STUDY OF UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE

AIM

To study the salient features of Universal Testing Machine. (U.T.M)

APPARATUS

Universal Testing Machine.

DESCRIPTION OF MACHINE

Universal Testing Machine (UTM) is called so because of the versatility of its

application. This machine is suitable for testing materials, especially for determining
the tensile, compressive and bending strength of specimen of any kind of material. The
machine consists of two main units, the loading unit and control unit.

The Loading Unit

The loading unit consists of a robust base. The main hydraulic piston is fitted in the
centre of the base. The lower table and the cross head assembly move up and down with
the main piston. The up and down movements of this assembly is guided by bearings
which slide over the screwed column. The jaw inserted for tensile test specimen along
with the rack jaws slide in the lower and upper cross head. Jaw locking handle is
provided to lock the jaw of the lower cross- head after the specimen is clamped. The
space between the lower table and the lower cross head is used for performing
compression, bend, shear and hardness tests. In any test the up and down motion of the
lower table and upper cross- head assembly performs the loading action. An elongation
scale is kept sliding on the rod which is fixed between the lower table and upper cross
head. The scale can slide on the rod.

The Control Panel

The control panel consists of hydraulic power unit, load measuring unit and control
devices. The Hydraulic Power Unit consists of an oil pump driven by an electric motor
and a sump for the hydraulic oil. The pump is of the reciprocating type, having a set of
plungers which assures a continuous non-pulsating oil flow into the main cylinder for a
smooth application of the test load on the specimen. Hydraulic lines of the unit are of a
special design to enable them to perform various functions.

Dynamometer is unit which measures and indicates force coming on the specimen. It
has a small cylinder in which a piston moves in phase with the main piston under the
same oil pressure. A simple pendulum connected with this small piston by a pivot lever
thus deflects in accordance with the load on the specimen and the pivot ratio. This
deflection is transmitted to the load pointer which indicates the test load on the dial.
The pivot lever has four fulcrum knife-edges, giving four ranges of test load, (viz. 0-40
kN; 0-100 kN; 0-200 kN and 0-400 kN). The required range can be selected by just
turning a knob provided for the purpose. The overall accuracy of the machine depends
mainly on the accuracy of the measuring unit.

The control device includes the electric control devices, the hydraulic control devices and
the load indicating devices. The Electric Control Devices are in the form of four switches
set on the left side of the panel face. The upper and lower push switches are for moving
the lower cross-head up and down respectively. The remaining two are the ON and OFF
switches for the hydraulic pump.

The Hydraulic Control Devices are a pair of control valves set on the table of the control
panel. The right control valve is the inlet valve. It is a pressure compensated flow
control valve and has a built-in overload relief valve. If this valve is in the closed
position, while the hydraulic system is on, oil flows back into the sump. Opening of the
valve now, cause the oil to flow into the main cylinder in a continuous non-pulsating
manner. The left control valve is the return valve. If this valve is in the closed position,
the oil pumped into the main cylinder causes the main piston to move up. The specimen
resists this movement, as soon as it gets loaded up. Oil pressure inside the main
cylinder (and elsewhere in the line) then starts growing up until either the specimen

breaks or the load reaches the maximum value of the range selected. A slow opening of
this valve now causes the oil to drain back into the sump and the main piston to descent.
The Load indicating Devices consist of a range indicating dial placed behind a load
indicating dial. The former moves and sets itself to the range selected when the range
adjusting knob is turned. The load on the specimen at any stage is indicated by the load
pointer which moves over the load indicating dial and carries forward with it a dummy.

BENDING TEST ON WOOD

AIM
To study the behaviour of a timber beam under a point load and to find
i. The maximum deflection of the beam under loading.
ii. The maximum bending stress developed in the beam and
iii. The Youngs Modulus of elasticity of the material.
APPARATUS
Universal Testing Machine, Scale, Bending device.
SPECIMEN
Wooden beam of given dimension
THEORY AND PRINCIPLE
For a simply supported beam with central point load, the deflection under the load is


given by






 


Where 

= deflection under the load

= applied load

= effective span of the beam

= Youngs Modulus of Elasticity

= Moment of inertia

PROCEDURE

Measure the dimension of the given specimen.

Perform the range calculation and select suitable range by turning the knob
provided on the right side of the control panel.

Bending device is attached to the lower cross head.

Place the specimen centrally on the lower table. (The greater cross sectional
dimension is considered as the depth of the specimen).

Span is selected accordingly.

Close both control valves on the control panel.

Using the cross head up and down switch in the control panel; allow the bending
device to just touch the specimen.

Now switch on the hydraulic operation button.

Open right control valve.

Load is gradually applied to the specimen.

Once the needle in the dynamometer deflects, close right control valve.

Make zero correction using the arm provided on the left side of control panel.

Adjust the position of elongation scale in the loading unit so that pointer touches
zero in the scale.

Now the UTM is ready for testing the given specimen.

Again open the right control valve.

Note the deflection corresponding to the applied load. Also note maximum load
and deflection.

Tabulate all values.

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION

Range Calculation
Extreme working stress in bending for wood

= 15.2N/mm2

Factor of safety (F.S)

=5

Hence ultimate bending stress; fmax

The bending equation is given by

= l5.2 5 =76N/mm2


And section modulus,

i.e;

 


 
Z

= I/y = bd2/6
= f Z = 76
bd2/6

For simply supported beam with concentrated load at centre,

Bending moment, M

=WL/4

i.e;

=WL/4 = 76bd2/6

The only unknown W can be calculated and hence the range can be determined.
Observations
Load [kN]

Deflection [mm]

Graph
A graph is plotted with deflection on X axis and load on Y axis.

Calculations
We have maximum bending moment M

= WL/4

Also

=fZ

And section modulus,

= I/y = bd2/6

From which f = M/Z

Where f is the maximum bending stress developed in the beam (Modulus of rupture)
We have

 

From which Youngs Modulus of Elasticity,






E =


RESULT
i. The maximum deflection of the beam under loading

ii. The maximum bending stress developed in the beam

iii. The Youngs Modulus of elasticity of the material

TENSION TEST ON MILD STEEL ROD

AIM
To study the behavior of mild steel, tor steel and high tensile steel under tension and
To find out the
i.
ii.

Youngs Modulus
Yield stress

iii.

Ultimate stress.

iv.

Nominal Breaking stress.

v.

Actual breaking stress.

vi.

Percentage Elongation.

vii.

Percentage Reduction for Area

APPARATUS
UTM, Extensometer, scale, Venier calipers, punching tools etc.
SPECIMEN
Mild steel of given dimension
THEORY AND PRINCIPLE
The specimen is subjected to tensile load and extension is noted against the load within
the elastic limit and stress-strain graph is plotted. Loads at, Yield point, Breaking point
and Ultimate point are noted and following results are calculated.
Modulus of Elasticity

= Stress (within the elastic limit)/Strain.

Yield stress

= Load at yield point /original c/s area

Ultimate stress

= Ultimate Load/ original c/s area.

Nominal Breaking Stress

=Breaking load / original c/s area.

Actual Breaking Stress

= Breaking load / neck area

Percentage elongation

= (Change in Length/ Original length)100

Percentage reduction in area

= (Change in area/Original area) 100

PROCEDURE
Measure the dimension of the given specimen.
Perform the range calculation and select suitable range by turning the knob
provided on the right side of the control panel.
Mark the gauge length (say 20mm; 10cm from the centre to either side) on the rod.
The marking are made by punching.
Fix the specimen in the upper cross head of loading unit.
Close both control valves on the control panel.
Using the cross head up and down switch in the control panel; allow the lower cross
head to come nearer to the lower end of the specimen.
Now switch on the hydraulic operation button.
Open right control valve.
Load is gradually applied to the specimen.
Once the needle in the dynamometer deflects, close right control valve.
Make zero correction using the arm provided on the left side of control panel.
Tighten the lower cross head.
Now the extensometer can be attached to the specimen.
Now the UTM is ready for testing the given specimen.
Again open the right control valve.
While loading the specimen note the load values and corresponding extension.
Also note down the yield point, ultimate point and break point.
Care should be taken to remove the extensometer before the yield point.
OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION
Range Calculation
Assuming working stress for steel

= 140/mm2

Factor of safety (F.S)

=3

Hence ultimate stress

= l40 
3 =420N/mm2

Ultimate load

= ultimate stress 
area of c/s

= 420 
area of c/s

From ultimate load range can be determined.

Observations

Load [kN]

Deflection

Stress

[mm]

[N/mm2]

Strain

Graph
A graph is plotted with strain on X axis and stress on Y axis.

Calculations
Modulus of Elasticity

= Stress (within the elastic limit)/Strain.

Yield stress

= Load at yield point /original c/s area

Ultimate stress

= Ultimate Load/ original c/s area.

Nominal Breaking Stress

=Breaking load / original c/s area.

Actual Breaking Stress

= Breaking load / neck area

Percentage elongation

= (Change in Length/ Original length)100

Percentage reduction in area

= (Change in area/Original area) 100

RESULT
i. Youngs Modulus
ii. Yield stress

=
=

iii. Ultimate stress.

iv. Nominal Breaking stress.

v. Actual breaking stress.

vi. Percentage Elongation.

vii. Percentage Reduction for Area

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DOUBLE SHEAR TEST ON MILD STEEL ROD

AIM
To find out the maximum shear stress in the mild steel specimen using double shear
method.
APPARATUS
UTM, Double shear die, Vernier calipers
SPECIMEN
Mild steel of given dimension
THEORY AND PRINCIPLE
A type of force which causes or tends to cause two contiguous parts of the body to slide
relative to each other in a direction parallel to their plane of contact is called the shear
force. The stress required to produce fracture in the plane of cross-section, acted on by
the shear force is called shear strength.


The maximum shear stress in the rod is given  


Where W- Maximum load
r Radius of rod
PROCEDURE

Measure the dimension of the given specimen.

Diameter of the rod is measured using vernier calipers

Suitable die is selected and rod is inserted in it.

The whole set up is placed in the UTM

Close both control valves on the control panel

Using the cross head up and down switch in the control panel; allow the lower
cross head to come nearer to the lower end of the specimen.

Now switch on the hydraulic operation button.

Open right control valve and compressive load is applied.

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When the compressive load is applied on the sliding block of the shear
attachment, it will shear the specimen in two parallel planes.

The ultimate load is noted.

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION

Range Calculation
Maximum permissible shear stress for mild steel = 0.45fy
Yield stress for mild steel fy

= 250N/mm2

Assuming factor of safety (F.S)

=3

Hence ultimate stress

= 0.45 
250 
3 =337.5N/mm2

Ultimate load

= ultimate stress area

= 337.5 
   

From ultimate load range can be determined.

Calculations

The maximum shear stress in the rod is given  




Where W- Maximum load

r Radius of rod

RESULT
The maximum shear stress in the rod

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