FACULTY OF PETROLEUM AND RENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

THERMODYNAMICS LABORATORY

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT

COMPRESSION TEST (E7)

Name AZIZI BIN ABDULLAH (A13KP0019)

MOHAMAD NAZRIN BIN MOHAMAD NAZARI
(A3KP0052)
LING HUA SID (A13KP0144)
NEESHA BALU A/P BALU (A13KP0092)
YASIR ABDALLA HASSAN ABOUD (A13KP0139)

Group / Section GROUP F / SECTION 2

Supervisor ENCIK JUSNI ALI

Date of Experiment 21ST APRIL 2015

Date of Submission 28TH APRIL 2015

1.0 ABSTRACT

10 ton Universal Testing Machine, Model ET-2201-UTM is used to determine the modulus
of elasticity and the strength of compression of each specimen. When a simple compressive
load is applied to a certain material, the following kinds of deformation may happen:
elastic/plastic shortening in ductile materials, crushing and fracture in brittle materials, a
sudden bending deformation called buckling in long, slender bars or combinations of these.
These properties are very important to know in order to choose a very suitable material to
construct building, airplane wings, bridge and others. For instance, aluminium alloy is used to
make airplane wing and it is necessary to know the characteristics so that any excessive
deformation, crack or fracture will not be occurred. From this experiment, relation between
load and compression of a specimen will be used to identify modulus of elasticity, E. The
data is calculated and the stress, versus strain, diagram is plotted. Comparison between the
modulus of elasticity, E in compression with tension is made. Based on calculated data and
plotted graph conclusions are made up. The experimental values might be slightly different
from the theory as errors might arise during the experiment.

2.0 INTRODUCTION

When specimen that has ductile properties were loaded in compression instead of tension,
basically the stress-strain curve obtained would be the same through its initial straight line
portion and through the beginning of the portion of corresponding to yield and strain
hardening. Particularly significant is the fact that for given steel, the yield strength is the
same in both tension and compression. For greater values of the strain, the tension and
compression stress-strain curves diverge, and it should be noted that necking cannot happen
in compression. For most brittle materials, the ultimate strength in compression is much
bigger than the ultimate strength in tension. Concrete is an example of brittle material with
different properties in tension and compression, whose stress-strain diagram is shown in
figure 1.1.
3.0 THEORY

Stress, σ = P (loaded applied, N)

A (area of the specimen, m2)

Strain, ε = δ (deformation, m)
L (original length, m)

According to Hooke’s Law:

Modulus of elasticity, E = σ/ε

FIGURE 1: Test Specimen under Compression Loading

 σU, tension Rupture, tension

Linear elastic range

Rupture, compression σU, compression

FIGURE 1.1: Stress-Strain Diagram for Concrete

4.0 OBJECTIVES

 To determine the modulus of elasticity, E of the materials in compression.

 To compare the properties in compression and those in tension.

5.0 PROCEDURE

1. The knob on the upper right hand side of the pump was turned to release the master
cylinder as far as it will go and the load frame being moved down to its lowest
position and the knob is tighten back like before.
2. The diameter of the specimen provided was measured in 3 parts before the experiment
begin.
3. The specimen was placed on the compression plate (yellow).
4. The specimen was leaded by pumping pump slowly and continuously until it touches
the upper steel compression plate.
5. The compression measurement dial was set up after the specimen was properly placed
on the plate.
6. The pumping was loaded slowly and constantly with a low raising stroke of the
handle.
7. The dial gauge and sample were observed. The force from pressure gauge was read
behind the pump every 5 mm and was made of it with corresponding compression.
8. The pressure reading was taken until the pressure reaches 300 kg/cm2 (±20).
6.0 RESULTS

Material : Aluminium

Diameter : 17.2mm

Length : 38.8 mm

Elongation ,δ(mm) Load , P Load , P (N) Strain ,ε Stress , σ

(kg/cm2) (MPa)
0 0 0 0 0
5 20 455.97 0.1289 1.962
10 30 683.95 0.2577 2.943
15 50 1139.92 0.3866 4.905
20 70 1595.89 0.5155 6.867
25 90 2051.86 0.6443 8.829
30 110 2507.83 0.7732 10.791
35 130 2963.79 0.9021 12.753
40 150 3419.70 1.0309 14.715
45 170 3875.66 1.1598 16.677
50 190 4331.62 1.2887 18.639
55 220 5015.56 1.4175 21.582
60 240 5471.52 1.5464 23.544
65 260 5927.48 1.6753 25.506
70 290 6611.42 1.8041 28.448

Material : Steel

Diameter : 19.2 mm

Length : 38 mm

Elongation ,δ(mm) Load , P Load , P (N) Strain ,ε Stress , σ

(kg/cm2) (MPa)
0 0 0 0 0
5 10 283.9 0.1316 0.9807
10 20 567.8 0.2632 1.9613
15 40 1135.6 0.3947 3.9226
20 80 2271.2 0.5263 7.8450
25 100 2839.0 0.6579 9.8066
30 130 3690.7 0.7895 12.7485
35 160 4542.4 0.9211 15.6905
40 190 5394.1 1.0526 18.6325
45 220 6245.8 1.1842 21.5744
50 250 7097.5 1.3158 24.5164
55 280 7949.2 1.4474 27.4584
60 300 8517.0 1.5789 29.4197
Sample calculation for table 1
a) To calculate area:
πd2 π(0.0172)2
Area = = = 2.324 x 10−4 m2
4 4

b) To calculate stress:
20kg −4 2
10000cm2 9.81m
Load = ∙ 2.324 x 10 m ∙ ∙
cm2 1m2 s2
= 455.97kgm/s2
= 455.97N
P 455.97N
Stress, σ = = = 1.962MPa
A 2.324 x 10−4 m2

c) To calculate strain:
δ 5mm
Strain, ε = = = 0.1289
L 38.8mm

Sample calculation for table 2

a) To calculate area:
πd2 π(0.0192)2
Area = = = 2.895 x 10−4 m2
4 4

b) To calculate stress:
10kg −4 2
10000cm2 9.81m
Load = ∙ 2.895 x 10 m ∙ ∙
cm2 1m2 s2
2
= 283.9kgm/s
= 283.9N
P 283.9N
Stress, σ = = = 0.9807MPa
A 2.895 x 10−4 m2

c) To calculate strain:
δ 5mm
Strain, ε = = = 0.1316
L 38mm
 Stress vs Strain for Aluminium
30
y = 15.66x - 0.9156
25 R² = 0.996

20
Stress , σ (MPa)

15

10

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
-5
Strain , ε

Modulus of Elasticity (E) = Gradient of the graph

= 15.66 MPa

Stress vs Strain for Steel

35

30 y = 20.025x - 2.3819
R² = 0.9903
25
Stress , σ (MPa)

20

15

10

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8
-5
Strain , ε

Modulus of Elasticity (E) = Gradient of the graph

= 20.025 MPa
7.0 DISCUSSION
From the two graphs, the modulus of elasticity of both the aluminium and steel are 15.66
MPa and 20.025 MPa respectively. From the gradient of graph, steel has higher E then
aluminium. The graph has a little error since the graph not so linear at the beginning. Even so,
this will not mean the specimen; the aluminium and steel are in the range of non-elastic
deformation or plastic deformation. In fact, E should be the same in tension and compression
which is proved from the experiments.

Error in the experiment:

1. Parallax error might have occurred while reading the dial gauge.
2. Loading is not done at a fixed interval or uniformly may have an effect on the accuracy of
the data.
3. Round off errors that occur during the calculation of load, stress and strain.
4. The end of specimen where it was pressed against the grip of the testing machine is not
even or flat. This will cause significant errors to the data.
5. The experiment is not carried out beyond the yield point. Therefore we do not have data
for the stain and stress of specimen beyond elastic range.

Suggestions:
1. Make sure that the observer’s eye is parallel with dial gauge meter to get more accurate
data.
2. The experiment should be repeat in several times to overcome the parallax error.
3. Concentrate in handling the load ump to make sure that the loads are pump constantly.

8.0 CONCLUSION

Through the experiment we know that aluminum is more elastic than steel. Steel has the
modulus of elasticity, E = 15.66 MPa while aluminium has E = 20.025 MPa. However it is
not the real value as the testing machine must stop before the loading exceed 300 kg/cm 2.
Value of E elasticity obtained for compression is larger than that of tensile test for same
material. Therefore material can sustained higher compressive force than tensile force.
9.0 REFERENCES

1. www.linnbenton.edu/perform/compress

2. www.popularmechanics.com/cars

3. www.whatsmyip.org

10. APPENDICES

Sample Calculation for Aluminium

a) To calculate area:
πd2 π(0.0172)2
Area = = = 2.324 x 10−4 m2
4 4

b) To calculate stress:
20kg −4 2
10000cm2 9.81m
Load = ∙ 2.324 x 10 m ∙ ∙
cm2 1m2 s2
= 455.97kgm/s2
= 455.97N
P 455.97N
Stress, σ = = = 1.962MPa
A 2.324 x 10−4 m2

c) To calculate strain:
δ 5mm
Strain, ε = = = 0.1289
L 38.8mm