Daniel Grycz

HNC Built Environment

HNC BUILT ENVIRONMENT:

Materials and Specifications

Tensile Test

Prepared for:
Daniel Kudom
Author:
Daniel Grycz
30023976
31/01/2016
(Cometech, 2016)

1 | Page

Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment

Contents Page
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Introduction
Equipment used
Materials
Process
Findings
Conclusion
References

Introduction
2 | Page

Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment

A tensile test (also known as tension test) is one of the most important
mechanical tests you can perform on a material. Since tensile tests are so
simple and inexpensive, they are among the most commonly performed
mechanical tests. The test is carried out in order to determine various
mechanical properties of a material, such as:
-

Yield strength
Ultimate strength
Fracture strength
Elastic modulus
Stress-strain behavior
(Cometech, 2016)

Since the test finds its use in so many various industries (from automotive,
domestic appliances to aero industry) it is vital that reliable and reproducible
tensile data is produced at different laboratories and testing facilities in the
UK. In order to ensure that the test data is correct all test should be carried
out to the BS EN ISO 6892-1:2009 standard. The importance of tensile
testing can be further highlighted by the fact that the first British Standard
covering this subject was BS 18 released in 1904. (Instron.us, 2016)
This test was carried out at NESCOL Altens Campus on the 20.1.2015, in total
three different samples were tested.

3 | Page

Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment

Equipment used

Universal testing machine

Extensometer
Micrometer

Samples Tested

Brass
Carbon Steel
Aluminum

Process
1. Each individual sample was visually checked for any imperfections or
damage that might affect the final test result
2. The diameter of each sample was measured and recorded, this allows
for a calculation of cross section area

4 | Page

Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment

3. The gauge length of each sample was measured to later calculate the
elongation
4. Each sample is individually placed in the grips of the universal testing
machine
5. The testing machine provides readings of force and extension while
extending the samples by 0.5mm per minute
6. The samples are tested until destruction, all data is recorded.

Findings
Samples cross section calculation and ultimate tensile strength:
Sample: Brass
Gauge length:
Diameter:

26.8mm
5.053mm

Cross section area:

20.053mm

Maximum load:

10040N

UTS:

500.673N/mm

Extension:

5.462mm

% Elongation =

Final gauge lenghtoriginal gauge lenght

x 100
original gauge lenght
5.462
x 100=20.38
26.8
r

=Area

d 5.053 x
=
=20.053 mm
4
4

Stress =

Force N
Area mm

5 | Page

Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment

10040 N
=500.673 N /mm
20.053 mm

Sample: Carbon Steel

Gauge length:
Diameter:

26.5mm
5.04mm

Cross section area:

19.950mm

Maximum load:

18203N

UTS:

912.431N/mm

Extension:

2.36mm
2.36
x 100=8.9
26.5

18203 N
=912.431 N /mm
19.950 mm

Sample: Aluminum
Gauge length:
Diameter:

27.1mm
5.054mm

Cross section area:

20.061mm

Maximum load:

9368N

UTS:

466.975N/mm

Extension:

6.589mm

6 | Page

Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment

6.589
x 100=24.3
27.1

9368 N
=466.975 N /mm
20.061 mm

By examining the graph below which represents a tensile profile of mild steel
we can observe how a stress to strain relation affects materials tested. The
curve shows how steel reacts to the force applied, at first the relation of force
applied to the elongation is linear, at this point the steel is within its elastic
limit and if the load was to be removed the steel sample would return to its
original size. The next stage is the yield stress, at this point the elasticity
turns into plasticity as the steel starts to deform and the necking starts to
occur (on some materials the yield point might be hard to spot as the curve
has no obvious point where the elastic limit turns into plasticity i.e. brass). In
many applications such plastic deformation is unacceptable therefore the
yield point becomes the design limit. With increasing load the necking
becomes substantial the stress-strain curve reverses, at this point the
engineering stress is the highest on the graph and this is materials ultimate
tensile strength (UTS can become the main design parameter when
designing/specifying brittle materials as they have no yield point). From this
point onwards adding stress will result in rapid necking and ultimately
fracturing of steel. Steel is one of the best materials in terms of dealing with
tensile force. (Testing, Testing and Testing, 2016)

7 | Page

Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment

(teachengineering.org)

(teachengineering.org)

Out of the materials tested brass was the most brittle one, when subjected to
stress it fractured without significant deformation. Brittle materials can have
good hardness and rigidity but little tensile strength.
Aluminum was the most ductile of the samples tested as it has elongated by
24.3% before it fractured. Ductility is very important when manufacturing
materials as it allows us to specify the allowable deformation during
manufacturing of materials i.e. wires.

Conclusion
Tensile testing is essential for ensuring a safe, high quality material and
avoiding the major risk and cost liabilities associated with providing products
that do not comply with current regulation and specifications. By tensile
testing manufacturers can keep the end consumer satisfied and greatly
reduce the chance of failure in the field.

Bibliography:
Cometech, (2016). Universal Material Tester. [image] Available at: http://www.cometech.com.tw/images/505B1.jpg [Accessed 31 Jan. 2016].
8 | Page

Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment
Instron.us, (2016). Tensile Testing - Instron. [online] Available at:
http://www.instron.us/our-company/library/test-types/tensile-test [Accessed 1 Feb.
2016].
Testing, M., Testing, M. and Testing, T. (2016). Tensile Testing, Tensile Test |
Laboratory Testing Inc.. [online] Labtesting.com. Available at:
https://www.labtesting.com/services/materials-testing/mechanical-testing/tensiletesting/ [Accessed 1 Feb. 2016].
teachengineering.org Available at:
https://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cub_/lessons/cub_surg/cub_surg_lesson
02_figure1web.jpg (Accessed: 2 February 2016).

9 | Page