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Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology

Lab Report

Course Title: Mechanics of Solids Sessional

Course Code : MTE 3156

Date of Experiment: 13/03/2021

Date of Submission: 27/03/2021

Submitted By Submitted To
Name: Safwat Mukarrama Choudhury Dr. Mhia Md. Zaglul Shahadat,
Roll No: 1708019 Professor,
Session: 2017-2018 Head, Department of Mechanical,

Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Engineering,

RUET. RUET.
Experiment No:01
Name of the Experiment: Study & Observation of Compression Test of Given
Wooden Block.

Objectives:
1. To observe the failure of the wooden block under compressive load using U.T.M.
2. To determine the compressive strength of the given wooden block.
3. To determine the stress and strain developed by the wooden block.
4. To determine the nature of the stress vs. strain curve for the wooden block.
5. To determine the modulus of elasticity of the wooden block.

Theory
The mechanical properties of a material are those which affect the mechanical strength and
ability of material to be molded in suitable shape. Some typical mechanical properties are
strength, toughness, hardness, hardenability, brittleness, malleability, ductility, creep and slip,
resilience, fatigue and others.

Strength is the property of a material which opposes the deformation or breakdown of material in
presence of external forces or load. The maximum stress is that any material withstands before
destructive is called ultimate strength.

Stress
In mechanics, stress is defined as a force applied per unit area. It is the expression of force per
unit area to structural members that are subjected to external force or induced forces. It is given
by the formula

σ=FA
where,
σ is the stress applied
F is the force applied
A is the area of force application
The unit of stress is N/m2

Stress applied to a material can be of two types. They are:

Tensile Stress:

It is the force applied per unit area which results in the increase in length (or area) of a body.
Objects under tensile stress become thinner and longer.

Compressive Stress:

It is the force applied per unit area which results in the decrease in length (or area) of a body.
The object under compressive stress becomes thicker and shorter.

Strain
According to the strain definition, it is defined as the amount of deformation experienced by the
body in the direction of force applied, divided by initial dimensions of the body. The relation for
deformation in terms of length of a solid is given below.

ϵ=δ / L
where,

ϵ is the strain due to stress applied

δ is deformation
L is the original length of the material.

The strain is a dimensionless quantity as it just defines the relative change in shape.

Depending on stress application, strain experienced in a body can be of two types. They are:

Tensile Strain:

It is the change in length (or area) of a body due to the application of tensile stress.

Compressive Strain:

It is the change in length (or area) of a body due to the application of compressive strain.
 1 2
Figure: (1) Stress of a body.& (2) Strain of a body.

Stress-Strain Curve
The stress-strain relationship for materials is given by the material’s stress-strain curve. Under
different loads, the stress and corresponding strain values are plotted. An example of a stress-
strain curve is given below.

Figure: The Stress-Strain a curve( showed the machanical strength range).

Explanation Stress-Strain Graph

The stress-strain graph has different points or regions as follows:

 Proportional limit
 Elastic limit
 Yield point
 Ultimate stress point
 Fracture or breaking point
(i) Proportional Limit

It is the region in the stress-strain curve that obeys Hooke’s Law. In this limit, the ratio of stress
with strain gives us proportionality constant known as young’s modulus. The straight line in the
graph is called the proportional limit.

(ii) Elastic Limit

It is the point in the graph up to which the material returns to its original position when the load
acting on it is completely removed. Beyond this limit, the material doesn’t return to its original
position and a plastic deformation starts to appear in it.

(iii) Yield Point

The yield point is defined as the point at which the material starts to deform plastically. After the
yield point is passed, permanent plastic deformation occurs. There are two yield points (i) upper
yield point (ii) lower yield point.

(iv) Ultimate Stress Point

It is a point that represents the maximum stress that a material can endure before failure. Beyond
this point, failure occurs.

(v) Fracture or Breaking Point

It is the point in the stress-strain curve at which the failure of the material takes place.

Hooke’s Law
From the origin a straight line has drawn that is called proportional limit. This linear relation
between elongation and the axial force causing was first noticed by Sir Robert Hooke in 1678
and is called Hooke’s law that within proportional limit, the stress is directly proportional to
strain. In mathematical form,

σ ∞ϵ

Or σ = Eϵ
Where,
σ = Stress
ϵ = Strain
E = Modulus of Elasticity or Young’s Modulus.
Modulus of Elasticity
Modulus of elasticity is a quantity which shows the tendency of a material being deform
elasticity when a stress is applied to it. It is denoted by E.

E=σ/ϵ

Required Apparatus
 Slide Calipers.
 Universal Testing Machine.
 Dial Indicator
 Wooden Block.

Working Procedures
1. The cross sectional area of the given wooden block was measured with the help of slide
calipers.
2. The wooden block was placed in the loading unit of the Universal Testing Machine.
3. The movable cross head of the loading unit was correctly placed on the specimen with
the help of leading screw.

Figure: The wooden specimen has placed in the loading part of U.T.M and held by movable
cross head.
 4. The Dial Indicator was placed and connected to the loading unit of the U.T.M.
5. The deflection dial of the Dial-Indicator was set at zero point.
6. The load dial of the control unit of the U.T.M, was set at zero point.
7. The pump of the U.T.M was turned on.
8. The load valve of the U.T.M was released.
9. For the deflection 0.1 mm, the corresponding load was noted down.
10. For change in deflection 0.1, the corresponding load was noted down.
11. The load dial was stop and after a few time later, the load dial started to move backward.
The point at the load dial started to move backward, this load was noted as ultimate
stress.
12. The load valve was closed and unload valve was released.
13. The calculation was done using the equations which are described in the theory.
14. Using the collected data, stress vs strain graph was drawn.

Data Table
Cross Sectional Area of the Wooden Block A = 6.12 x 10-4 m2

Length of the Wooden Block L = 153. 25 mm

No of Load Deflectio Stress Average Strain Average Modulus

obs. P n σ Stress Strain of
(KN) δ P/ A σ ϵ=δ ϵ Elasticity
(mm) KN/ P/ A /L E=
mm2 KN/ σ/ϵ
mm2

01 14.7 0.1 2.4x107 6.54x 3.66x

10-4 1010
02 16.2 0.2 2.64x 1.307x 2.02x
107 10-3 1010
03 18 0.3 2.94x 1.96x 1.5x
107 10-3 1010
04 19.5 0.4 3.19x 2.61x 1.22x
107 3.67x 10-3 5.23x 1010
05 21 0.5 3.43x 107 3.17x 10-3 1.08x
107 10-3 1010
06 22.2 0.6 3.65x 3.92x 9.31x
107 10-3 109
07 23.2 0.7 3.70x 4.57x 8.09x
107 10-3 109
08 23.9 0.8 3.91x 5.23x 7.47x
107 10-3 109
09 24.5 0.9 4.00x 5.88x 6.81x
107 10-3 109
No of Load Deflectio Stress Average Strain Average Modulus
obs. P n σ Stress Strain of
(KN) δ P/ A σ ϵ=δ ϵ Elasticity
(mm) KN/ P/ A /L E = σ /
mm2 KN/ ϵ
mm2

10 25 1.0 4.08x 6.53x 6.24x

107 10-3 109
11 25.4 1.1 4.15x 7.19x 5.77x
107 10-3 109
12 25.6 1.2 4.18x 3.67x 7.84x 5.23x 5.33x
107 107 10-3 10-3 109
13 25.8 1.3 4.216x 8.49x 4.95x
107 10-3 109
14 26 1.4 4.248x 9.15x 4.64x
107 10-3 109
15 26.1 1.5 4.265x 9.81x 4.54x
107 10-3 109
Graph & Results

Stress(KN/mm2)
45000000
40000000
35000000
30000000
25000000 Stress(KN/mm2)
20000000
15000000
10000000
5000000
0
0 0 0 0 01 01 01 01
0. 0. 0. 0.

Figure: The Stress-Strain Graph for Given Wooden Specimen.

Slope = Modulus of Elasticity = Stress/ Strain = 7.172x 109.KN/mm2

The Ultimate Compressive Strength = 26.1 KN.

Precautions
1. The cross sectional area of block was measured carefully.
2. The movable cross head was set with the specimen correctly.
3. The load dial was set at zero, then the U.TM was started.
4. The pump of UTM was started then the load valve was released.

Discussions
The compression test of the wooden block was done with the help of Universal Testing Machine.
The deflection of the specimen was measured by Dial-Indicator and load was measured by load
dial of the control unit of U.T.M. The modulus of elasticity of the given specimen is less than
that of steel and bronze. The stress-strain curve wasn’t completely straight line because in
practical all molecule of the material strength was not same at a large scale of load.

Conclusion
In this compression test, U.T.M machine is used. U.T.M machine compress one specimen until it
bends. Thus one can get ultimate strength of specimen. Compressive strength, modulus of
elasticity, ultimate strength of one specimen is very important in choosing a proper material in
proper project. The experiment shows that the wooden specimen strength is high but less than
steel and bronze.

References
1. Pytel, A. and Singer, F.L. (1987).Strength of Materials. New York: HarperCollins
Publishers Inc.
2. https://byjus.com/physics/stress-and-strain