Would a different gauge length give a different result? Why or why not?
 Discuss about the difference between Engineering stress and True stress and whether
there is a significant difference between these values at failure
 What is a “cup and cone fracture”? Discuss about the type of materials which could
encounter this type of a fracture and other possible types of fracture modes in materials.

REFERENCES
List down the references.

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The laboratory experiment will be assessed individually based on each student’s lab report. The
lab report must be correctly referenced and neatly presented consisting of the following six
important sections:

Marks
# Category Description
(100)
Presentation Overall, the report must be neat and organized, with correct
1 05
of the report spelling and grammar.
Present a clear summary of the aims of the study and its
2 Introduction 10
significance. Describe experimental design briefly.
Provide a detailed, step-by-step procedure with specific
terminology (avoid long, redundant descriptions). The procedure
3 Procedure 15
must be clear enough to be replicated, adding labelled figures to
help presentation
Observation Include the observation sheet prepared in the lab with the test data
4 10
sheet summarized in the format of tables and/or graphs
Results & Perform calculations correctly and show clearly. Analyze the
5 20
Analysis results (including controls)
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the procedure and results.
6 Discussion Provide clear explanations for inconsistencies and/or unexpected 25
results.
Provide conclusions that are well supported by the results. Use
theory to explain identified trends. Identify major sources of error
7 Conclusion and explain their effects on the results. Suggest possible 10
improvements in the experimental design to improve the accuracy
of results
Indicate the list of references (books, journals, articles, not just
8 References 05
websites) according to the Harvard referencing style.

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