CE-PC 222, Construction Materials and Testing

Laboratory Experiment No. 1

Tension Test of Steel
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Name of Student: Alvarado, Wilfredo C. BSCE 2A DAY
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A. References
a. ASTM E8/E8M – Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

B. Materials (Test Specimens)

a. Rounded specimens such as steel reinforcing bars

C. Objective
This study aims to determine how strong a material is and how far it can be stretched before breaking. The yield
strength, ultimate tensile strength, and ductility are all determined using this test procedure.

D. Background
A tensile test's fundamental concept is to clamp a sample of a material between two fixtures known as
"grips”.Atoms are linked together to form all materials. Materials will stretch when lightly loaded before
returning to their original length after the load is removed. The atomic bonds that run throughout the material are
what are responsible for this elastic stretching. Under higher loads (stresses), materials expand permanently as a
result of 'plastic' deformation and do not return to their previous length. This is because the stretched bonds
produce a force that pushes the atoms toward one another. This is due to 'defects' in materials, or atoms that are
not exactly aligned. Atoms change positions during plastic deformation, which causes flaws to migrate as well.
The change in length of the material caused by the faults persists when the load is removed because they stay in
their new places.

E. Equipment and Apparatus

a. Universal Tensile Testing Machine - The device, also known as a tensile testing machine or tester,
exerts a tensile force on components or raw materials to measure their tensile and compressive strengths.
It is extensively used for both small-scale and large-scale load testing in quality control, research projects,
and other applications.
b. Specimen - reinforcing bar is used as a tension device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry
constructions to strengthen and help the concrete under stress. Circular mild steel specimen with
d= mm and L= mm.
c. Ruler - used to measure distances.
d. Marker - use for marking the initial length of the specimen

CIRCULAR MILD STEEL

SPECIMEN
Diameter (mm) Length (mm)
#1 10 mm 200 mm

#2 10 mm 201 mm

#3 10 mm 207 mm
 CIRCULAR MILD STEEL
SPECIMEN
Diameter (mm) Length (mm)
#1 12 mm 240 mm

#2 12 mm 241 mm

#3 12 mm 249 mm

Figure 1

F. Procedure
1. Measure the original length and diameter of the specimen. The length may
either be the length of
the gauge section which is marked on the specimen with a preset punch or the total
length of the
specimen.
2. Insert the specimen into the grips of the test machine and attach the strain-
measuring device to it.
3. The machine was set to read up to a maximum force of 140kN according to the
size and type of material.
Begin the load application and record load versus elongation data.
4. Take readings more frequently as the yield point is approached.
5. Measure elongation values with the help of a ruler.
6. Continue the test till Fracture occurs.
7. By joining the two broken halves of the specimen together, measure the final
length and
diameter of the specimen.
8. As shown in the figure, once the load crosses the ultimate stress (ultimate
load) necking starts to form in the steel rod. Necking is a large reduction caused
in the cross-sectional area of the steel rod.

Take out the fractured piece while closing the right control valve. To pump the oil back, open the left control valve.
The specimen's maximum capacity can be noticed in comparison to the red marker. The specimen's neck diameter
should be measured. Extensometer readings are used to determine length change. As a result, the formula for strain is:
Strain = Change in length/Original Length, while the formula for stress at various strain levels is: Stress = Load / Area. The
stress-strain graph is then produced with various stress levels and matching strain levels.
 G. Report (Results and Illustrations)

Results are taken from the specimen:

a. Initial diameter (d0) of specimen was 10 mm.

Initial Final
CIRCULAR MILD
Diameter (mm) Length (mm) Gauge Gauge
STEEL SPECIMEN
Length Length
(L0 ) (Lf)
#1 10 mm 200 mm 84 mm 111 mm

#2 10 mm 201 mm 90 mm 110 mm

#3 10 mm 207 mm 96 mm 110 mm

Stress-Strain Graph

\
 b. Initial diameter (d0) of specimen was 12 mm.

Initial Final
CIRCULAR MILD Diameter (mm) Length Gauge Gauge
STEEL SPECIMEN
Length Length
(mm)
(L0 ) (Lf)
#1 12 mm 240 mm 101 mm 133 mm

#2 12 mm 241 mm 108 mm 123 mm

#3 12 mm 249 mm 103 mm 133 mm

Stress-Strain Graph
 APPARATUS:

Universal Testing Machine

Specimen

Marker

Ruler