Experiment # 05

To perform Brinell hardness test and determine hardness number of

given specimen
1. Apparatus
Brinell hardness tester, microscope, ball indenter, Vernier caliper, scale.

Theoretical Background

2. Hardness
Hardness as we have defined previously is the mechanical property of the material that
determines the ability of the material to resist deformation or penetration through it. The
material like ceramics, concrete are hard material.
2.1. Advantage of the hard materials
The big advantage of the hard material comes under compressive load because hard
materials possess very good strength under compressive load. Hard materials are not
suitable for the purposes where tensile load is applied because of their low tensile
strength.
Due to their property to bear more load under compression hard materials are used in
construction purposes where compressive load is applied, for instance, concrete is
used most widely used in construction purposes due to its good capability to
withstand under compressive loading.
3. Hardness number
Hardness number is a parameter that is used for measuring of hardness of the specimen.
Greater the penetration of indentation in the material greater will be the hardness number
and the more will be the hardness of the material.
4. Methods to measure the hardness number of a material
Following are two most widely used methods for hardness number.
1. Rockwell hardness
2. Brinell hardness

We have already discussed Rockwell hardness in this section we will only describe
Brinell hardness.

5. Factors affecting the hardness testing

Following are the factors that affect the hardness testing of the equipment.
1. The surface where the test is being performed should be clean and there should be not
any dirt, oil etc. present.
 2. The indenter must face the specimen perpendicularly i.e. the indenter is supposed
indent the surface through its vertical movement. If inclination occur, it will provide
wrong results.
3. The indenter scale should be completely visible for taking readings and readings
should be completely visible.
6. Brinell hardness
Brinell hardness number is ratio of the load applied to the surface area of the indentation.
In Brinell hardness, an indentation of known diameter is pressed hydraulically into the
specimen and extent of its penetration gives us the Brinell hardness number.
Unit of Brinell number is kgf/mm2.
The Brinell hardness numbers of some common materials are given in the table

Type of Material B.H.N

Mild steel 120 HB
Pure aluminium 15 HB
Copper 35 HB
Lead 5 HB
Stainless steel 200 HB
Table 1

7. Procedure

8. Observations and calculations

Least count of microscope scale = 0.05 mm
Diameter of indenter = 10 mm

No. of Load Indentation Indentation depth P

B.H .N=
obs. applied diameter D−√ D 2−d 2 πDt
P d t=
2
(kg) (mm) (mm)
1
2
3
9. Discussion
10.Comments
11.References
[1] mtil.illinois.edu/eq-brin.htm
[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Brinell%20hardness