Materials and Structures Laboratory

EXPERRIMENT NO: 2
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY ‘E’ FOR MILD STEEL

AIM: To evaluate the Young’s modulus of elasticity (E) for a given mild steel specimen.

APPARATUS: Mild steel specimen, Universal Testing Machine (UTM), Extensometer,

Vernier Calipers, Graph paper etc.
THEORY:
Strength of material plays important role in design of structures. Hence, it is necessary
to test materials under different types of load and check the quality and important properties.
In this laboratory, mechanical properties of structural materials will be determined and
compared with those recommended by Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
When a load is applied to any specimen, there is a change in its dimensions. Now on the
removal of this external load, if the specimen attains its original shape and size then the
material is called elastic material and this property of the material is called elasticity. Off
course, this is true within certain limit and this limit is called elastic limit.

Stress ()

∆

∆Є

Strain (Є)
0

Fig. 1. Stress Strain Behaviour for Mild Steel in elastic limit

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 Materials and Structures Laboratory

In this test, a prepared specimen is subjected to gradually increasing uniaxial tensile

load within the elastic limit and the deformations are noted at different load intervals.
Now, according to the Hook’s law stress is proportional to the strain within the elastic
limit.
stress (σ) α strain (Є)

stress (σ) = E x strain

(Є) E = stress (σ)

strain (Є)
Here, E is the constant of proportionality and is called Young’s modulus of elasticity.

According to elasticity, the material can be classified as follows :

1. Linear Elastic :-
In this type the material once loaded on removal of the loading the material
will regain its original shape and size, in the other words the load path of loading and
unloading will remain same, the relation between stress and strain will be linear in
nature as shown in figure below,

2. Non Linear Elastic :-

In this type the material once loaded on removal of the loading the material
will regain its original shape and size, in the other words the load path of loading and
unloading will remain same, but the relation between stress and strain will be
parabolic as shown in figure below,

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 Materials and Structures Laboratory

3. Linear Non Elastic :-

In this type the material once loaded on removal of the loading the material
will not regain its original shape and size. The load path of loading and unloading will
not remain same, the relation between stress and strain will be linear along with some
permanent deformation as shown in figure below,

4. Non Linear Non Elastic :-

In this type the material once loaded on removal of the loading the material
will not regain its original shape and size. The load path of loading and unloading will
not remain same, the relation between stress and strain will be linear along with some
permanent deformation as shown in figure below,

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 Materials and Structures Laboratory

• SPECIMEN:
Circular cross section specimen is recommended by IS. 1608 in order to get
uniform distribution of stress. In addition, central portion of the specimen is of smaller
cross-sectional area than the end portions in order to cause failure at a section where
the stresses are not affected by the gripping device. To avoid stress concentration,
transition from end to reduced section is made by an adequate fillet, Fig. 2.

Gauge length : Length within the reduced section along which elongations are
measured is known as gauge length. Gauge length as a function of area of cross
section is expressed as L = k (A0)1/2
Where,
A0 = Original cross-sectional area
As per IS 1608, diameter of the central portion of the specimen should not
be less 4 mm and k = 5.65.

D
GL R
Where,
D = Diameter
GL = Gauge Length
A = Length of Reduced Section
R = Radius of Fillet

Fig. 2. Mild Steel Specimen

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 Materials and Structures Laboratory

PROCEDURE:
➢ Measure initial diameter and gauge length of mild steel specimen.
➢ Insert the specimen in universal testing machine for testing.
➢ Attach the extensometer to the specimen at the appropriate position.
➢ Apply uniaxial tensile load on the specimen gradually within the elastic limit.
➢ Take the readings and calculate the stress and corresponding strain value at each
load.
➢ Plot the graph of stress v/s strain.
➢ The slop of this graph is the required value of Young’s modulus of elasticity (E).

• OBSERVATIONS:
1) Diameter of specimen = mm
2) Gauge length of specimen = _ mm
3) L.C. of extensometer = 1/20000 inches

• OBSERVATION TABLE

Sr. LOAD LOAD EXTENSOMETER ∆L STRAIN STRESS E = σ/ Є

No. (W) (W) READING (3)*L.C Є = ∆L/L σ = W/A N/mm2
BT N (mm) N/mm2
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Average E = Σ En/n

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 Materials and Structures Laboratory

• CALCULATIONS:

Stress = Load (W)

Cross sectional area

= N/mm2

Strain (Є) = Change in length

Original length

Young’s modulus of elasticity (E) = σ / Є

= N/mm2

Eavg = Σ En/n

Young’s modulus of elasticity (E) from graph

E Graphical = N/mm2

• RESULT: Young’s modulus of elasticity (E ) for given mild steel specimen is

EExperimental = N/mm2

EGraphical = N/mm2

• FAILURE PATTERN:

• CONCLUSION:

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