VNR VIGNANA JYOTHI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
II B. TECH, I SEMESTER
STRENGTH OF MATERIALS LABORATORY
ROCKWELL HARDNESS TEST
AIM
To determine the Rockwell hardness number for the given specimen.
APPARATUS
Rockwell hardness testing machine
THEORY
The Rockwell test is similar to the Brinell test in that the hardness number is found by the
action of an indentor under given static loads. Various loads and indentors are used
depending on the condition of test. It differs from the Brinell test in terms of the indentors
used and the applied loads. The resulting indentations in the Brinell test will be smaller &
shallower. The Rockwell test is applicable even to test materials having hardness beyond
the scope of the Brinell test. This test is faster because it gives direct readings. It is widely
used in industrial work.
The test is conducted in a specifically designed machine that applies load through a lever
system and gives the hardness number directly. The indentor or penetrator may be either a
hard steel ball or a diamond cone. The hardness value as read from a specifically graduated
dial is an arbitrary number that is related to the depth or indentations.
Table 1: Choice of loads & indentors for various hardness tests
Major 60 100 150
Load (kg)
Indentor Diamond cone Hard steel ball Diamond cone
(1/16” dia)
Hardness Rockwell A Rockwell B Rockwell C
Scale
Suitable Testing of case Annealed or hardened tempered Annealed or hardened
for hardened steel steel. Non ferrous metals, copper & tempered or case
alloys, soft steel, aluminum alloys hardened steel
PROCEDURE
1. Set the load selector according to the material of the specimen and Rockwell scale
chosen.
2. Keep the lever in position ‘A’
3. Place the specimen on the testing table
4. Raise the specimen such that it will push the indentor & the small pointer moves to the
red spot. The long pointer automatically stops at ‘0’ on black scale. That means a minor
load of 10kg is applied. If there is any difference, unload and check the weight on load
selector and other adjustments. If the red spot is crossed, lower the specimen, select
new spot on the specimen and again raise the specimen as above.
5. Turn the lever from position ‘A’ to ‘B’ slowly so that the major load is brought into
action without any jerks.
6. When the long pointer of the dial gauge reaches a steady position take back the lever to
‘A’ position slowly releasing the major load.
7. Read the value against the long pointer. That is the direct reading of the hardness of the
material of the specimen. Resulting RHN represents the difference in depth from the
zero reference position as a result of the application of the major load.
8. Turn back the hand wheel and remove the specimen.
9. Repeat the procedure for two or three times on each specimen.
OBSERVATIONS
Table 2: Rockwell Hardness test
Sl. No Material Scale Weight Indento Rockwell Hardness number
s r
RESULTS
Rockwell Hardness number of brass = RHN =
DISCUSSIONS
Advantage of Rockwell Hardness Test over Brinell Hardness Test