Student ID: 2021UME0235

Name: Vatsal Tyagi

COMPOSITE LAB
STATIC TENSILE & FLEXURAL TEST on UTM

AIM:
1. To determine the strength, stiffness and bending behaviour of a
composite material when subjected to uniaxial and transverse load
respectively
2. To evaluate difference in behaviour of Composite formed by Hand Layup
v/s VARIM method
INTRODUCTION:
TENSILE TEST SETUP:
Load Application:
1. The movable grip pulls the specimen at a constant rate, creating uniaxial
tension
2. A load cell measures the force being applied to the specimen

Fig 1. Universal Testing Machine

Displacement Measurement:
1. An extensometer or sensors measure the elongation of the specimen
The Data is recorded in the UTM Machine with the UTM recording the
applied load and the extensometer informing for the elongation in the body
to generate stress-strain curve.

Fig 2. Extensometer
Specimen Dimensions:

Fig 3. Tensile Test Specimen

Length: 250 mm
Width: 25 mm
Thickness: 3 mm

FLEXURAL TEST SETUP:

Load Application:
1. The test specimen (rectangular or beam-shaped) is placed on two
support points (span length L).
2. A loading nose applies force at the centre (three-point bending).
3. The loading nose moves downward at a constant rate, applying a
transverse load.
 4. The specimen experiences both tensile (on the bottom surface) and
compressive (on the top surface) stresses.

Fig 4. Flexural Testing Machine Setup

Displacement Measurement:
Records the deflection of the specimen under load.
The test continues until the specimen breaks or reaches a predefined
deflection limit
Specimen:

Fig 5. Flexural Testing Specimen

Length: 125 mm
Width: 12.7 mm
Thickness: 3.2 mm
PROCEDURE:
TENSILE TEST:
1. Prepare 4-layer specimen with Hand Layup and VARIM process of
dimension: 300mm x 300mm
2. Cut the laminate in the desired dimensions
 3. Add a layer of sandpaper at the end of the sample for proper grip, to be
adhered after roughening the ends of the sample
4. Check that the machine is calibrated and in proper working condition
5. Place an extensometer on the specimen to measure strain during the
test
6. Verify the grips, load cell, and extensometer are appropriate for the
material and test
7. Input test parameters such as strain rate, load limits, and gauge length in
the control system of the UTM
8. Initiate the test by applying a uniaxial tensile force at a constant rate
9. Ensure the specimen remains aligned and does not slip in the grips
10.Continue applying the load until the specimen breaks or fails
11.After completion of the test capture the final dimensions or fracture
surfaces
FLEXURAL TEST:
1. Prepare 4-layer specimen with Hand Layup and VARIM process of
dimension: 300mm x 300mm
2. Cut the laminate in the desired dimensions
3. Verify that the UTM is calibrated and equipped with the appropriate
flexural test fixture, 3-point fixture for our case
4. Set test parameters like: Span length (L), Load rate (mm/min), Deflection
limit or failure criteria.
5. Position the loading nose at the centre of the specimen
6. Ensure the loading nose(s) are directly above the specimen to prevent
uneven loading
7. Record the applied force and corresponding deflection continuously
8. Record till the maximum deflection or yield point is reached
 STRESS (MPA) STRESS (MPA)
TENSILE TEST:

0
50
100
150
200
250
0
50
100
150
200
250
OBSERVATION:

1.9E-04 2.0E-04
3.4E-04 3.9E-04
5.0E-04 5.9E-04
6.5E-04 7.9E-04
8.2E-04 9.8E-04
9.7E-04 1.2E-03
1.1E-03 1.4E-03
1.3E-03 1.6E-03
1.4E-03 1.8E-03
1.6E-03 2.0E-03
1.7E-03 2.1E-03
1.9E-03 1.1E-02
2.0E-03 6.2E-03
2.1E-03 STRAIN -2.7E-03

STRAIN
2.3E-03 1.4E-04
2.4E-03 -4.2E-03
VARIM GRAPH

2.6E-03 1.4E-05
2.7E-03 7.1E-05

HAND-LAYUP GRAPH
2.8E-03 9.0E-05
3.0E-03 9.6E-05
3.1E-03 7.6E-05
-1.6E-03 7.5E-05
Fig 6. Stress-Strain Curve for VARIM Laminate

-1.4E-03 7.7E-05
-1.3E-03 7.8E-05

Fig 7. Stress-Strain Curve for Hand-Layup Laminate

-1.2E-03 7.5E-05
-1.2E-03 7.8E-05
 RESULTS:
STRESS(MPa) STRESS (MPa)

0
2
3
4
5

-1
1
6

0
1
2
3

-0.5
0.5
1.5
2.5
FLEXURAL TEST:

0.0E+00
0.0E+00
4.5E-03
2.9E-03
9.1E-03
5.9E-03
1.4E-02
8.8E-03
1.8E-02
1.2E-02
2.3E-02
1.5E-02
2.7E-02
1.8E-02
3.2E-02
2.1E-02
3.6E-02

VARIM Tensile Strength: 418 MPa

2.3E-02
4.1E-02
2.6E-02
2.9E-02 4.5E-02

Hand-Layup Tensile Strength: 322 MPa

3.2E-02 5.0E-02
3.5E-02 5.4E-02
5.9E-02
VARIM

3.8E-02
4.1E-02 6.4E-02
STRAIN

STRAIN
HAND-LAYUP
4.4E-02 6.8E-02
4.7E-02 7.3E-02
5.0E-02 7.7E-02
5.3E-02 8.2E-02
5.6E-02 8.6E-02
5.9E-02 9.1E-02
6.2E-02 9.5E-02
6.5E-02 1.0E-01
Fig 8. Stress-Strain Curve for VARIM Laminate

6.8E-02 1.0E-01
7.0E-02 1.1E-01

Fig 9. Stress-Strain Curve for Hand-Layup Laminate

7.3E-02 1.1E-01
7.6E-02 1.2E-01