LAB SESSION 7
TITLE:
To investigate mechanical properties of given specimen by using Hounsfield tensometer.
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate about material of given specimen by determining yield strength, ultimate tensile
strength, fracture stress, modulus of elasticity, percentage elongation and percentage area
reduction.
APPARATUS:
Hounsfield tensometer
Elongation gauge
Area reduction gauge
Vernier caliper
APPARATUS DIAGRAM:
figure1:Hounsfield tensometer (5)
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND:
Tensile Testing:
Tensile testing, also known as tension testing, (1) is a fundamental materials
science and engineering test in which a sample is subjected to a controlled tension until failure.
Properties that are directly measured via a tensile test are ultimate tensile strength, breaking
strength, maximum elongation and reduction in area. (2) 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. Some materials use biaxial tensile testing. The
main difference between these testing machines being how load is applied on the materials.
Extensometer:
An extensometer is a device that is used to measure changes in the length of an object. It is useful
for stress-strain measurements and tensile tests. Its name comes from "extension-meter". It was invented
by Charles Huston who described it in an article in the Journal of the Franklin Institute in 1879.
There are two classes of extensometers, which vary in the method the measurement is performed.
Contact extensometers test the deformation by directly placing a physical object onto the sample
such as a knife-edge. Non-contact extensometers use cameras and light to determine the
deformational parameters without physically touching the sample.
Extensometers are important for industries dealing with structural components such as structural
steel or cables. While manufacturers need to ensure their products can withstand the intended
amount of strain, extensometers are also used in fieldwork. Geotechnical engineers can use them
to test if a mining structure is going to collapse (3).
Mechanical Properties:
Yield Strength:
The yield strength is the point at which plastic deformation occurs under stress. This is
determined during testing over a measured gauge length via the use of devices known as
extensometers
Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS):
The UTS is the point in which the material bears maximum stress. This may differ from the
specimen's strength when breaking depending on if it is brittle, ductile or has properties of both.
These material properties can change depending on environment, for example in extreme hot or
cold conditions.
Ductility:
Ductility relates to the percentage of elongation of a material. The percentage of elongation is
calculated by the maximum gage length divided by the original gage length.
Strain Hardening:
The permanent deformation region is known as strain hardening.
Modulus of Elasticity:
The modulus of elasticity also known as Young's modulus is defined as the ratio of
the stress (force per unit area) applied to the object and the resulting axial strain (displacement or
deformation) in the linear elastic region of the material. (4)
PROCEDURE:
Measure the length of the specimen (STEEL ROD) by a Vernier Caliper Fix the specimen
between jaws of apparatus.
Place the graph paper at the end of the tensometer on roller.
Place and adjust the material in the vice of the tensometer.
Then, apply force by slowly rotating the wheel attached at the end of the tensometer until the
material breaks.
By rotating the wheel, it will draw a pattern on graph paper that tells us about the mechanical
properties of the material.
OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:
Initial diameter = di = 0.46 in
Initial length = li = 12 in
Final diameter = df = 0.34 in
Final length = lf = 12.68 in
A i− A f
Reduction in area =
Ai
0.18−0.08
= 0.18
= 0.55
= 55%
Lf −L o
% elongation = Lo
12.68−12
= 12
= 0.05×100
= 56%
Elongation = 0.05 in2
UTS = 97.1 MPa
Rupture = 69 MPa
GRAPH:
Y-Values
120
UTS
100
80 Rup-
ture
60
40
20
0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
The tensile test performed using the Hounsfield tensometer provided detailed insights into the
mechanical properties of the given specimen.
The UTS was determined to be 97.1 MPa, representing the material's maximum stress before
necking. This value is typical for ductile materials and indicates high load-bearing capacity. The
fracture stress of 69 MPa reflects the stress at which the material ultimately failed. The drop
from the UTS to the fracture stress is consistent with the onset of necking and localized
deformation. A percentage elongation of 56% indicates excellent ductility, suggesting the
material can sustain large plastic deformations before failure. Such properties make the material
suitable for structural applications where flexibility and energy absorption are required. The
specimen exhibited a 55% reduction in cross-sectional area, demonstrating its ability to
deform plastically under tensile loading. The results align with theoretical expectations for
ductile materials, confirming the suitability of the experimental setup. Minor deviations could
arise due to measurement inaccuracies or material imperfections.
COMMENTS:
The tensile test effectively captured key mechanical properties like UTS, elongation, and
reduction in area. The simplicity of the Hounsfield tensometer provided a clear visualization of
the material's behavior under stress. Measurements taken manually (e.g., dimensions using
Vernier calipers) could introduce minor errors. Advanced tools like non-contact extensometers
would improve precision. The graph paper method for plotting stress-strain behavior, while
useful, lacks the precision of digital systems. Automated data acquisition systems could enhance
the analysis. Testing additional specimens would help validate the findings and account for
variability in material properties. Conducting tests under varying environmental conditions, such
as temperature, would provide a broader understanding of the material's performance.
REFERENCES:
1."Onlne Collection by univeristy of briman gham," 2013. [Online]. Available:.
2. Davis, Joseph R. (2004). Tensile testing (2nd ed.). ASM International. ISBN 978-0-87170-806-9.
3. Davis 2004, p. 33.
4. Common Material Tests. The Engineering Archive. (n.d.). https://theengineeringarchive.com/material-
science/page-common-material-tests.html.
5.https://r.search.yahoo.com/
_ylt=AwrjcyoNHEhnRPwoPlOjzbkF;_ylu=c2VjA2ZwLWF0dHJpYgRzbGsDcnVybA--/RV=2/
RE=1732807821/RO=11/RU=https%3a%2f%2f2.zoppoz.workers.dev%3a443%2fhttp%2fwww.brande-saubion.com%2fimg%2fhounsfield-
tensile-test/RK=2/RS=mQUB14KaKt1PgiyliwN_sk3rnyk-.
Corrosionpedia. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/4510/extensometer
