Mechanical Properties:

fundamentals and Tensile,

Hardness and Impact Testing
 Outcomes and Expectations

Learn the concept of stress and strain

Different testing methods (tensile,
compression, shear)
Hookes law
Poissons ratio
Stress-strain diagram
Effect of temperature on properties
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Stiffness, Strength and Ductility

Data required for:

- load bearing applications.
Must withstand load without deforming or
fracturing
- formability
ease of deformation into desired shape

-materials science
property = structure
Standard (ASTM) lab tests
Used to compare properties of materials
Not a simulation of in-use conditions
 Tensile test
force applied uniaxially in tension to fracture

specimen Load cell

Flat or
cylindrical

Gauge Gauge Load

region length frame

Width (diam) / gauge region actuator

controls geometry* Constant speed
Raw data
 How to compare different materials

Use exactly the same specimen dimensions (not practical)

normalise results with respect to specimen size

Engineering stress = F/A
Instantaneous load Initial x-sect area

pounds force per sq in (psi), (or ksi) (1ksi~7MPa) (1MPa=145psi)

megapascals (1 MPa =106 N/m2=1 N/mm2)

Engineering strain = (l1-l0) / l0

Instantaneous elongation initial length

Dimensionless Or strain Or %
 Compression used for formability
force applied uniaxially in compression Load cell
no fracture
specimen

Gauge cylindrical Load

length (or Flat) frame

diam / gauge length

controls geometry Constant speed
actuator
stress is -ve by convention

strain is -ve by maths

= (l1-l0) / l0
Beware barelling
Friction problem
 General description of
stress/strain (flow)curve

Stress
fracture
plastic

elastic

Strain
 Elastic region Characterised by
Non-permanent deformation
E
Quantified by:
Stress 1 modulus of elasticity:

First, relate to
for most metals and
Strain ceramics
linear elasticity

Hookes law E or E Youngs modulus

Units: stress
Poisson's Ratio
z
Tensile test

Compressive x
strain
x y
Theoretically, in elastic
region, u=0.25 z z
always +ve
In practice, 0.25 - 0.35

In plastic region = 0.5 (no volume change).

Non linear elasticity
e.g. cast iron; concrete

Modulus is defined as

Stress
?
slope of
tangent
slope of secant

Strain
specify a stress tangent vs secant?
level
HOW?
elastic region also defined by

Stress

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE Strain

Elastic limit (strain)

E
50GPa

0.3 Temp/T(M.Pt.)
 0.3Tm 0.45Tm

EAl=69GPa
48GPa
Relation between elastic properties
and melting temperature of
selected materials
Limit of elastic region
elastic limit for metals 0.005 strain

(e.g. for a 2m metal rod

plasticity begins at 10mm elongation)
 YIELD STRENGTH

STRESS

YS
YS

0.002 offset YS

STRAIN
0.002
STRAIN
 DISCONTINUOUS YIELDING
STRESS
Upper
yield point
Lower
yield point

STRAIN
What materials exhibit this type of curve?
 NON-LINEAR ELASTICITY
STRESS

YS

STRAIN
0.005
STRAIN
Shear Testing
F

shear stress = F/A

Instantaneous load Initial area

Parallel to loading
direction
tan shear strain
Shear modulus
E
G G
2 (1 v )
G<E (different way of measuring strain)

Micromechanism of elastic
deformation
-stretching of atomic bonds
Torsion Testing
T (Torque)

t = fnc (T)
shear strain = fnc (f)
angle of twist
V. high strain possible
 Suggested lectures

Callister (7th edidion)

Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.5
 Problems
1) A force of 100 000N is applied to a 10mmX20mm iron bar having a yield strength of
400MPa and a tensile strength of 480MPa. Determine:
- Whether the bar will plastically deform?
- Whether the bar will experience necking?

2) An aluminum plate 0.5cm thick is to withstand a force of 50 000N with no permanent

deformation. If the aluminum has a yield strength of 125 MPa, what is the minimum width
of the plate?

3) A steel cable 1.25 in in diameter and 50ft long is to lift a 20-ton load. What is the length of
the cable during lifting? The modulus of elasticity of the steel is 30x10 6 psi.