Experiment 2: Tension Test

on Metals

Report done by
Aumar Al-Meshhadany
40102507

For
ENGR 244(DI-X)

Course given by
Dr. Ehab Ahmed

Concordia University
2/10/2021
Contents
Objective ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Introduction............................................................................................................................................. 3
Procedure ................................................................................................................................................ 5
Calculations ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Results, tables, and Graphics ................................................................................................................... 8
Discussion ............................................................................................................................................. 14
References............................................................................................................................................. 17

2
Objective

The objective is to perform a tension test to experience the maximum tensile strength of
steel and aluminum.

Introduction

Metals are used commonly in civil engineering. Depending on the purpose of the design,
a type of metal will be more appropriate than another. The main reason of this difference in the
decision is related to the metal’s tensile strength.

The tensile strength of a metal is the strength of resisting to an axial stress before a
fracture is made. First, there will be an elastic deformation which will result in stretching of the
gauge length. If axial stress is still being applied, then there will be a uniform plastic deformation
which will create a necking (see Figure 1). At this point, if the stress is still applied, it will
simply create a fracture (see Figure 2).

Figure 1: Necking

Figure 2: Fracture

The elastic deformation which represents the tangent part (see Figure 3) is called
Young’s modulus or modulus of elasticity denominated with the letter ‘’E’’. Young’s modulus
basically describes the elastic property of any solid when going through axial tension. It is also
related to the engineering stress (σ) and the engineering strain (ε):

3
 𝜎
𝐸=
𝜀
Where the stress and strain are:

𝑃
𝜎=
𝐴𝑜

P: Applied load to specimen [N]

𝐴𝑜 : Original cross-sectional area of the specimen [𝑚𝑚2 ]

𝐿𝑓 − 𝐿𝑜 ∆𝐿
𝜀= =
𝐿𝑜 𝐿𝑜

𝐿𝑜 : Original length [mm]

𝐿𝑓 : Final length [mm]

Figure 3: Young's Modulus

Another phenomenon happens if a load is still applied after the elastic deformation. It is
called yielding. In other words, the metal under the load has its shape changed and it won’t come
back to its original shape. This phenomenon is also described as the maximum amount of stress
that could be applied before it changes its shape permanently. Therefore, we can use this value as
an approximation of the elastic limit of the steel. It follows this formula:

𝑃𝑦
𝜎𝑦 =
𝐴𝑜

4
 Finally, if load is still applied, the metal will reach its maximum point, also called the
tensile strength. This is the point where necking will take place. At this point, we can observe an
elongation and a reduction in the area. Those differences can be represented as percentage:

∆𝐿
% 𝐸𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = ∗ 100
𝐿
𝐴𝑜 − 𝐴𝑓
% 𝑅𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∗ 100
𝐴𝑜

Procedure

We first start by measuring the diameter of the metal as it will be needed for the
calculation of the area. Once this is done, we install the specimen in the deformation measuring
device and reset it. Then, we apply a steady load and note the readings at a variance of 500 N
until we reach approximately 5000 N. When this load is achieve, use an incrementation of 200
N. At the time the load stops increasing, collect the information at every 0.25 mm for the steel
and 0.5 mm for the aluminum. Once there is a fracture, write down the maximum load at which
it happened. Finally, use the V groove device to read the gauge deformation, and measure the
fracture diameter.

5
Calculations

*Please note calculations were made only for one trial as the other trials follow the same
steps.*

Calculations of the engineering stress and strain based on each load and deformation data
for steel and aluminum:

 Steel

o Engineering Stress:

𝑃𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 1 515 𝑁 515 𝑁 𝑁

𝜎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 1 = = 2 = 2 = 40.68
𝐴𝑜 𝜋 ∗ 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝜋 ∗ (4.015𝑚𝑚) 𝑚𝑚2
4 4

o Engineering Strain:

𝐿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 1 − 𝐿𝑜 100.2 − 100

𝜀𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 1 = = = 0.0002𝑚𝑚
𝐿𝑜 100

o % Elongation:

∆𝐿 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ − 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 103.7 − 100

∗ 100 = ∗ 100 = ∗ 100 = 3.7%
𝐿 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 100

o %Reduction of Area:

𝐴𝑜 − 𝐴𝑓 12.66 − 6.20
∗ 100 = ∗ 100 = 51.027%
𝐴𝑜 12.66

6
 o Fracture Stress:
𝑃𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 5518 𝑁
𝜎𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 = = = 435.861
𝐴𝑜 12.66 𝑚𝑚2

 Aluminum

o Engineering Stress

𝑃𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 2 1136 𝑁 1136 𝑁 𝑁

𝜎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 2 = = 2 = 2 = 57.86
𝐴𝑜 𝜋 ∗ 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝜋 ∗ (5𝑚𝑚) 𝑚𝑚2
4 4

o Engineering Strain:

𝐿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 2 − 𝐿𝑜 100.12 − 100

𝜀𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 2 = = = 0.0012𝑚𝑚
𝐿𝑜 100

o % Elongation:

∆𝐿 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ − 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 111.42 − 100

∗ 100 = ∗ 100 = ∗ 100 = 11.42%
𝐿 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 100

o %Reduction of Area:

𝐴𝑜 − 𝐴𝑓 19.63 − 6.42
∗ 100 = ∗ 100 = 67.295%
𝐴𝑜 19.63

7
 o Fracture Stress:

𝑃𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 3831 𝑁
𝜎𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 = = = 195.11
𝐴𝑜 19.635 𝑚𝑚2

Results, tables, and Graphics

Table 1: Engineering Stress and Strain Based on Each Load and Deformation Data for Steel

Eng. Stress [N/mm^2] Eng. Strain

40.68 0.0002
80.41 0.0004
121.48 0.0007
157.97 0.0007
205.91 0.0011
243.11 0.0012
277.15 0.0014
320.20 0.0015
361.90 0.0016
395.24 0.0019
412.22 0.002
427.62 0.0021
445.63 0.0022
458.90 0.0022
474.46 0.0025
491.99 0.0026
509.37 0.0027
524.93 0.0033
562.92 0.004
597.99 0.0067
588.67 0.0115
595.30 0.0135
593.17 0.0157
593.72 0.0185
586.69 0.0212
558.65 0.0239
537.64 0.0261
509.21 0.0286
490.81 0.0298

8
 474.69 0.031
456.84 0.0323
442.55 0.0326
435.83 0.0337

Table 2: Engineering Stress and Strain Based on Each Load and Deformation Data for
Aluminum

Eng. Stress [N/mm^2]

Eng. Strain
24.34 0
57.86 0.0012
77.57 0.0016
104.30 0.0019
124.57 0.0022
154.83 0.0024
179.99 0.0029
205.81 0.0035
231.32 0.0037
257.40 0.0043
268.81 0.0047
274.97 0.0049
280.93 0.0075
281.69 0.0103
281.74 0.0124
283.98 0.0147
282.91 0.0175
280.77 0.0203
283.58 0.0229
286.17 0.025
288.47 0.0277
288.41 0.0297
286.99 0.0324
288.97 0.0354
288.72 0.0371
286.94 0.0412
285.46 0.0451
291.42 0.048
294.02 0.0513
293.97 0.0528
295.95 0.0549

9
298.91 0.0578
295.44 0.0604
297.07 0.063
295.90 0.0652
296.51 0.0691
297.99 0.0721
299.87 0.0757
298.80 0.0781
298.55 0.0803
298.50 0.0836
297.53 0.0878
293.10 0.0918
284.65 0.0939
254.95 0.0997
226.69 0.1036
223.17 0.1039
210.80 0.1057
195.11 0.1072

10
Graphic 1: The Stress vs The Strain of Steel and Aluminum

The Stress vs Strain for Steel and Aluminum

700.00

600.00

500.00
Stress [N/mm^2]

400.00

Steel
300.00
Aluminum

200.00

100.00

0.00
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
Strain

11
Graphic 2: Young’s Modulus and 0.2% Offset of the Steel

Young's Modulus and 0.2% Offset of the Steel

800.00

700.00

600.00
Stress [N/mm^2]

Steel
500.00

400.00 Young's Modulus

300.00 0.2% Offset

200.00
Linear (Young's Modulus)
100.00
Young's Modulus:
0.00 202.95 GPa
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04
Strain

Graphic 3: Young’s Modulus and 0.2% Offset of the Aluminum

Young's Modulus and 0.2% Offset of the

Aluminum
350.00

300.00

250.00
Stress N/mm^2]

200.00 Aluminum

150.00 Young's Modulus

0.2% Offset
100.00 Linear (Young's Modulus)

50.00 Young's Modulus:

58.071GPa
0.00
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
Strain

*A bigger version of the graphs will be given at the end of this document*

12
Yield Strength: When the 0.2% offset line crosses the curve

- Steel: 547.96 MPa

- Aluminum: 280.93MPa

Ultimate Strength:

- Steel: 593.72MPa
- Aluminum: 298.50MPa

Modulus of Elasticity: Given by the slope of each graph

- Steel: 202.95GPa
- Aluminum: 58.071GPa

Percent Elongation:

- Steel: 3.7%
- Aluminum: 11.42%

Percent Reduction of Area:

- Steel: 51.027%
- Aluminum:67.295%

Fracture Stress:
𝑁
- Steel: 435.856𝑚𝑚2
𝑁
- Aluminum: 195.11𝑚𝑚2

13
Discussion

It is more advantage to have a stress-strain graph over a load-elongation graph due to the
amount of information we get out of them. Indeed, in the load-elongation graph, we only get
information about elongation of the metal in question. But, in the stress-strain graph, we get way
more information. Out of the stress-strain graph, we can get Young’s Modulus, the point where a
necking appears, and the stress it takes to fracture the specimen. So we can clearly observe the
huge difference on the amount of information taken out of both graphs.

Based on the experimental results, the modulus of elasticity indicates at which maximum
stress the material can stretch and still go back to its initial length once the load applied on it
stops. On our experiment, the steel shows a modulus of elasticity of 202.95GPa and the
aluminum shows a modulus of elasticity of 58.071GPa.

If the specimens were tested in compression, the material properties would still remain
the same, but this time, instead of having a necking, we would have the opposite which is matter
trying to push outwardly (see figure 4). Same reasoning goes for the elongation, ultimate strength
and yield strength.

Figure 4

The ductility of a material is its ability to stretch before it fractures. There are two
parameters that indicate the ductility of a material: the elongation and the reduction of area.
Indeed, a ductile material is any material that can go through uniform plastic deformation and
non-uniform plastic deformation before fracturing. A non-ductile material can only handle elastic
deformation then fractures (see figure 5).

14
Figure 5

As we can see from table 2 and table 3, there is a difference at which stress both material
have a fracture. This difference shows the tremendous distinction in their quality to sustain axial
stress. Indeed, we can clearly observe that steel can endure higher stress before fracturing.

Now that we possess the experimental values of yield strength, ultimate strength,
elongation, and modulus of elasticity, we can compare them to the theoretical values. Starting by
the steel, we experimented values of 547.96 MPa for the yield strength, 593.72 MPa for the
ultimate strength, 3.7% of elongation, and 202.95 GPa for the modulus of elasticity. Despite a
difference of values for every property, the experimental values are not so far from the
theoretical values. Indeed, even if they are expressed in mega Pascal and giga Pascal, we must
note that just a difference of one Newton equals 78 988.94 Pa due to the small area of the
specimen. In other words, a simple difference of 500 N while taking the reading could result in a
difference of 41MPa. Plus, since the yield strength is a difficult value to identify in the graph, it
makes it even harder to pin point the actual value. This explanation of difference of values is the
same for every property. As for the aluminum, we observe experimental values of 280.93 MPa
for the yield strength, 298.5 MPa for the ultimate strength, 11.42% for the elongation, and
58.071 for the modulus of elasticity. For the aluminum, we can observe closer values between
the experiment ones and the theoretical ones. But despite the close resemblance, the
experimental values are still a little bit higher. Again, the same explanation goes for the
aluminum too.

In conclusion, our experimental values do not exact the theoretical values due to a
surface area too small and readings that are too distant from each other. As said, one Newton

15
difference equal to 78 988.94 Pa. Therefore, since we have to take readings every 500 Newton, a
possibility of missing the exact value of each property is created. If readings were done at least
every 100 Newton, we could have lowered our possibility to create errors in the experimental
values.

16
 References

- ENGR 244 – Mechanic of Materials – ONLINE LABORATORY - Experiment 2:

Tension Test on Metals – DATA SHEET – Lab Section: DI, FI & LI (February 10 2021).
- ENGR 244 – Mechanic of Materials – ONLINE LABORATORY – Experiment 2:
Tension Test on Metals – Experiment Description.
- Young’s Modulus. Retrieved February 10 2021, from
https://www.britannica.com/science/Youngs-modulus
- Tensile Strength of Steel vs Yield Strength of Steel. Retrieved February 10 2021, from
https://www.cliftonsteel.com/knowledge-center/tensile-and-yield-
strength#:~:text=Yield%20strength%20is%20the%20maximum,after%20the%20stress%
20is%20removed.

17
 Young's Modulus and 0.2% Offset of the Aluminum
350.00

300.00

250.00
Stress N/mm^2]

200.00
Aluminum
Young's Modulus
150.00 0.2% Offset
Linear (Young's Modulus)

Young's Modulus:
100.00 58.071GPa

50.00

0.00
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
Strain
 The Stress vs Strain for Steel and Aluminum
700.00

600.00

500.00
Stress [N/mm^2]

400.00

Steel

300.00 Aluminum

200.00

100.00

0.00
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
Strain
 Young's Modulus and 0.2% Offset of the Steel
800.00

700.00

600.00
Stress [N/mm^2]

500.00

Steel
400.00
Young's Modulus
0.2% Offset
300.00 Linear (Young's Modulus)
Young's Modulus:
202.95 GPa
200.00

100.00

0.00
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04
Strain