CE 262 – Civil and Construction

Engineering Materials
LAB REPORT
Spring 2020

Experiment Title : Lab-1 Measurement Devices

and data analysis
Date of the Experiment :
Submitted by : Faleh Aldhafeeri
 Table of Contents

1. Statement of Objective…………….……………..………………………..…...01
2. Theory……......................................................................................................….01
3. Experimental Setup……................................................................................….03
4. Procedure……................................................................................................….03
5. Data…….........................................................................................................….04
6. Analysis and Calculations…….....................................................................….06
7. Discussion of Results and Conclusion……..................................................….08
8. References ……..........................................................................................…….10

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1. Statement of Objective
The aim of this experiment is to check the response of aluminum and steel
samples subjected to the tensile loading under MTS. The experimental data
shall be utilized to produce force-displacement and stress-strain curves. It
shall be substantially analyzed for yield strength, ultimate tensile strength,
rupture strength, modulus of elasticity, elongation, and reduction in cross-
sectional area of each material. Relevant ASTM Standard is ASTM E8.
2. Theory
2.1. Stress
The resisting force per unit area is called as stress. When some external
force acts on the body, an equal resistive force is produced in the body to
counter it. The ratio of this resisting force and the cross-sectional area is
known as stress. The axial forces are broadly divided into two categories
named tensile and compressive forces. If the force tends to elongate the
body then it is termed as the tensile force. However, a force going to
compress the body inwards shall be known as compressive force. Concrete
is good in compression, but week in tension. Steel is good both in tension
and compression.
If the force is denoted by “P”, the cross-sectional area is denoted by “A”
and the Stress is denoted by “σ”, then mathematically we can write:
P
σ= (Eqn.1)
A

Figure 1: Axially Loaded Bar [1]

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2.2. Strain
It is the ratio of the change in length to the original length. When the
force acts on the body, then it tries to change the shape/length of the
body. The deformation denoted by “δ” caused when divided by the
original length “L” of the body is called as strain which is denoted by
Greek letter epsilon “ε”. If the strain is along the longitudinal axis of the
body then it is called as normal/axial/longitudinal strain.
δ
ε= (Eqn.2)
L

2.3. Figure 2: Deformation of a Bar [1]

Elastic
Limit and Hook’s Law
According to this law, when the material is subjected to the axial
loading within the elastic limit, then stress (σ) is directly proportional to
the strain (ε). Mathematically we can write it as follows:
σ ∝ε
σ =K ε (Eqn.3)

In this equation, “K” is the constant of proportionality and it is the

stiffness of the material.

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 2.4. Young’s Modulus
For the Elastic range, the relationship between stress and strain is linear
and the proportionality constant is known as the “Elastic Modulus” or
“Young’s Modulus” denoted by “E”. Its unit is same as that of the stress
and its value can be obtained from the slope of the tangent on Force-
displacement curve. Mathematically, it can be written as follows:
σ =E ε (Eqn.4)

3. Experimental Setup
The samples used for this test consisted of steel and aluminum. The
machine is called MTS and in our case only tension is applied. Vernier
calipers were used to measure the diameter and gauge length of the
samples.
As the materials get elongated after the test, the deformation in the form of
length is measured with the help of an extensimeter. The extensometer is an
electronic device and thus its accuracy is more than any other relevant
mechanical devices. During the experiment, it is attached to the each
sample and once ultimate stress is reached, this device is removed. This is
done to keep the device intact and free from any kind of sensitivity.
MTS (Universal testing machine) employed for the experiment. It is called
MTS as it can apply both tensile and compressive loads as required. The
samples are placed in the jaws on the machine.
4. Experimental Procedure
We measured the diameter and length of each specimen. We also measured
the gauge length of each specimen. We turned on the MTS machine and
logged on to the computer. “TW essential” was opened on the desktop of it.
We clicked “Custom Templates” on the left and selected “2020 CE262”.
Safety button was turned on. We clicked interlock in TW app and green
light of the button was turned on. Steel sample was installed into the jaws
of MTS machine. We took care so that jaws do not touch each other. In
monitor section, we typed load setting and specimen geometry. We clicked

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 “load” and “crosshead” to bring it to “zero signal”. We played “Hit” button
to run the test. Once the test was completed, we exported the file to raw
data. The data was reviewed and used in our calculations.
5. Data
The data for the force-displacement curve is shown in the Table 1.

Table 1: Diameter and Gauge Length of steel samples

Dia Gauge Gauge

S/ Dia After
Test Sample Before Length Length After
n (inch)
(inch) Before (inch) (inch)

1 Steel Sample 0.259 0.158 1 1.199

2 Aluminum Sample 0.254 0.160 1 1.23

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Figure 4: Load vs Displacement plot for Aluminum sample

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Figure 5: Stress vs Strain plot for Steel

Figure 6: Stress vs Strain plot for Aluminum

6. Analysis and Calculations

The area of the specimen was calculated from the formula (πd2/4). The
corresponding stresses are calculated by dividing the force on the respective

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area. Strain is calculated by dividing the deformation on the gauge length.
In order to determine the value of “E”, line is drawn in the stress-strain
graph within the elastic region and its slope is calculated which gives the
value of “E”.
In order to find the strain for the samples, the points corresponding to the
stress are pointed out approximately. The maximum value of the stress
gives “Ultimate stress”

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Figure 7: Elastic Modulus of Steel

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Figure 8: Offset Method

7. Disc
ussion of Results and Conclusion

Table 2: Calculated values for the properties of materials

Aluminum
S/n Value of Interest Steel Sample
Sample
1 Cross-sectional area (in2) 0.05269 0.05067
Modulus of Elasticity, E
2 33,898 10,000
(ksi)
3 Yield Stress (ksi) 70 41.3
4 Ultimate Stress (ksi) 73.8 45.8
5 Rupture Strength (ksi) 44.6 30.4
6 %age elongation 19.9 23.5
7 %age reduction in area 62.78 60.3

All the calculated values are shown in table 2.

Cross sectional area is calculated from the formula
πd2/4=(3.145*0.259^2)/4=0.05269 in2 for steel and
πd2/4=(3.145*0.254^2)/4=0.05067 in2. The values of original area before
were used for the calculations. In order to calculate the value of modulus of

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elasticity, the slope of the curve was determined from stress vs strain graph.
“E” value for steel should be 29,000 ksi but a little higher value came in our
experiment. However, for aluminum the value is 10,000 ksi which is as per
the standards.
The value of yield stress for steel was well defined and was taken from the
end of the linear section. However for the aluminum, this value was taken
from the 0.2% offset method. Yield, ultimate and rupture stress values are
very close but a little higher than the standard values. Ultimate stress is
calculated from the maximum stress of the excel data and for rupture stress,
the failure stress is employed. Percentage elongation and %age reduction
are very close to the standard values and the below formulas were used for
them.
ɛ % = (ΔL/L) x 100= (1.199-1)*100/1=19.9% for steel

ɛ % = (ΔL/L) x 100= (1.235-1)*100/1=23.5% for aluminum

Reduction in area is as follows:

Reduction in Area % = (Original-Final/Original) x 100= (0.05269-
0.01961)*100/0.05269=62.78 %for steel
Reduction in Area % = (Original-Final/Original) x 100= (0.05067-
0.02011)*100/0.05067=60.3 %for aluminum

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8. References

1. Mechanics of materials (2nd edition) by Andrew Pytel and Jaan Kiusalaas

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