STRENGTH OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

KCG COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY,

CHENNAI – 600097

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

Name of the Student: ____________________

Registration Number: ___________________
Semester/Branch : ____________________
Sub Code & Name: ____________________

KCG COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY,

CHENNAI – 600097

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 LIST OF EXPERIMENTS

1. Tension test on mild steel rod

2. Double shear test on Mild steel and Aluminum
3. Torsion test on Mild steel rod

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EX: NO: --------- DATE: -----------

Double Shear Test on Given Specimen

Aim:

To conduct shear test on given specimen under double shear.

Equipments Required :

UTM with double shear chuck

Vernier Caliber
Test Specimen
Description:

In actual practice when a beam is loaded the shear force at a section always
comes to play along with bending moment. It has been observed that the effect of shearing stress
as compared to bending stress is quite negligible. But sometimes, the shearing stress at a section
assumes much importance in design calculations.

Universal testing machine is used for performing shear , compression and

tension.

There are two types of UTM.

1. Screw type
2. Hydraulic type.

Hydraulic machines are easier to operate. They have a testing unit and control
unit connected to each other with hydraulic pipes. It has a reservoir of oil, which is pumped into
a cylinder, which has a piston. By this arrangement, the piston is made to move up. Same oil is
taken in a tube to measure the pressure. This causes movement of the pointer, which gives
reading for the load applied.

Precaution :

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 The inner diameter of the hole in the shear stress attachment is slightly greater
than that of the specimen.

Procedure:

1. Measure the diameter of the hole accurately.

2. Insert the specimen in position and grip one end of the attachment in the upper
portion and the other end in the lower portion.
3. Switch on the main switch on the universal testing machine.
4. Bring the drag indicator in contact with the main indicator.
5. Gradually move the head control lever in left hand direction till the specimen
shears.
6. Note down the load at which specimen shears.
7. Stop the machine and remove the specimen.

Observation:

Diameter of the specimen (d)= ----- mm

Cross sectional area in double shear , (A) = 2 x π d2 / 4 mm2

Shear Load taken by specimen at the time of failure (P) = ------ KN.

Shear strength = Maximum shear force

Area of the specimen.

Result:

Shear strength of the given material = -------- N / mm2

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EX: NO: --------- DATE: -----------

Rockwell Hardness Test.

Aim :

To determine the Rockwell hardness for the given metal specimen.

Equipments Required:

1. Rockwell Hardness Testing Machine.

2. Metal Specimen.
Description:

Hardness may be defined as resistance of metal to plastic deformation usually by

indentation. However the term may also refer to stiffness or temper or resistance to scratch,
abrasion or cutting. There are three general types of hardness measurements depending upon
the manner in which the test is conducted.

1. Scratch hardness measurement.

2. Rebound hardness measurement.
3. Indentation Hardness measurement.
In scratch hardness method the materials are rated on their ability to scratch one another
and mineralogists use it.In rebound hardness measurement, a standard body is usually dropped
on to the material surface and the hardness is measured in terms of the height of its rebound.The
general means of judging the hardness is the resistance of a material to indentation.

Indentation hardness may be measured by various hardness test such as Brinell,

Rockwell, etc. Rockwell hardness testing differs from Brinell testing. In Rockwell testing, the
indenters and loads are smaller and therefore the resulting indentation on the specimen is smaller
and shallower.

Rockwell testing is suitable for materials having hardness beyond the scope of Brinell
testing. Rockwell testing is faster as compared to Brinell testing , because the diameter of the
indentation need not be measured. The Rockwell machine gives arbitrary direct reading, Unlike

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Brinell testing, Rockwell testing needs no surface preparation (Polishing) of the specimen whose
hardness is to be measured.

There are two scales on Rockwell testing specimen. i.e B scale and C scale. B scale uses
a steel ball indenter where as a diamond cone penetrate is employed for measuring Hardness on
C scale.B scale is for testing materials of medium hardness such as low and medium carbon
steels in the annealed condition. The working range of this scale is from 0 to 100. C scale is used
for testing materials harder than B-100. C scale is commonly used for testing the hardness of
alloy cast irons.

In Rockwell hardness testing, the minor load for all cases is 10 Kg. Where as major loads
for scales C and B are 150 Kg and respectively, including minor load.

Test requirements:

1. The test should be carried out in an ambient temperature of 20 +20 C in temperate climate
and 27 +20 C in tropical climates.
2. The testing machine shall be protected through out the test from shock and vibrations.
3. The test piece shall be placed on a rigid support. The contact surfaces shall be clean and
free from foreign matter. ( such as oil and dust)
4. The thickness of the test piece shall be at least 8 times the permanent indentation of
depth. No deformation shall be visible at the back of the test piece after the test.
5. The distance between the centres of the two adjacent indentations shall be at least 4 times
the diameters of the indentation and the distance from the centre of any indentation to the
edge of the test piece shall be at least 2.5 times the diameter of the indentation unless
agreed otherwise.
Precautions:

1. Successive impressions should not be superimposed on another nor be made too close
together when making hardness determinations.
2. Nor should a measurement be made too close to the edge , or on a specimen so thin that
the impression comes through the other side.

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 3. Small irregularities, dirt, and scale should be avoided because of the great sensibility of
the Rockwell test.
Procedure:

1. Test piece is placed upon the machine. The dial may be showing any reading.
2. Hand wheel is turned , thereby raising the test piece up against the steel ball indenter till
the needle of the small dial is against the red mark. This applies minor load.
3. Major load is applied by pressing the crank provided on the right hand side of the
machine. Time is given as 30 sec so as to make the load reach specimen fully.
4. When the penetration is completed, the crank is turned in the reverse direction thereby
with drawing the minor load but the leaving the major load applied.
5. The pointer moves further and becomes stand still. This reading is taken as Rockwell
Hardness Number – C scale.( HRC)
6. Hand wheel is rotated and the test piece is lowered.

Tabulation

Sl.No. Material Load in Indenter Trial Number Rockwell

KgF
Scale Hardness

Number(HRC)

1 2 3

Result:

Rockwell Hardness number of the specimen was found for the given material as follows:

1. Copper = ----------- HRC

2. Brass = ----------- HRC
3. Aluminium = ------------ HRC.

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EX: NO: --------- DATE: -----------
Brinell Hardness Test
Aim :

To find the Brinell Hardness number for the given metal specimen.

Equipments Required :

1. Brinell Hardness Testing Machine

2. Metal Specimens
3. Brinell Microscope.

Formulae:

Brinell Hardness Number ( BHN) = 2P / { π D [ D - √ ( D 2 – d 2 ) ] }

Where,

P = Load applied in Kgf.

D = Diameter of the indenter in mm.

D = Diameter of the indentation in mm.

Description:

It consists of pressing a hardened steel ball into a test specimen. In this usually a steel ball
of Diameter D under a load ‘P’ is forced in to the test piece and the mean diameter ‘d ’ of the
indentation left in the surface after removal of load is measured. According to ASTM
specifications a 10 mm diameter ball is used for the purpose. Lower loads are used for measuring
hardness of soft materials and vice versa. The Brinell hardness is obtained by dividing the test
load ‘P’ by curved surface area of indentation. This curved surface is assumed to be portion of
the sphere of diameter ‘ D’.

Test Requirements:

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 1. Usual ball size is 10 mm + 0.0045 mm. Some times 5 mm steel ball is also used. It shall
be hardened and tempered with a hardness of at least 850 VPN. ( Vicker Pyramid
Number) . It shall be polished and free from surface defects.
2. Specimen should be smooth and free from oxide film. Thickness of the piece to be tested
shall not be less than 8 times from the depth of indentation.
3. Diameter of the indentation will be measured n two directions normal to each other with
an accuracy of + 0.25% of diameter of ball under microscope provided with cross tables
and calibrated measuring screws.

Precautions:

1. Brinell test should be performed on smooth, flat specimens from which dirt and scale
have been cleaned.
2. The test should not be made on specimens so thin that the impression shows through the
metal , nor should impressions be made too close to the edge of the specimen.

Procedure:

1. Specimen is placed on the anvil. The hand wheel is rotated so that the specimen along
with the anvil moves up and contact with the ball.
2. The desired load is applied mechanically ( by gear driven screw) and the ball presses into
the specimen.
3. The diameter of the indentation made in the specimen by the pressed ball is measured by
the use of a micrometer microscope, having transparent engraved scale in the field of
view.
4. The indentation diameter is measured at two places at right angles to each other, and the
average of two readings is taken.
5. The Brinell Hardness Number ( BHN) which is the pressure per unit surface area of the
indentation is noted down.

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Observation.

Sl.No. Material Load in Diameter Diameter of the indentation in Brinell

Kgf
Of the mm Hardness
Indenter
in mm Number(BHN)

1 2 3

Result:

Thus the Brinell Hardness of the Given Specimen are

1. Mild Steel = ------ BHN

2. EN 20 = ------- BHN.

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EX: NO: --------- DATE: -----------
Impact Modulus Test – IZOD Method
Aim:

To determine the impact strength of steel by IZOD

Apparatus required:

Impact testing machine,

steel specimen of 75mm*10mm*10mm

Formula:

Energy observed

Impact formula: in J/mm2

Area of cross section

THEORY:

An impact test signifies touches of material that is ability of material to absorb energy
during plastic deformation. Static tension tests of untouched specimen do not always reveal the
suscepbility of a metal to brittle frature. The important factor is determined by impact test.
Touches takes into accountant both the strength and ductility of the material. Several engineering
material gave to with stand impact or suddenly applied loads while in service. Impact strength
achieved under slowly applies load. Of all impact tests, the notched bar tests are most
extensively used. Therefore, the impact test measures the energy necessary to frature a standard
notch bar by applying a impulse a load. The test measure notch toughness of material under
shocking loading. Values obtained from these test are not utility to design problems directly and
are highly arbitrary.

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PROCEDURE:

1. With the striking hammer in sate position, hold the work piece firmly in impact
testing machine vice in such a way the notch faces the hammer and is half inside
and half above the top surface of the vice.
2. Bring the striking hammer to top most position unless ii is already there, and lock
it.
3. Bring the indicator to zero and then release the striking hammer. It will fall due to
gravity and break the specimen. The total energy is not is not absorbed by the
specimen. The pendulum continues to swing. At its topmost height after breaking
the specimen, the indicator stops moving, while, the pendulum falls back. Note
the indicator reading at that topmost position.
4. Again bring the striker to its idle position and lock.

PRECAUTION:

1. The notch should be properly machined.

2. The test piece should be properly placed on the machine support.
3. The pendulum must swing freely over the horizontal axis of rotation.
4. Friction effort should be taken into account.
5. Operators should not stand in the swinging zone of the pendulum.

RESULT:

The impact strength of steel is =

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EX: NO: --------- DATE: -----------
CHARPY’S IMPACT STRENGTH OF STEEL.

AIM:

To determine the impact strength of steel by CHARPY.

APPARATUS REQURIED:

Impact testing machine,

steel specimen of 55mm*10mm*10mm

FORMULA:

Energy absorbed

Impact strength formula: strain in J/mm2

Area of cross section

PROCEDURE:

1. With the striking hammer in safe position, hold the work piece firmly in impact
testing machine vice in such a way that the notch faces the hammer and is half
inside and half above the top surface of the vice.
2. Bring the striking hammer to its top most position unless it is already there, and
lock it.
3. Bring the indicator to zero and then release the striking hammer. It will fall due to
gravity and break specimen. The total energy is not absorbed by the specimen.
The pendulum continues to swing. At its topmost height after breaking the

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 specimen, the indicators stops moving, while the pendulum falls back. Note the
indicator reading at that topmast position.
4. Again bring the striker to its idle position and lock.

PERCAUTION:

1. The notch should be properly machined.

2. The test piece should be properly placed on the machine support.
3. The pendulum must swing freely over the horizontal axis of rotation.
4. Friction effort should be taken into account.
5. Operator should not stand in the swinging zone of the pendulum.

RESULT:

The impact strength of steel is=

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