Expt No:

BRINELL HARDNESS TEST

AIM:

To study the Brinell hardness testing machine and to find the Brinell hardness number of the
material of the specimen

GENERAL:

The test consisting in forcing a steel ball of diameter "D" under a load "F" into the test piece and
measuring the diameter of the indentation left in the surface "d". The Brinell hardness is obtained by
dividing the test load F in kgf by the curved surface area of indentation in sq. mm

HBS or HBW =

= where h is the depth of indentation in mm

HBS = Brinell hardness in case where a steel ball is used for materials whose HB is not exceeding
450.

HBW = Brinell hardness in case where as hard metal ball is used for materials whose HB is not
exceeding 650
Example:- 160 HBS 10/3000/15 = Brinell hardness of 160 determined with a steel ball of 10mm
diameter and with a test force of 3000 kgs, applied for 15 seconds

Test requirement -

1. The surface of the test piece shall be sufficiently smooth and even
2. The thickness of test piece shall not be less than 8 times the depth of indentation h
3. The distance of centre of indentation from the edge of the test piece shall be at least 2.5
times diameter of the indentation and the distance between centres of two adjacent indentations
shall be at least 4 times the diameter of indentation
4. The test load is attained without shock or vibration .The test load shall be maintained for 10 or
15 seconds
5. It is desirable that the diameter "d" of the indentation should range between 0.25 D and 0.05 D

The ratio of F/D shall be chosen according to the material.

Material F/D2

Mild steel 30

brass 10 or 15

copper 10

EQUIPMENTS:

Brinell hardness testing machine, travelling microscope

PROCEDURE:

Considering the material of the specimen and the size of the ball indenter select a suitable load and
suspend weights on the yoke tray accordingly. Insert the steel ball indenter in position and place the
specimen on the work table. Raise the specimen by turning the hand wheel until the contact with the
steel ball is obtained. Close the valve and smoothly pump oil without causing any shock using the
hand lever until the desire load is obtained. Maintain the load for specified time (10 to 15 seconds) for
steel and 30+ or - 2 seconds for light metals .Then slowly open the valve there by releasing the oil
pressure and the load. Lower the specimen by turning the hand wheel Remove the specimen and
measure the diameter of indentation in two perpendicular directions (d1 and d2). The average d1 and
d2 is the diameter "d" .Calculate HBS using the formula

RESULT:

Brinell hardness no of (i)

(ii)
OBSERVATION:
Diameter of d (mm)
HBS Mean HBS
indentation
Materials load(kgf) D (mm)

d1(mm) d2(mm)