Mansoura University

Faculty of Engineering

Mechatronics Department

Tensile Test Lab Report

BY

Waleed Mohamed Elhefny

To

Dr/Noha Foda

2018
 abstract

​ This experiment was conducted so as compare the mechanical properties of aluminium and mild steel.
The basics on the operation of universal testing machine were also learnt during this experiment. The
Universal Testing Machine can be used to determine the tensile strengths of many engineering materials.
The design of many engineering structures is based on the tensile properties of the materials used. The
stress- strain relationship of various metals can be used to predict the characteristics of materials when
subjected to different types of loadings. From this experiment, it can be seen that mild steel have higher
tensile and yield strength than aluminium. This explains the wide applications of mild steel in many
constructions and other engineering applications that require high strength.

INTRODUCTION

For safe design of structural components in bridges, railway lines, marines ships, aircrafts, pressure
vessels etc, the tensile properties of materials used should be analyzed. Hence the tensile strength of the
materials should meet the strength requirements of the structural applications. The mechanical properties
of the metals determine the kind of engineering application to be used for. Experiments on tensile tests
can be used to predict the tensile properties and they are conducted by application of axial or longitudinal
forces to a specimen with known dimensions. (Davies, 2004). These forces are applied on the specimen
until deformation causes failure. The tensile load and corresponding extensions are then recorded for
calculations and determination of stress- strain relationship of the material specimen. The tensile test
experiment can be used to determine other mechanical characteristics of the specimen like yield strength,
percentage elongation, and ultimate strength among others. The original gauge length Lo , diameter Do or
cross sectional area also used in calculations hence should be recorded.
Stress- strain relationship

Tensile loading on material causes the material to undergo deformations. The kind of deformation can either be
elastic or plastic deformation. The elastic deformation is characterised by linear relationship between the extension
and applied load. Engineering stress σ is given by the ratio of load applied to the original cross sectional area, while
engineering strain ε is given by change in length (extension) ∆L over the original length L.

∆L
σ= P
Ao
​ and ε= Lo

Where, σ is engineering stress, P is the applied axial load, Ao is the original cross sectional area, ε is the

engineering strain, ∆L is the extension, Lo is the original length.

Young’s modulus​ ​The engineering stress- strain relationship for elastic deformation is based on
Hooke’s law. The gradient on this curve gives a modulus of elasticity called The Young’s Modulus E.

E= σ
ε
, (3)

E is Young`s modulus, σ is engineering stress and ε is the engineering strain.

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

MILD STEEL ALUMINIUM

Load at Break (Standard) 3,357.43 N -801.0313 N

Extension at Break (Standard) 26.83716 mm 6.76516 mm

Data point at Break (Standard) 3222 813

Tensile strain (Extension) at Break (Standard) 0.26837 mm/mm 0.06765 mm/mm

Tensile extension at Break (Standard) 26.83716 mm 6.76517 mm

Tensile stress at Break (Standard) 335.743 MPa -80.10313 MPa

 Figure 1: results of mild steel and aluminium samples

mild steel sample aluminium sample

Time Extension Load stress strain Extension Load stress strain

(s) (mm) (N) (MPa) (mm/mm) (mm) (N) (MPa) (mm/mm)
0 0 0.90 0.05 0 0 0.611 0.024 0
10 0.83 4694.34 238.89 0.010 0.832 2687.750 106.634 0.010
20 1.67 4831.41 245.87 0.021 1.665 2884.170 114.427 0.021
30 2.50 4781.08 243.30 0.031 2.498 2981.600 118.292 0.031
40 3.33 4918.83 250.31 0.042 3.332 3048.760 120.957 0.042
50 4.17 4926.58 250.71 0.052 4.165 3071.700 121.867 0.052
60 5.00 5257.07 267.53 0.062 4.998 3112.230 123.475 0.062
70 5.83 5437.01 276.68 0.073 5.832 2877.540 114.164 0.073
80 6.66 5575.88 283.75 0.083 6.665 -645.521 -25.610 0.083
81 6.75 5584.21 284.18 0.084 6.748 -780.168 -30.952 0.084
81.1 6.76 5584.04 284.17 0.084 6.757 -791.985 -31.421 0.084
81.2 6.77 5591.60 284.55 0.085 6.765 -801.031 -31.780 0.085
81.3 6.77 5587.98 284.37 0.085 6.772 -809.438 -32.114 0.085
100 8.33 5775.18 293.89 0.104
110 9.16 5847.52 297.57 0.115
120 10.00 5911.04 300.81 0.125
130 10.83 5965.41 303.57 0.135
140 11.67 6010.53 305.87 0.146
150 12.50 6042.57 307.50 0.156
160 13.33 6072.26 309.01 0.167
170 14.16 6092.93 310.06 0.177
180 15.00 6113.24 311.10 0.187
190 15.83 6129.65 311.93 0.198
200 16.67 6140.36 312.48 0.208
210 17.50 6146.37 312.78 0.219
220 18.33 6148.14 312.87 0.229
230 19.16 6149.17 312.93 0.240
240 20.00 6147.15 312.82 0.250
250 20.83 6142.22 312.57 0.260
260 21.66 6130.59 311.98 0.271
270 22.50 6120.44 311.46 0.281
280 23.33 6099.74 310.41 0.292
290 24.16 6050.83 307.92 0.302
300 25.00 5940.21 302.29 0.312
310 25.83 5675.33 288.81 0.323
320 26.67 4725.52 240.48 0.333
322.2 26.84 358.03 18.22 0.336
322.2 26.85 79.03 4.02 0.336
322.2 26.85 -7.95 -0.40 0.336
 Figure 2: graph of stress v strain for mild steel

​Figure 3: graph of stress v strain for aluminium sample

 Figure 4: graph of stress versus strain for both aluminium and mild steel.

CONCLUSION

Many engineering applications that require high tensile strength normally use mild steel. This is because of the
crystalline structure of mild steel that allows it to withstand high axial loads before fracture can occur. Aluminium
however has found many uses in designs that require low density materials like in aerodynamics and some motor
vehicles. Aluminium experiences high ductility rates compared to mild steel and have therefore low level values of
Young’s Modulus, a factor that determines deflections in structural components. This experiment therefore gives
close relationship of tensile strength to the theoretical data.

Ultimate tensile strength

As shown in figure 2 above of the engineering stress- strain relationship, when loading is continued past the
yielding point, a permanent deformation of the material is realized. At this point, the material is said to be strain or
work hardened and this phenomena is dependent upon the micro- crystalline structure and chemical composition of
the material. It is at this point that the material can withstand the highest possible stress and is characterised by
reduction of cross sectional area at the center of the specimen- a process known as necking. (Marc, 2008).