REPORT #1

Material Properties in Tension

Dylan Blackshear
UIN 00750116
9/9/2010
INTRODUCTION:

In this laboratory experiment, three specimens of known material were subjected to

various tensile loads. Each specimen was mounted to the tensile machine by threads on each end

of the sample. Under specific loads, two measurements were made regarding the elongation of

the specimen, due to that load. Two students were to watch the two elongation dials, and record

the elongation when told to. Another student was to watch the computer and at specific load

amounts delegate to the recorders that a measurement should be taken. This process was

repeated, recording elongation at specific loads, until the specimen fractured. All three

specimens were subjected to this test. The three specimens were composed of steel 1018 CR,

cast iron, and aluminum 6061-T651. The purpose of this experiment was to display the variations

between the specimens while undergoing tensile loads.

STRESS vs. STRAIN GRAPHS
QUESTIONS:

1) Calculate true stress in the smallest cross-section of the specimen at fracture:

2) After reaching the ultimate load during a tensile test of a ductile material, the load
decreases before failure occurs because after a ductile material finishes the elastic
phase necking begins, and the stress does not need to increase past this point to break
the material. The maximum stress must be reached to initiate the necking, but once
that point has passed, any given load will continue the necking. We could have
continued to increase the load, but the plastic phase would not have been as spread
out and noticeable. Basically, we lessened the load after the necking, because after
that point the steel becomes very weak and easier to continue with the necking
process, therefore the stress does not need to be increased to fracture the sample.

3) If we had used longer samples, the percent elongation would have changed. While the
sample’s change in length would have remained the same, the percent elongation
would be different due to the sample’s original length. The sample would have still
elongated by the same amount, but the original length of the sample would cause the
percent elongation to diminish as we increased the original length of the sample.
Because the percent elongation relies on the change in length and the sample’s
original length, a change in original length would cause a change in strain, and
percent elongation.

4) An insignificant displacement was caused by the preload, because all the recording
was taken after the preload, and because the preload is so small in each test compared
to the yielding, necking, and fracture loads. The stress strain curve would have to be
shifted vertically upwards by the preload amount to properly plot the results.

5) A few objects that must endure considerable elastic deformations include rubber
bands, clothing, and bungee cords. Each of these materials must have a considerable
large elastic phase, to ensure that the material will retain its’ shape after being
 subjected to heavy loads. Bungee cords, especially, must have a significant elastic
phase, otherwise if a heavy enough bungee jumper might surpass the elastic stress,
resulting in possibly deadly accident.

6) It is always important to test several samples in order to estimate it’s physical

properties because one sample may contains voids, cracks, or impure internal spots
that could cause the material to fail before or after the correct fracture stress.
Impurities could falsely strengthen or weaken a sample, and voids and cracks can
weaken the material, possibly skewing the results. This multi-test process should be
carried out in all experimental tests to ensure a precise and accurate result.

DISCUSSION: