INTRODUCTION
The aim of this experiment is to understand the strength of materials such as mild
steel, wood, nylon and aluminum for use as columns using the manual mechanical testing
device.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
The length of all samples, mild steel, wood, nylon and aluminum are
measured. Cross sectional dimensions of the samples are also measured.
The loading fixture is mounted in the hydraulic test machine that was set
up for compression measurements. The computer then set up to capture
the maximum load applied. The load required to move the ram with no
sample in the load frame are measured. This frictional load is subtracted
from the measured load to obtain the actual failure load of the samples.
The longest specimen is mounted and loaded until the load starts to
decrease. The maximum load and any other pertinent observations are
recorded. Last step is repeated for all the specimens. The throat on the
machine is increased as you test longer samples. All pertinent
observations are recorded in a spread sheet on the computer.
RESULTS
2 EI
L2
(13-5)
Where
Pcr = critical or maximum axial load on the column just before it begins to
buckle.
E = modulus of elasticity for the material
I = least moment of inertia for the columns cross-sectional area
L = unsupported length of the column, whose ends are pinned
SAMPLE CALCULATION
3
d 4 ( 6.28 0.02 mm10 )
I=
=
=1.94E-06 m4
64
64
Pcr =
2 EI 22001010 Pa1.94106 m 4
=
= 60283 N
L2
0.05 m 2
2) Percent deviation for 50.1 cm length mild steel:
\
deviation=
deviation=
= 78.89 %
Approx L
Length
Diameter
Mild Steel
Observed
Predicted
(cm)
(cm)
(mm)
Load (N)
Load (N)
6.28
12727
60283
7.5
7.4
6.28
7860
27522
10
9.9
6.28
7459
15377
12
12.4
6.3
8071
9927
15
15.1
6.36
7845
6953
20
19.6
6.26
3602
3873
25
24.9
6.28
2843
2431
30
Approx L
(cm)
30
Length
(cm)
6.29
Diameter
(mm)
3514
Wood
Observed
Load (N)
1685
Predicted
Load (N)
5.1
6.27
1342
2965
7.5
7.2
6.34
1570
1555
10
9.9
6.13
1965
719
12
12.2
6.46
1739
584
15
14.7
6.43
1067
395
Approx L
(cm)
Length
(cm)
Diameter
(mm)
Nylon
Observed
Load (N)
Predicted
Load (N)
6.41
1620
1014
7.5
7.6
6.42
1094
442
10
9.7
6.39
1135
266
12
12.5
6.42
1102
163
15
15
6.43
1030
114
Approx L
(cm)
5
Length
(cm)
5.1
Diameter
(mm)
6.35
Aluminum
Observed
Load (N)
5734
Predicted
Load (N)
deviation
78.88807
48
71.44068
6
51.49206
56
18.69656
77
12.82848
07
7.005154
21
16.95999
45
108.5172
77
adjusted
gap
adjusted
gap
%
deviation
54.73986
59
0.948703
35
173.3280 adjusted
34 gap
197.8395
06
170.3014
21
%
deviation
59.73186
68
147.6698
02
326.4857 adjusted
84 gap
574.8856
13
802.7022
26
%
deviation
73.84860
21926
09
7.5
7.4
6.33
5481
10284
10
10
6.32
3630
5596
12
12.5
6.29
4571
3514
15
15.1
6.32
3600
2454
20
20
6.32
2385
1399
25
25.1
5.77
1417
617
30
30.1
6.27
1357
598
46.70331
57
35.13206
07
30.08297 adjusted
34 gap
46.68302
98
70.47937
77
129.6179
47
126.7955
17
steel
P/A (Pa) mild
4000000000
wood
aluminum
nylon
3000000000
2000000000
1000000000
0
10
20
30
40
50
L/rg
DISCUSSION
60
70
80
90
100
110
The observed load of the experiment initially did not follow the
Eulers trend as there was an error while conducting the experiment. The
error is there have been a big gap left in between of the material and the
hydraulic test machine mount. This error has been corrected in the middle
of the experiment.
After the gap has been adjusted, we can see the trend seemed to
follow the Eulers curve, observed load decreased as the length increased.
However, the observed load is a little bit higher than the predicted values
calculated using the Eulers formula.
The 20cm Mild steel had the least deviation from the predicted
value after adjusted gap of all material at 7%. The 15cm Nylon had the
greatest deviation of 802%. This high value probably caused by the
limitation of Eulers equation where it only useful over a limited range of
L/rg, this range is determined by the material properties. Euler's equation
only predicts failure for stresses below Yield.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, Eulers formula is a great tool to calculate the critical
load of a material although it limited to a sentence range of L/rg. The
manual mechanical testing device is useful to understand the strength of
materials such as mild steel, wood, nylon, and aluminum for use as
columns. From this experiment, 5cm mild steel are the strongest between
all the material to use as column at 12727 N observed load for failure.
APPENDIX