Tensile Test of A-36 Low Carbon Steel

By
Richard Balbuena
ME 312
CaliforniaStateUniversityLosAngeles
100215

Objective
The purpose of this experiment was to conduct a tensile test on
standard structural steel in order to demonstrate Hookes Law.

Theory
Hookes Law is given by the equation F=-kx, where x is the
extension of the spring, being the extended length minus the
unstretched length. Through relation, f, the force used to compress or
extend the spring a distance is directionally proportional to its
extension. K is the spring constant that may tell us how stiff a spring is.
The negative sign is there to act against the displacement of the spring
in order to restore the spring back to an equilibrium position.
Youngs Modulus is given by the equation

.
The point of this equation is to measure the how stiff a material is and
can tell how much a material can withstand a change in length when it
is under compression or tension.

Procedure
Before we began conducting the experiment, we first measured
the diameter of the steel sample using a dial caliper. After that was

done we placed the sample under a center punch fixture and aligned it
in order to puncture the sample. After this we placed the sample in the
Tinius-Olsen UTM machine to begin the experiment. Initially we placed
a small load of around 100 lbs-200 lbs. but soon after we increased the
load to a bigger one. Gradually we began to increase the load rate to
up to 2000 lbs. when finally the load on the steel sample snapped it in
half. After removing the sample we measured the final diameter and
completed our experiment.

Diagrams

TiniusOlsen
UTM

Results and Data

Proportional limit
Yield Point
Yield Strength
Ultimate Strength
Rupture Strength
Modulus of Elasticity
Modulus of Resilience
Percent elongation in gauge

47,000 psi
46,000 psi
52,600 psi
75,400 psi
15,110 psi
31, 300psi
9,160 psi
0.072%

length
Percent reduction in area at

64%

fracture

A-36 Sample
after the
fracture

Stress Vs Strain
12
10
8

Strain (psi in thousands)

6
4
2
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8

Stress
Discussion
Based on the numbers attained from this experiment, it was
done decently but not the best. When you compare the modulus of
elasticity and resilience to the actual publicized results listed on
Matweb, they are somewhat similar. The ultimate strength falls within
the listed range however the yield strength is a bit off. Some
discrepancies of the test may be because the loading on the TiniusOlsen machine may have been done wrong or we could have attained
a wrong reading on the caliper while taking the diameter, resulting in
wrong results in the percent elongation and reduction. Other than
that, the experiment went fairly okay. We may use this steel sample
with respect to its properties to use in structures because of its
calculated modulus of elasticity and yield point, which could compete
with other materials out there in the market. Most companies look for

materials that will have these things in order to get the best materials
for their money that will insure a good structure or item.

Conclusion
From this experiment, we have learned to calculate many things from a
sample steel bar. From using the Tinius-Olsen machine, we were able
to determine the samples fracture point as well as other things such as
the modulus of elasticity and ultimate strength.