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THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

SCHULICH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

ENGG 317: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS


Lab 1: MATERIAL PROPERTIES IN UNIAXIAL TENSION &
BENDING

Name or ID number:
Lab Section #:
Date:

PART A - MATERIAL PROPERTIES IN UNIAXIAL TENSION


Objective
To demonstrate the behaviour of brittle and ductile materials in uniaxial tension.
Introduction to the Tension Test
The term tension test is usually taken to refer to a test in which a prepared
specimen is subjected to gradually increasing (i.e. "static") uniaxial load until failure
occurs. In a simple tension test, the operation is accomplished by gripping opposite
ends of the specimen and pulling it apart. The test specimen elongates in a direction
parallel to the applied load.
The specimens are typically cylindrical or prismatic in form and of approximately
constant cross section over the length within which measurements of extension are
made. Within the limits of practicability, the resultant of the load coincides with the
longitudinal axis of the specimen. Thus (with certain exceptions), an attempt is made to
obtain a uniform distribution of direct stress over cross sections normal to the direction
of the load.
The static tension test is one of the most commonly performed and simplest of all
the mechanical tests. Static compression tests are also simple and easy to perform for
many materials. Which test is most appropriate is largely determined by the nature of
the material in terms of brittleness or ductility and by the type of service to which the
material is subjected. For example, steel generally exhibits relatively high ductility and
is therefore one of the best materials for resisting tensile loads.
Brittle materials such as cast iron, concrete and mortar, which have low tensile
strengths compared with their compressive strengths, are principally employed to resist
compressive forces, so compression tests are more important.
Wood is an example of a material where both tensile and compressive strengths
are relatively high, but it cannot always be effectively utilized in structural members
because of low shear strength which causes failure before the full tensile resistance of
the member can be developed. With this material the choice between tension or
compression tests is more difficult. The compression test is usually considered of
greater practical significance than the tension test, and it is also easier to perform.

The Stress-Strain Diagram:


It is often necessary to relate the loads on a structure, or on a member in a
structure, to the deflection which the loads produce. Such information can be obtained
by plotting diagrams showing loads and deflections for each member and the type of
loading in a structure, but such diagrams vary with the dimensions of the loaded
member.
By plotting the load per unit cross-sectional area (stress) against the elongation
per unit length (strain), the behaviour of each specimen may be represented on a
"stress-strain diagram" which has the great advantage that the plotted quantities are
essentially independent of the size and shape of the specimen.
The stress-strain diagram for a particular material is found to be a reproducible
relationship that is characteristic of that material. It is therefore possible to describe,
both qualitatively and quantitatively, the differences in behaviour between materials
subjected to tension by comparing their stress-strain diagrams.
The Modulus of Elasticity:
The slope of the linear portion of the stress-strain diagram is the modulus of
elasticity, E.
Therefore:
E = tan =

(1)

Where,
E = modulus of elasticity, MPa
= stress, MPa
= strain
Stress is a defined concept, and is not directly measurable. Consequently,
experimental determination of the stresses in a complex structural member ordinarily
requires measurement of the strain and subsequent calculation of the stress from
Hooke's Law. For uniaxial stress, Hooke's Law is simply a revised form of equation (1):

=E

(2)
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From the form of this equation it is obvious that the percentage error in s will be
the same as the error in E. Therefore, accurate values of the elastic modulus for
structural materials are of considerable importance to engineers.
Apparatus
Tinius Olsen testing machine consisting of
(a)

Loading Unit
The loading unit is a universal hydraulic testing machine with a load capacity
of 600kN, capable of performing static tension, compression and transverse
tests on prepared test specimens.
A built-in servo control provides
continuous feedback signals for precision control testing.

(b)

Data System
The data system is on personal computer with related components that can
be programmed to control tests and record data. Load-deformation or stressstrain curves can be generated on the display screen.
Load-deformation information is obtained with the aid of an extensometer,
which consists of a main frame complete with knife-edge measuring points, a
linear variable differential transformer (LVDT), and a spring clamping device
for attaching the extensometer to round or rectangular specimens.

Summary of Objectives and Methods:

Procedure
During the laboratory period, two materials will be tested with a Tinius-Olson
Tension Test Apparatus. One material will be cast iron and the other mild steel. The
amount of elongation will be measured by the extensometer. Observe the generation of
a continuous load-deformation relationship as each specimen is loaded, and note
differences in the failure of the two materials. You will be provided with a graph for each
type of material where the y-axis is Load (kN) and the x-axis is elongation (mm).
The results recorded refer only to these particular specimens and, in the absence
of reliable data from other sources, it would be necessary to test additional specimens
before one could safely conclude that the results were an accurate measure of the
performance of the material.
The particular aspects of interest are those which tell us how close the material
comes to some idealization of its properties which may be used in design calculations of
strength or deformation.

Discussion

1) From the plots obtained for mild steel and cast iron specimens, re-label and
renumber the y and x axes to read stress and strain on the handout.
Mild Steel:
I.

The initial y-axis scale is 0-300kN with 25 small increments.


a. Convert the y-axis to stress by dividing the load by the cross
sectional area of the specimen.
b. Re-label the axis as stress with appropriate units,
c. Renumber the axis with the values as stress.

II.

The x-axis is elongation in 0.05mm increments per 2 small boxes.


a. Convert the x-axis by dividing each increment by the Gauge
Length (50mm)
b. Re-label the axis as strain with appropriate units,
c. Renumber the axis with the values as strain.

Cast Iron:
I.

The initial y-axis scale is 0-150kN with 25 small increments.


a. Convert the y-axis to stress by dividing the load by the cross
sectional area of the specimen.
b. Re-label the axis as stress with appropriate units,
c. Renumber the axis with the values as stress.

II.

The x-axis is elongation in 0.05mm increments per 2 small boxes.


a. Convert the x-axis by dividing each increment by the Gauge
Length (50mm)
b. Re-label the axis as strain with appropriate units,
c. Renumber the axis with the values as strain.

2) Does each material obey Hooke's Law? If so, what is the value of E?

3) For each material, at what stage of loading does it cease to obey Hooke's
Law?

4) In which manner does each material fail (ductile or a brittle)? Why?

5) Does each material exhibit a "yield plateau"?

PART B - MATERIAL PROPERTIES IN UNIAXIAL BENDING

Introduction to the Bending Test:


Although the uniaxial stresses measurable by loading a simply supported or
cantilever type of beam do not produce the complete stress-strain relationship for a
ductile material, the modulus of elasticity is easily obtained over a range of loading
when the material behaves elastically.
A strip of the material, some weights and a method to determine strain or
deflection is all that is required to determine the stress-strain diagram up to the elastic
limit.

Objective
To demonstrate the behaviour of mild steel in elastic bending.
Apparatus
A mild steel cantilever type beam, five 5 N laboratory weights for loading the
beam, an electrical resistance strain gauge attached to the beam, and a strain indicator
(blue box).
Procedure
1.
2.

Turn the strain indicator on (blue box) with button on bottom left-hand corner.
.
With the beam unloaded (except by its own weight and the weight of the
loading hook), balance the strain gauge to set the initial value to zero. Press
the BAL button twice (second bank of buttons and second from the top).
Press the REC button (above the BAL button).

3.

Apply load in increments of 5 N each to a maximum of 25 N.

4.

Record the total load and the strain reading after each 5 N increment is
added.

5.

Unload the beam in 5 N increments, again recording the load and strain at
each stage.

6.

Repeat this procedure until at least two sets of consistent measurements are
obtained.

Analysis and Presentation of Data


In order to calculate the beam stress the cantilever beam flexure formula has to
be used (this formula will be derived later in this course)

x =

My
is the general formula for elastic bending
I

m =

Mymax Mt 6 PL
=
= 2
I
2I
bt

is the maximum flexural stress occurring at the top and bottom faces of the specimen
(tension at the top and compression at the bottom)
where:

M = bending moment at gauge centreline, N*mm


y = distance from the neutral axis, mm
I = moment of inertia of beam cross section, mm4
3

(I =

bt
for a rectangula r section)
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P = load, N
L = beam length, mm
b = beam width , mm
t = beam thickness, mm
x = flexural stress, MPa
For each load increment, and decrement, calculate the maximum flexural stress
from the above equation. Record the load, stress and strain at each load level.
Load (N)

Strain () Set 1

Strain () Set 2

Stress

0
5
10
15
20
25
20
15
10
5
0

Discussion
1. Plot a stress versus strain on a sheet of graph paper. Only use one set of data
and only values associated with 0-25N loads. Calculate the value of E from the
slope of the graph.

2. Compare the value of E for mild steel from Part B with the value obtained in
Part A.

3. Discuss the probable sources of error for both Parts A and B and their relative
effects on the accuracy of the modulus of elasticity determined.

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