UNIVERSAL

MATERIAL
TESTER

2017/2016 PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM

The stress-strain diagram shows the different behavior of the

individual materials particularly clearly. Each material has a
characteristic pattern of stress and strain.
Prepared by teaching assistant: Abdulaziz AlSehli
References from Instruction manual Universal Material
PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Test Instructions
PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Unit description

The WP300 material testing device is a robust unit designed specifically for technical instruction and
is one of the classical materials testing devices in materials science. The flexible design of the unit permits
a wide range of different tests requiring tensile or compressive forces.

The basic unit essentially consists of the following elements

3 Machine base (1) with hand grips (11)

7 Support with cross-head (2)
8
9 Load frame with upper (3) and lower
10 cross-member (4)
Hydraulic system consisting of a main cylinder
2 (5) and a master cylinder with a hand wheel
(6)
Force display (7)
Elongation display via a dial gauge (8)
Gripping heads (9) with sample (10)
4

5 11

Machine base
The rigid machine base made of cast iron forms the
foundation and ensures stability of the test unit in
connection with 4 rubber feet. The machine base
supports the hydraulics and the frame.

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Support
The posts (1) and cross-head (2) form the fixed support of
the test unit. The various fixed sample receptacles are
2 fastened to the cross-head. The mobile load frame is also
mounted on it in low-friction linear ball bearings.
1

Tension Load frame

zone
The load frame consists of the upper (1) and lower cross-
member (2) and the guide rods (3). The load frame
Compression transmits the test force from the hydraulic main cylinder to
zone
the relevant sample. The load frame is slide-mounted in the
3 cross-head of the support. Tensile samples are clamped
2 between the upper cross-member and the cross-head,
whilst compressive samples are clamped between the
lower cross-member and the cross-head.

Hydraulic system
The test force is generated by hydraulic means. A piston in
the master cylinder (2) actuated via the hand wheel (1) and
the threaded spindle creates a hydrostatic pressure which
induces the test force in the main cylinder (3).

3 1
2

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Force display
Force display and elongation measurement
Dial gauge
for elongation The force measuring device operates according to the
manometer principle. It measures the hydrostatic pressure
in the hydraulic system. The large display with a diameter
of 160 mm facilitates precise reading. A maximum pointer
stores the maximum force.
The elongation is measured via an adjustable mounted dial
gauge. The dial gauge indicates the relative displacement
between the upper cross-member and the cross-head.

Principles of a stress-strain diagram

Fundamental principles of a stress-strain diagram

The stress-strain diagram shows the different behavior of
the individual materials particularly clearly. Each material
σ has a characteristic pattern of stress and strain.
Important material data can be read from the stress-strain
Creeping
diagram. In addition to tensile strength Rm, the limit of
Failure
proportionality Rp is particularly interesting. Beneath this
limit, the material conforms to Hooke’s law with the
modulus of elasticity E: Strain ε is proportional to stress σ
Rp Re Rm
𝜎
𝜀=
E
Strain ε
When this stress is exceeded, deformation is no longer
Stress-strain-diagram proportional to the load.
One particularly important parameter from a technical
point of view is the yield point Re. From this point
onwards, the material becomes continuously plastically
deformed. Deformation remains when the load is relieved.
To safeguard the function of the component, it should not
be loaded any further.
With some materials, such as annealed soft steel,
pronounced creeping occurs from the yield point onwards.
The sample is elongated without the load being increased
further.
With some materials, such as annealed soft steel,
pronounced creeping occurs from the yield point onwards.
The sample is elongated without the load being increased
further.
In materials without pronounced creeping, the proof stress
Rp0.2 is specified. In such a case, the material has a
permanent elongation of 0.2% which remains after relief
of the load.

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

1
steel (1), tempered steel
The adjacent diagram shows, for example, the curves of
2 hardened steel (1), tempered steel (2), soft steel (3) and an
aluminum alloy (4).
3 The hardened steel (1) ruptures virtually without plastic
deformation but has a very high tensile strength.
4
The tempered steel (2) is far tougher but still has a high
strength.
The soft, annealed steel (3) has a very high elongation but
Strain ε a low tensile strength. In this case, various materials there
Stress-strain diagram for is pronounced creeping in the transition to plastic
various materials behavior.
In the aluminum alloy (4), the stress-strain curve rises less
steeply in the elastic zone than the other steel materials
because of the lower modulus of elasticity.
The stress-strain diagram is produced from the values for
force and elongation recorded during the tensile test

Failure 𝐹 𝐿𝑢 − 𝐿0
𝜎= , 𝜀=
Creeping 𝐴0 𝐿0

Max.test force Alternatively, the load-extension diagram may be drawn

directly for pre-determined sample dimensions. In such a
case, the characteristics remain unaltered, but the time-
consuming conversion of measurements into stress and
expansion ∆L = L u − L 0
strain is unnecessary.

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Set-up

The test device is set up for the tensile test as follows.

 Twist out the hand wheel on the master cylinder
as far as it will go and move the load frame down
to its lowest position.
If this has not already been done, insert the grip-
ping heads in the upper cross-member and cross-
head.
 Screw down the gripping head with the short
bolt at the bottom and with the pressure pad.
 Gripping head with the long bolt at the top insert
the required tensile sample (WP300.02).

 Measure and note down the test length L0 of the

sample between the two marks.

 Screw the sample by hand into the lower

gripping head as far as the end stop.

 Screw the sample into the upper gripping head as

far as the end stop, by rotating the gripping head
itself.

 Tighten the nut on the upper gripping head by

hand until the gripping head is seated without
slack in the upper cross-member.

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Pre-stress
to 8 mm
Adjust the dial gauge
 Push the dial gauge upwards on the support
bar until the tracer pin is touching the driver.
Set scale
to zero
 Push the dial gauge up further and pre-stress
to 8 mm.
 Lightly pre-stress the sample using the hand
wheel until the pointer on the force display
moves. This compensates slack.
 Set the rotating scale on the dial gauge to
zero.
 Set the maximum pointer on the force display
to zero.

Performing the experiment

Slowly and constantly load the sample by rotating the hand wheel.
 Application of the force should be extended over a period of 5 - 10 min.
 It is essential to avoid sudden or jerky load application of force.
 Observe the dial gauge. Read the force from the force display every 0.1 mm and make a note of it
with the corresponding extension. From 1 mm extension, the reading interval can be extended to
0.2 mm.
 Monitor the sample and note when constriction begins. From now on, the force will no longer
increase, but instead, will tend to decrease.
 ATTENTION! Don’t be startled! Particularly with steel, rupture of the sample occurs with a loud
bang.
 Remove the sample from the gripping heads.
 Twist back the hand wheel on the master cylinder as far as it will go and move the load frame
down.

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Drawing the stress-strain diagram

Tests are performed with four different samples made from aluminum, copper, brass and steel.
The measured values are summarized in the following tables.

Tensile test
Tensile sample B6 x 30 DIN 50125 made of
AlMgSi0.5 F22

Extension Test force F Extension Test force F

Lu -L0 in in kN Lu -L0 in in kN
1/100 mm 1/100 mm
10 0.9 260 6.6
20 1.75 280 6.65
30 3.0 300 6.7
40 4.5 320 6.6
50 5.6 340 6.7
60 5.7 360 6.7
70 6.0 380 6.5
80 6.1 400 6.3
90 6.15 420 6.2
100 6.2 440 6.0
120 6.25 460 5.8
140 6.3 480 5.5
160 6.4 500 5.3
180 6.5 520 5.1
200 6.55 540 4.75
220 6.55 560 4.4
240 6.6 Bruch

260

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Tensile test
Tensile sample B6 x 30 DIN 50125 made of E-Cu

Extension Test force F Extension Test force F

Lu -L0 in in kN Lu -L0 in in kN
1/100 mm 1/100 mm
10 0.8 140 10.3
20 2.4 160 10.1
30 4.9 180 9.8
40 7.6 200 9.6
50 10.0 220 9.4
60 11.0 240 9.1
70 11.0 260 8.7
80 10.9 280 8.35
90 10.8 300 7.9
100 10.7 320 7.25
120 10.5

Tensile test
Tensile sample B6 x 30 DIN 50125 made of
CuZn39Pb3
Extension Test force F Extension Test force F
Lu -L0 in in kN Lu -L0 in in kN
1/100 mm 1/100 mm
10 1.45 140 12.8
20 3.5 160 13.0
30 6.1 180 13.4
40 8.5 200 13.45
50 10.2 220 13.6
60 11.0 240 13.8
70 11.4 260 14.0
80 11.7 280 14.0
90 12.0 300 14.1
100 12.2 320 14.4
120 12.5 340 14.45
360 14.4

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Tensile test
Tensile sample B6 x 30 DIN 50125 made of
9SMn28

Extension Test force F Extension Test force F

Lu -L0 in in kN Lu -L0 in in kN
1/100 mm 1/100 mm
10 1.5 200 16.8
20 3.5 220 16.7
30 6.3 240 16.6
40 9.5 260 16.3
50 12.75 280 16.0
60 15.3 300 15.7
70 16.2 320 15.4
80 16.4 340 15.0
90 16.5 360 14.7
100 16.6 380 14.3
120 16.6 400 13.75
140 16.75 420 13.3
160 16.75 440 12.75
180 16.8 460 12.0

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

10.0

9.0

8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0

Extension ∆L in mm
Load-extension diagram for tensile sample B6 x 30 DIN
50125 made of AlMgSi0.5 F22

20.0

18.0

16.0

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0
Extension ∆L in mm
Load-extension diagram for tensile sample B6 x 30 DIN 50125 made of E-

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PLOTTING A STRESS-STRAIN DIAGRAM Universal Material Tester

Cu
20.0

18.0

16.0

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0
∆L in mm
Load-extension diagram for tensile sample B6 x 30 DIN 50125 made of
CuZn39Pb3

20.0

18.0

16.0

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0
∆L in mm
Load-extension diagram for tensile sample B6 x 30 DIN 50125 made of 9SMn28

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