ABSTRACT Research has shown that the deflection of a body increases as the force applied to the system increases.

The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the relationship between deflection and load, hence determining the modulus of elasticity of some engineering materials. The results obtained for the experimental elastic modulus in the first and second part of the experiment were 1074Gpa and 0.93Gpa respectively. The accuracy of these results was low when compared with the expected theoretical values as a result of certain errors in the course of the experiment. However, the slopes of the deflection versus load graphs in this experiment showslinear relationship which was consistent with initial predictions . INTRODUCTION Understanding the elastic behaviour of materials is very important to the physicists and engineers. According to Okeke and Anyakoha (2006) Hookes law states, the deformation of an elastic body is directly proportional to the force producing it provided the limit of proportionality is not exceeded. Mathematically, F= -Ke similarly, when a force is applied to a cantilever beam of a certain length , a deflection is observed and the value could be measured theoretically from the relation;

d=

Where L = Length of the beam to the load point E = Elastic modulus F = Force applied and = thickness of the beam

Title: The elastic behaviour of naterials. Name: ChinakaThankGod, Student number: 100065123, Date: 15 -06-2011

In this experiment ,the modulus of elasticity for a cantilever beam and a copper specimen were respectively determined and the relation between deflection and force was also investigated.

EXPERIMENT ARRANGEMENT

Figure1:Diagram of the experiment setup

APPARATUS 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Wide and thin beam specimen A set of weights A meter ruler to measure the length of the beam A Micrometer to measure the thickness of the beam Vernier Gauge A dial indicator A load hanger

Title: The elastic behaviour of naterials. Name: ChinakaThankGod, Student number: 100065123, Date: 15 -06-2011

PROCEDURE 1) The length of the beam was measured up to the loading point using a meter rule 2) The thickness of the beam specimen w as measured with the vernier gauge and the readings recorded. 3) The beam was placed on the supports and the dial gauge was positioned in such a way as to read the resulting deflection of the beam. 4) The dial gauge was adjusted to zero before placing the load 5) A load of 2 N was placed on th e load hanger and the resulting de flection readings on the dial g auge were recorded. 6) The weights on the hanger was increased by the addition of more loads 7) The weights were gradually re moved and at each stage the resulting deflections were recorded accordingly.

RESULT Table 1: Reading for loads and deflections Applied Load ( N) Test 1 ( Loading ) ( mm ) 0.00 1.71 3.71 5.60 7.45 9.30 11.29 Experimental deflection Test 2 (Unloading ) ( mm ) 0.00 1.87 3.77 5.62 7.47 9.30 11.29 Mean Result (mm) 0.00 1.79 3.79 5.61 7.46 9.30 11.29

0.00 2 4 6 8 10 12

Title: The elastic behaviour of naterials. Name: ChinakaThankGod, Student number: 100065123, Date: 15 -06-2011

From the data above, the graph of load versus deflection was plotted for the experimental deflections ( see appendix ) and the gradient was also calculated.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS The slope of the load versus deflection graphs obtained in t his experiment for the experimental deflection was 1084N/m . It was observed from figure 2 ,that as the value of the applied force increases, the resulting deflections also increases. Thus , the applied force is proportional to deflection . However, there were significant variations in the values obtained for experimental elastic modulus and the given theoretical values . These discrepancies may have resulted from both human and systemat ic errors. One likely source of error may be as a result of the occurrence of zero errors. It was observed that the initial reading of the dial gauge indicator was not always zero. Another possible source of error could be errors due to parallax while the readings were taken. A future experiments should ensure that measuring instrument be calibrated in such a way as to reduce zero errors. Furthermore,errors due to parallax should be minimised as this could significantly affect the accuracy of the results.

CONCLUSION The objective of this experiment was to investigate the relationship between load and deflection. From the graph, it was observed that as the load increases, the deflection also increases proportionally. The value of the experimental elastic modulus f or the first part of the experiment was1074Gpa and this value vary significantly with published theoretical data. The accuracy of these results may have bee n limited due to both human and systematic errors, however, the relationship between load and deflection was consistent with the initial pr edictions.

Title: The elastic behaviour of naterials. Name: ChinakaThankGod, Student number: 100065123, Date: 15 -06-2011

PART TWO

AIM: This part of the experiment aims at determining the tensile strength and elastic modulus of a Copper specimen using the Hounsfield tensile testing machine. APPARATUS 1) 2) 3) 4) Hounsfield testing device A copper specimen Vernier calliper printer

PROCEDURE 1) The original gauge length and diameter of the copper specimen was measured and recorded 2) The mercury indicator was set to zero before the testing 3) The control key of the Hounsfield testing machine was pressed on to start the testing 4) The percentage reduction in area was measured after necking occurred 5) After the testing, the result of the experiment was electronically plotted.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION The modulus of elasticity for the copper specimen was determined from the slope of the graph obtained in figure 3 (append ix iii). The actual value for E was 0.93 Gpa which was obtained using the relation E

The result in this experiment was too low when compared with already published data for the young modulus of copper . Reasons for the low accuracy of th is result could be due to human and systematic errors. For example, while measuring the diameter of the specimen using the vernier calliper, it was found that zero errors occurred steadily. Another source of error which may likely affect the accuracy of th is result could be errors due to parallax when the readings were taken. Future
Title: The elastic behaviour of naterials. Name: ChinakaThankGod, Student number: 100065123, Date: 15 -06-2011

experiments should ensure that the main source s of these errors are identified and corrected as these could help improve the result of the experiment.

CONCLUSION The purpose of this experiment was to determine the elastic modulus of copper. The result for the young modulus was 0.93 Gpa. Comparing this with some existing data for the specimen, it was found that the accuracy was significantly lower than the expected value. However , the load deflection graph shows a linear relation and was consistent in the experiment.

Title: The elastic behaviour of naterials. Name: ChinakaThankGod, Student number: 100065123, Date: 15 -06-2011

APPENDICES SAMPLE CALCULATION FORELASTIC MODULUS The following data were obtained for the first part of this experiment a. Thickness of beam = 4.74mm b. Length of beam = 500mm

1) The elastic modulus for the first part of the experiment was calculated using the relation; d =

From this equation, E =

Where

is the slope of the load deflection graph

E=

= 1074 Gpa

2) The following data were obtained for the second part of the experiment
a. Original gauge length of copper specimen =18.05mm b. Original diameter = 4.45 mm c. percentage reduction in area after necking =52%

The elastic modulus for copper wascalculated from the relation; Slope = Where A = Cross-sectional area of copper and E = the original gauge length

=

Since A =

= 1.5

m2

Title: The elastic behaviour of naterials. Name: ChinakaThankGod, Student number: 100065123, Date: 15 -06-2011

E =

= 0.93 Gpa

REFERENCES
OkekeP.N, and Anyakoha Senior Secondary Physics. Revised edition, Macmillan education, London, 2006.

Title: The elastic behaviour of naterials. Name: ChinakaThankGod, Student number: 100065123, Date: 15 -06-2011