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3. To perform hardness test on

given steel specimens using
Rockwell Hardness Testing
Machine. (17-09-08)

Apparatus
• Shimadzu Rockwell hardness Testing
Machine
• Diamond Cone and Steel Ball Indenters
• Steel Specimen

Purpose
• To check the hardness of material
• Indirect strength test of material
• Quality control in industries

Related Theory
Hardness
Hardness is the property of material that enables it to resist plastic deformation
usually by penetration. However, the tern hardness may also refer to resistance to
bending, scratching, abrasion or cutting.

Hardness testing Methods

• Brinall Hardness Test
• Vivkers Hardness Test
• Rockwell Hardness Test

1 To perform hardness test using Rockwell Hardness Testing Machine

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Rockwell hardness Test (BS-891)

The Rockwell hardness test method consists of
indenting the test material with a diamond
cone or hardened steel ball indenter. The
indenter is forced into the test material under a
preliminary minor load F0 (Fig. 1A) usually 10
kgf. When equilibrium has been reached, an
indicating device, which follows the movements
of the indenter and so responds to changes in
depth of penetration of the indenter, is set to a
datum position. While the preliminary minor
load is still applied an additional major load is
applied with resulting increase in penetration
(Fig. 1B). When equilibrium has again been
reach, the additional major load is removed but
the preliminary minor load is still maintained.
Removal of the additional major load allows a
partial recovery, so reducing the depth of
penetration (Fig. 1C). The permanent increase
in depth of penetration, resulting from the
application and removal of the additional major load is used to calculate the
Rockwell hardness number.

HR = E - e

F0 = preliminary minor load in kgf

F1 = additional major load in kgf
F = total load in kgf
e = permanent increase in depth of penetration due to major load F1 measured in
units of 0.002 mm
E = a constant depending on form of indenter: 100 units for diamond indenter, 130
units for steel ball indenter
HR = Rockwell hardness number
D = diameter of steel ball

Fig. 1.Rockwell Principle

2 To perform hardness test using Rockwell Hardness Testing Machine

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Rockwell Hardness Scales

Scal Indenter Minor Major Total Value
e Load Load Load of
F0 F1 F E
kgf kgf kgf

A Diamond 10 50 60 100
cone

B 1/16" steel 10 90 100 130

ball

C Diamond 10 140 150 100

cone

D Diamond 10 90 100 100

cone

E 1/8" steel 10 90 100 130

ball

F 1/16" steel 10 50 60 130

ball

G 1/16" steel 10 140 150 130

ball

H 1/8" steel 10 50 60 130

ball

K 1/8" steel 10 140 150 130

ball

L 1/4" steel 10 50 60 130

ball

M 1/4" steel 10 90 100 130

ball

P 1/4" steel 10 140 150 130

ball

R 1/2" steel 10 50 60 130

ball

S 1/2" steel 10 90 100 130

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ball

V 1/2" steel 10 140 150 130

ball

Advantages of the Rockwell hardness method include the direct Rockwell hardness
number readout and rapid testing time. Disadvantages include many arbitrary non-
related scales and possible effects from the specimen support anvil (try putting a
cigarette paper under a test block and take note of the effect on the hardness
reading! Vickers and Brinell methods don't suffer from this effect).

Rockwell Hardness Test Procedure

1. Bring the specimen in contact with indenter and continuously raise the
sample until a small inset pointer on the dial das reached the reference point.
2. Set the main dial to correct reference point (At ‘0’ for diamond cone and at
‘30’ for steel ball indenter)
3. After application of seating load (Minor Load i.e. 10 kgf) apply major load
(depends on the scale) and maintain it for approximately 4-7 seconds.
4. Remove the major load to permit elastic recovery while keeping on the minor
load.

Read the hardness number from the dial directly and write it in the standard format
i.e. HR 70B (HR means Rockwell Hardness, ‘70’ is the hardness number and “B”
represents the scale.)

4 To perform hardness test using Rockwell Hardness Testing Machine

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Rockwell Hardness Test Specifications

• Depth of indentation should not be more that 1/8th of the thickness of the
specimen.
• Two consecutive indentations should not be made very close to each other.
• Indentations should not be made near the edge of specimen.
• Minimum three observations should be taken.

Simple Hardness Test

In this we use 2 types of Balls,

•
• 100 for diamond ball (C Scale)
• 130 for Steel ball (B Scale)

Load (kg)
Type of Hardness Mean
Sr. No Specimen Scale Major Minor
indenter Number hardness
Load Load

HR93.66 B
1 Mild 1/16" 10 90 HR 92.5 B
Carbon dimater
2 Steel B 10 90 HR 96 B
Steel ball
3 Specimen Indenter 10 90 HR 92.5 B

High
HR43.3 C

1 Diamond 10 140 HR 43.5 C

Carbon
2 Steel Cone C 10 140 HR 43 C
Indenter
3 Specimen 10 140 HR 43.5 C

Comments
By performing this experiment and knowing the hardness of any material we can
control the quality of products in industries. We come to know that medium carbon
steel has HR 93.66B and that of High Carbon Steel is HR 43.3C. Hence by increasing
percentage of carbon its strength decreases.

5 To perform hardness test using Rockwell Hardness Testing Machine

07 CIVIL 73