MMK 20203 Strength of Materials Laboratory Module

LAB 2

COMPRESSION TEST

1.0 OBJECTIVES

1.1 To understand the concept of stress-strain diagram and mechanical properties for a
specific material.
1.2 To construct stress-strain diagram based on Universal Testing Machine data.
1.3 To analyze and compare the stress-strain diagram of two different types of materials.

2.0 INTRODUCTION & THEORY

A compression test determines behavior of materials under crushing loads. The specimen is
compressed and deformation at various loads is recorded. Compressive stress and strain are
calculated and plotted as a stress-strain diagram which is used to determine elastic limit,
proportional limit, yield point, yield strength and, for some materials compressive strength.

The axial compression testing is useful for measurement of elastic and compressive fracture
properties of brittle materials or low ductility materials. In any case, the use of specimens having
large L/D ratios should be avoided to prevent buckling and shearing modes of deformation.

During the compression test the length of the specimen will reduce while its diameter at
bulge area will increase. This is due to the deformation of a material in lateral direction of
longitudinal axis (Poisson effect). In this test, only strain in longitudinal direction ε long will be
considered for stress versus strain graph. Final deformation will be used to measure Poisson’s
ratio of the material.

Fig. 1 Compression Test

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MMK 20203 Strength of Materials Laboratory Module

Fig. 2 Compression Test Diagram

Stress: the force applied to produce deformation in a unit area of a test specimen. The value
which is obtained by dividing tensile load applied to the test piece at any moment by area of
original cross section within the reference lines.

Stress = Load
Area

(kgm-2) (Eq. 2.1)

Strain: the measurement of the deformation length that has occurred in specimen or simply
stated as changed in length per unit of the original length.

Strain = Final length – Original length

Original length

L
 (Eq. 2.2)
Lo

So for longitudinal elongation and lateral (radial) elongation are as below:


 long  (Eq. 2.3)
L

'
 lat  (Eq. 2.4)
r

And the Poisson’s ratio give that

 lat
Poisson’s ratio,    (Eq. 2.5)
 long

The negative sign in Poisson’s ratio equation is due to the longitudinal elongation cause lateral
contraction (-ve strain) and vice versa. So, the Poisson’s ratio always a positive value and fall
between 0 and 0.5.

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3.0 EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS

Equipment : Universal Testing Machine

Fig 3. Universal Testing Machine (UTM)

Materials : Specimens-Round Bar (Mild Steel & Aluminum)

Do

Lo

Fig 4. Standard Specimen

4.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

4.1 Set-Up Procedure

4.1.1 Make sure that the primary power supply capacity is properly connected.
4.1.2 Make sure that the power supply cable is properly connected to the
connector.
(Note that most of the accessories such as the recorder and
data processor need a single-phase power supply. Provide a power supply
for such equipment separately, in addition to the power supply for the
testing machine).
4.1.3 Turn ON the power supply circuit breaker of the testing machine.
4.1.4 Turn ON the power switch.

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MMK 20203 Strength of Materials Laboratory Module

4.1.5 If the emergency stop switch on the main frame is locked, turn this switch to unlock
it. When the emergency stop switch is locked, power cannot be supplied to the
servo amplifier.
4.1.6 Calibrate the force amplifier.
4.1.7 Mounting the compression test jig.

Note :
To stabilize the measurement system of the testing machine, take a warm-up time of appox. 15
minutes after turning ON the power.

4.2 Test Procedure

4.2.1 For each specimen, measure the diameter, Do and gauge length, Lo using a
venier clipper.
4.2.2 Put the specimen at the center of platens.
4.2.3 The crosshead speed will be given to you by the assistant.
4.2.4 Start the test by pressing the “START” button.
4.2.5 After the specimen has broken, press the stop button. Then remove specimen.
4.2.6 Obtain the data from data acquisition software of Shimadzu machine. Make sure
you got the correct data, that are load and elongation data. Save the data in
ASCII file so that you can edit it later by using spreadsheet software.
4.2.7 Measure the final diameter, D of the specimen using venier clipper. The final
Diameter, D is the maximum diameter which occurred at the bulge out.
4.2.8 Measure the distance between the lines that you scratched on the specimen.
This distance is the final length, L.
4.2.9 Make a sketch of the failed specimen. Be sure to identify the bulge out and
fracture regions. You may take the specimen with you and keep it.
4.2.10 Repeat with another specimen.

4.3 Shut-Down Procedure

4.3.1 Turn OFF the power switch.

4.3.2 Turn OFF the power supply circuit breaker.
4.3.3 Turn OFF the circuit breaker of the primary power supply (at the user’s site).
4.3.4 Remove the compression test equipment.

5.0 ANALYSIS

5.1 Complete Table 1 for the original dimensions and the final dimensions of mild
steel and aluminum specimens.
5.2 Construct a stress-strain curve from the load-elongation curve.
i. First, complete your load-elongation curve data in Table 2. For each
point, compute also the stress and strain (engineering values). Use
percent (%) strain as the unit for strain and MPa as the unit for stress. It is
expected you have a proper knowledge to compute it by using
spreadsheet software. Use Eq. 2.1 (stress) and Eq. 2.2 (strain) to
compute engineering stress and strain.

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ii. Next, construct the load-elongation curves by utilizing the given

spreadsheet and name it as Fig. 1. The load is on the y-axis and
elongation is on the x-axis. The unit of load and elongation are kN and
mm, respectively.
iii. Construct the stress vs. strain for mild steel and aluminum. The stress is
on the y-axis while the strain is on x-axis.
5.3 Based on graph of stress vs. strain for both specimens (Fig. 2) calculate their
mechanical properties as required for Table 3. Also calculate Poisson’s ratio
based on final deformation of the specimen.

6.0 RESULTS

TABLE 1

Material Name Mild Steel Aluminium

Original Diameter, Do (mm)
Original Gauge Length, Lo (mm)
Final Diameter, D (mm)
Final Gauge Length, L (mm)
% Elongation (%)
% Reduction of Area (%)

TABLE 2 (a) Test data for Mild Steel specimen

Load Elongation Stress Strain

No
( kN ) ( mm ) ( Mpa ) (%)

1
2
…
end

TABLE 2 (b) Test data for Aluminum specimen

Load Elongation Stress Strain

No
( kN ) ( mm ) ( Mpa ) (%)

1
2
…
end

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MMK 20203 Strength of Materials Laboratory Module

Fig. 1(a) Force vs. Elongation curve (Mild Steel)

Fig. 1(b) Force vs. Elongation curve (Aluminum)

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MMK 20203 Strength of Materials Laboratory Module

Fig. 2(a) Stress vs. Strain (Mild Steel)

Fig. 2(b) Stress vs. Strain (Aluminum)

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TABLE 3: Mechanical Properties

Material Name Mild Steel Aluminum

Young’s Modulus (Gpa)
Elastic Limit (MPa)
Yield Stress (MPa)
Ultimate Stress (MPa)
Poisson’s Ratio

Fig. 3 Comparison of Stress vs. Strain for Mild steel and Aluminum

7.0 DISCUSSION

7.1 Briefly summarize the key results of experiment (Table 1, Fig. 1 & 2).
- Discuss about the trends and the behaviour of your results.

7.2 Briefly summarize the comparison of the two types of material (Table 3 & Fig. 3).

7.3 Explain the significance of your findings.

- Explain the significance about your results and why is it of interest to you.

8.0 CONCLUSION

8.1 Conclude the achievements of the experiment objectives.

8.2 Highlight key results of compression test results.

9.0 REFERENCES

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