Lab Report 4

Mechanics of Materials II Lab

Mechanical Properties of the Given

Specimen
—Using Hounsfield Tensometer—

By Muhammad Usama Navid

Registration #: 2017-ME-62

March 12, 2019

Submitted To: Syad Saqib

University of Engineering and

Technology, Lahore
Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Literature Review 1
2.1 Mechanical properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.2 Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.2.1 Yield strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2.2 Fracture strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2.3 Ultimate tensile strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.3 Strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

3 Methods 3
3.1 Apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.2 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.3 Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4 Results 5
4.1 Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4.2 Graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5 Discussion 7

6 Appendix 7
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPECIMEN 2017-ME-62

1 Introduction

Each material has its own yield strength. Yield strength of a material is tested with the help
of a tensometer. For small specimen of material with normal loading, Hounsfield tensometer
is commonly used in the research centers. There are other tensometer that measure the
strength digitally. Although the are more accurate but the are costly and have no other
advantage besides you can measure reading digitally.
If anyone is given a sample of material he can predict the material by just determining
its mechanical properties upto a great approximation. A tensometer like Hounsefield tensometer
is great tool for determining material properties like yield strength, ultimate tensile strength,
fracture stress, modulus of elasticity, percentage elongation and percentage area reduction.
That was what was done in this lab session.

2 Literature Review

2.1 Mechanical properties

Mechanical property of a material is its intensive property that determine its service, stability,
weakness and the life. These properties are helpful in determining the stability of a structure.
These properties are the reaction to a load or force. They are used in identifying a material.
Most important mechanical properties are ductility toughness, modulus of elasticity, yield
strength, fracture stress etc.

2.2 Stress

Stress is the force applied per unit area. It is the force that is produced internally due to
some internal loading. It is the counterpart of the pressure that is used for fluids. That is
why its units are same as that of pressure. Its unit is N.m−2 or P a. Mechanical properties
related to stress are:

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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPECIMEN 2017-ME-62

• Yield strength

• Fracture strength

• Ultimate tensile strength

2.2.1 Yield strength

It is the stress corresponding to yield point. Yield point is the point in the stress strain
curve where non linear deformation starts. This non-linear deformation can both be elastic
or plastic. Before yield point material shows on elastic deformation that is why it returns
to its original position after removing applied load. Yield stress is the material’s mechanical
property at that determine the minimum stress needed to deform a material plastically. It
is very useful in metal working processes such as forging, rolling, extrusion machining etc.
Yield point is normally 0.2 % offset right to the proportional limit of the curve.
The offset is sometimes called strain hardening. Strain hardening is the residual strain that
a material absorbs as a result of stress above yield point. See appendix for the point on the
curve.

2.2.2 Fracture strength

It is the strength of the material at which specimen fails by fracture.

2.2.3 Ultimate tensile strength

Ultimate tensile strength is the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being
stretched or pulled before breaking. In the study of strength of materials, tensile strength,
compressive strength, and shear strength can be analyzed independently.

2.3 Strain

Strain is the deformation produced in a material due to the applied stress.

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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPECIMEN 2017-ME-62

3 Methods

In the experiment, Hounsfield tensometer was used to determine the required mechanical
properties.

3.1 Apparatus

• Elongation gauge

• Reduction in area gauge

• Calipers

• Meter rod

• Hounsfield tensometer

• Graph paper

• Specimen

Figure 1: Hounsefield tensometer

3.2 Procedure

1. Diameter and the length of the given specimen was measured with the help of verier
caliper.

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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPECIMEN 2017-ME-62

Figure 2: The given Figure 3: Percentage Figure 4: Percentage area

specimen elongation gauge reduction gauge

2. Reduction in area and percentage elongation gauge was adjusted according to the given
specimen.

3. Material was then fixed between split chucks in the tensometer.

4. A graph paper was wrapped around the autographic drum.

5. Continuous load was applied by rotating the operating screws with the help of a handle.

6. The pointer was moved with the motion of mercury in the tube by seeing it through
the magnifying glass. At each step, a point was drawn on the graph paper rolling with
the autographic drum so that we can get the curve of load applied with time.

7. Load was applied until the material broke.

8. The percentage reduction in area and elongation were measured with the gauges.

9. The fracture stress and ultimate tensile strength were measured using the formula;

4 × Reading on the graph × scale

Stress =
π × d2

10. Strain was calculated through percentage elongation and find modulus of elasticity.
Using modulus of elasticity, the material of the specimen was predicted.

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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPECIMEN 2017-ME-62

3.3 Precautions

1. Handle should not be rotated quickly so that material doesn’t break quickly.

2. Be careful for the gauge because little mishandling of the gauge can error.

3. The mercury should not be allowed to go from zero to above the graduated portion of
the scale.

4 Results

4.1 Calculations
Zero error of the elongation guage = N il

Zero error of the elongation guage = N il

9 7
Internal length = + inches
16 128
= 0.01567 m
2 3
Intial diameter = + inches
16 128
= 0.003759 m
π × d2
Area =
4
= 1.10977 × 10−5 m2

Percentage elongation = 10%

Percentage reduction in area = 10%

Scale:
4.9 big divisions = 0.61 tonne = 610 kg

1 big division = 124.49 kg

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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPECIMEN 2017-ME-62

f orce
Stress =
area
Ultimate tensile stress = 539.21 × 106 P a

Yield stress = 495.2 × 106 P a

Fracture strength = 506.2 × 106 P a

Strain = 0.1

Modulus of elasticity = 5392.18 × 106 P a

= 5.4GP a

4.2 Graph

Figure 5: Graph

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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPECIMEN 2017-ME-62

5 Discussion

As the yield strength of the material is 495 MPa, this material is 500MPa grade hot rolled
steel with small errors. Yield stress is a stress not a strength but most of the educators still
use the word strength may be in order to emphasize that this material property is related
to the strength of the material.
Hounsfield tensometer is an inexpensive instrument that is commonly used institutions.
This instrument is not only used for finding area reduction and percentage elongation.

6 Appendix

Following stress stain curve is a exaggerated version of a stress strain curve so that every
point is clear to understand.

Figure 6: Stress strain curve of a typical steel