DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL & MANUFACTURING

ENGINEERING
NUMERICAL METHODS- EMM3514

TENSILE TEST ON BRASS

GROUP MEMBER :
NAME
MUHAMMAD ARIFF MUBARAK B KAMAL BAHARIN
WAN MUHAMMAD AFIEQ B WAN TAJUDIN SHAH
MUHAMMAD SYAZWAN BIN SULAIMAN

LECTURERS NAME :
Dr. Mohd Idris Shah Bin Shah Ismail
LABORATORY ASSISTANT :
Mr. Abdul Aziz Hairuddin
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN :
Mr. Mohd Hafizul Hashim

Project background

MATRIC NUMBER
164349
162008
162156

Tensile testing, also known as tension testing, is a fundamental materials science test
in which a sample is subjected to a controlled tension until failure. The results from the test
are commonly used to select a material for an application, for quality control, and to predict
how a material will react under other types of forces. Properties that are directly measured via
a tensile test are ultimate tensile strength, maximum elongation and reduction in area. From
these

measurements

the

following

properties

can

also

be

determined: Young's

modulus, Poisson's ratio, yield strength, and strain-hardening characteristics. Uniaxial tensile
testing is the most commonly used for obtaining the mechanical characteristics
of isotropic materials. For anisotropic materials such as composite material and textiles,
biaxial tensile testing is required.
Result of such a tensile stress can be represented in the form of engineering stress
strain curve. The tensile strength, also known as the ultimate tensile strength ( u), is defined
as the maximum stress in which a material can withstand.
u = Fmax / A0

[N/m2 or Pa (Pascal)]

(1)

The yield stress (y) is defined as the stress at which plastic deformation (elongation)
of the tensile specimen takes place at constant load. The yield stress, ultimate tensile stress,
Youngs modulus, ductility and toughness of a material can all be determined from the
engineering stress strain curve.
Question
1. What is the effect of brass after having a tensile test?
2. What is the maximum stress in which the brass can withstand?
Goal
1. To differentiate the difference between experiment data and ANSYS analysis.
2. To simulate the tensile test using ANSYS.

Experimental Analysis

Theory
In Strength of Materials, stresses (in general) are divided by 2 categories which are
normal stress () and shear stress (). In normal stress, if the normal stress pulls, it is
referred to as a tensile stress; whereas if it pushes, it is referred as a compressive stress. The
area used in calculation of stress is generally the original area, A, which existed before the
application of the forces.
= F / A0

[N/m2 or Pa (Pascal)] (1)

The strain is the ratio of the change in the length to the original length is:
t (%) = 100 x ( ) /

(2)

Where ( ) / = is the change in length.

Result of such a tensile stress can be represented in the form of engineering stress
strain curve. The tensile strength, also known as the ultimate tensile strength ( u), is defined
as the maximum stress in which a material can withstand.
u = Fmax / A0

[N/m2 or Pa (Pascal)] (3)

The yield stress (y) is defined as the stress at which plastic deformation (elongation)
of the tensile specimen takes place at constant load. The yield stress, ultimate tensile stress,
Youngs modulus, ductility and toughness of a material can all be determined from the
engineering stress strain curve.
At the beginning of the test, the forces increase rapidly and proportionately to the
stress strain curve which obeys the Hookes Law. According to the Hooks Law, the
increase in stress causes a proportionate increase in strain ().
=E
The proportionality constant (the slope of the curve) is called the elastic modulus
(Youngs Modulus, E) and strain (). If permanent deformation occurs, it is called plastic. In
ductile materials, the elongation to fracture is relatively large as compared with brittle
materials.

Plastic deformation of ductile materials can require progressively higher stresses due to the
creation and interaction of multiple dislocations. This process is called work-hardening. If the
hardening rate is too low, necking develops.
Specimen and Equipment
1. Universal testing machine Instron Series 8500 (10kN)
2. Vernier calliper
3. Tensile specimen: brass

Figure 1: brass specimen with Vernier calliper

Procedure
1. Vernier caliper is used to measure the original diameter of the specimens.
Measurements are taken at three different places and their average value is taken as the
original diameter of the specimen.
2. Two marks are made on the parallel part of the specimen to register gauge length and
the value of gauge length is measured using vernier calliper as well.
3. The specimen is then gripped in the gripping heads of the machine.
4. Required parameters are set up on the control panel.
5. The Balance Load button was clicked as the upper part specimen was tightened.
6. Then, the below part of the specimen was tighten and Reset Gauge Length button was
clicked.
7. So, the Tensile test was started as the computer screen showed the graph of the test.
The data of the test were recorded.
8. Step 5-7 were repeated by using another specimen which had different gauge length,
thickness and the width.
9. After the fracture of the specimens, the final diameter is measured by using vernier
calliper.
10. The broken parts of the specimens are then fit back together and the final gauge length
is measured.

Result

Specimen
Brass

Specimen
Brass

Diameter
Original diameter, do (mm)
Final diameter, d (mm)
1
2
3
Average
1
2
3
Average
3.92
4.10
3.98
4.00
3.48
3.40
3.50
3.46
Table I shows the original and final diameter of the specimen.
Gauge Length
Original Gauge Length, Lo (mm)
Final Gauge Length, d (mm)
1
2
3
Average
1
2
3
Average
29.90
30.00
30.10
30.00
30.76
30.67
30.90
30.68
Table II shows the original and final gauge length of the specimen.

Graph of stress against strain for brass

80
70
60
50

Brass

40
30
20
10
0
0

0.01

0.01

0.02

0.02

Figure 2 : stress strain graph for brass

ANSYS

0.03

In this experiment, the specimens are needed to be analyse by using Ansys Software. The
purpose for doing Ansys analysis is to allow student to identify the maximum stress occur on
the specimens. Beside, the results between experimental and theroretical (Ansys) should be
compared and discussed if there is any differences.
Procedure
Preference

Pick Structural

Preprocessor
1) Element type: Structural mass solid (Quad 4 node 182)
2) Materials Properties (structural):
Young modulus, E = 97Gpa
Poisson ratio, v = 0.31
Yield stress = 310Mpa
Shear modulus = 40.1GPa
3) Modeling:
Create rectangle for main shape with dimension:
X = 0, Y = 0, Width = 0.01 and Height = 0.03
Add two circle to make the concave model with dimension:
i.
R = 0.041, X = -0.038, Y = 0.015
ii.
R = 0.041, X = 0.048, Y = 0.05
Delete both circle area so that only concave model is left.

Figure 1: Concave shape model.

4) Meshing:
Size Cntrls > Global > Size
Set size length to 0.0005
Mesh > Areas > Free
Choose pick all

Figure 2: Fine meshing.

5) Define couple:
Coupling/Ceqn > Couple DOFs
pick the upper node by using box.
Set reference number to 1.

Figure 3: Define coupling.

Solution
1) Set symmetry B.C.:
Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > Symmetry B.C. > On
Lines
Pick the bottom horizontal line
2) Apply force:
Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/ Moment > On Nodes

Pick node at the center of upper horizontal line.

Set the direction to FY and set the force to 7000.

Figure 4: Force is applied.

3) Set time control:
Analysis Type > Soln Controls
Set the loadstep to 40, Time step size to 1, minimum step to 0.5 and
maximum time step 1.25
Choose Write every Nth substep under Frequency.
4) Solve the simulation:
Solve > Current LS
General Postproc
1) Read last set result:
Read Results > Last Set
2) Simulate the result:
Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodul Solu
Nodul Solution > Stress > von Mises Stress
3) Animate result:
Utility menu > PlotCtrls > Animate > Overtime

Result

Figure 5: First set result.

Figure 6:von Mises stress (final set).

Comparison between ANSYS and Experimental result

Table III: Elongation of gauge length

Maximum stress
Experimental
Theoretical

Brass
0.68 mm
0.42 mm

Sample calculation (take V-notch value as example):

Percentage of error =

ANSYS resultexperimental
x 100
ANSYS result
0.420.68
x 100
0.42

= 61.9 %
Discussion
From the result obtained, we can see that the result from the experiment is significantly
varies with result from finite element method (ANSYS). Based on the experiment, the
elongation for the brass specimen is 0.68 mm, while for the ANSYS is 0.42 mm. So, due to
the significant different, the percentage of error in this case study is 61.9%. This error is
maybe due to the some factors. For example, the parallax error may occur when we are taking
the reading for dimension of the specimen. In addition, the error maybe also can happen
when we are set up the apparatus. In this experiment, we used the universal machine to apply
the tensile stress to the specimen. We need to tighten the specimen to the machine properly so
that it cant slip. Maybe at that time the specimen is not tighten properly and causes an error
to this experiment. So, the recommendations for this experiment are:
1. Take the dimension of the specimen accurately by using the venier calliper. Take some
readings and find the average value so that it will more accurate.
2. Set up the experiment correctly by make the specimen is properly tight to the machine
to prevent it from slipping.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ANSYS result is way more accurate than the experimental result.
The finite element method shows the exact and accurate value compared to experimental. The
percentage of error is large and some of the precautions should be taken. Overall, the
objectives of the case study are achieved.

References
1.
2.
3.
4.

Lab manual tensile test (strength of material)

ANSYS tutorial (Numerical method)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass
http://www.mece.ualberta.ca/tutorials/ansys/IT/NonLinearMat/NonLinearMat.html