M.E.

3300 Lab Memo

TO: Sameer Nandikar

FROM: Mohammad Yusuf (u0945221)
DATE: 2/8/2017
SUBJECT: Hardness lab
CC: Dr. Newell
Attachments: 3

Results:

In the lab, five materials were tested on by using Rockwell hardness test. For each specimens, 4
tests were conducted by using the Rockwell Hardness Tester, so that average value of R.H Scale
for each specimen can be obtained. The results from the hardness test are presented in two tables
below. Table 1 is raw data table for all the single readings recorded and the Table 2 is the average
value of those readings. Additionally, Table 2 also gives the value of the ultimate tensile strength
that is determined by matching the averages of each specimens with their respective R.H Scale.

Table 1. Individual readings for each material’s hardness.

Aluminum Cast Iron Hardened Annealed Mystery

Steel Steel Material
R.H Scale B C C C B C
Reading 1 61 14.5 53 27 17 70
Reading 2 58.5 24 54 23.5 12 77
Reading 3 59.5 22 54 21 7 75
Reading 4 59 21.5 50 25 12 76.5

Table 2. Average hardness and predicted UTS for each material.

Aluminum Cast Iron Hardened Annealed Mystery

Steel Steel Material
R.H Scale B C C C B C
Average 59 20.5 52.75 24.125 12 74.7
Hardness
UTS (MPa) 375 760 1950 820 741 3803

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 M.E. 3300 Lab Memo

Questions:

1. Define the term “hardness” in your own words.

Hardness is a measure of how resistant a material is to permanent shape change due to localized
plastic deformation. Materials with high hardness can withstand force from low material to resist
plastic deformation such as scratching, denting and machining from occurring on its surface.

2. Discuss the relevance of hardness testing to engineering applications. What makes

hardness testing desirable vs other tests?

Hardness testing provides some information regarding the material such as strength of the
material and suitable heat treatment for the material. This allow engineer to calculate the force
that can be apply to the material and the load that the material can withstand. The hardness
testing is desirable because of how fast and efficient the test can be performed and it is an
economic test since no material is broken.

3. Some of the materials might not fall exactly on the scale; discuss why this happens and
what should be done to obtain useful data.

The error in measurement of the hardness in this test might be caused by the dirt on the material
when test is performed. A small dent is required for this test and the dirt might produces
unexpected results. Furthermore, large materials are to be tested on this tester because it is hard
to be positioned on the machine and this will lead to uneven surface. This will produce
inaccurate reading. Therefore, before starting the test, clean the material thoroughly and remove
any dirt on the surface of the material. For large material, make sure to evenly position the
material on the machine.

4. Based on the hardness, what do you think the mystery material is? Provide data to
support your conclusion.

The mystery material is a cast iron. In Table 2, the average of the hardness reading is close to cast
iron. Furthermore, the ultimate tensile strength of the mystery material is 741 MPa and this is very
close to the ultimate tensile strength of annealed steel, which is 760 MPa.

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 M.E. 3300 Lab Memo

Attachment 1

Approximate tensile strength (Mpa) vs Rockwell C Scale, 150-kgf Load, Diamond

Penetrator
y = 0.9111x2 - 31.174x + 1047.9
3000
Approximate tensile strength (Mpa)

2500

2000

1500
tensile, MPa
1000 Poly. (tensile, MPa)

500

0
15 25 35 45 55 65
Rockwell C Scale, 150-kgf Load, Diamond Penetrator

Figure 1. Plot of Tensile strength vs Rockwell C Scale

Approximate Tensile Strength, (Mpa) vs Rockwell B scale, 100-kgf Load, 1/16 - in. (1.588-
mm) Ball

y = 0.2009x2 - 22.04x + 976.39

900
Approximate Tensile Strength, (Mpa)

800
700
600
500
400 tensile
300 Poly. (tensile)
200
100
0
60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105
Rockwell B scale, 100-kgf Load, 1/16 - in. (1.588-mm) Ball

Figure 2. Plot of Tensile strength vs Rockwell B Scale

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 M.E. 3300 Lab Memo

Attachment 2
Table 1: Correlation between Rockwell Table 2: Correlation between Rockwell
C scale hardness and ultimate tensile strength. B scale hardness and ultimate tensile strength
Rockwell C scale tensile, MPa Rockwell B scale tensile, Mpa
59 2420 100 800
58 2330 99 785
57 2240 98 750
56 2160 97 715
55 2070
96 705
54 2010
95 690
53 1950
94 675
52 1880
93 650
51 1820
92 635
50 1760
91 620
49 1700
90 615
48 1640
89 605
47 1580
88 590
46 1520
87 580
45 1480
44 1430 86 570
43 1390 85 565
42 1340 84 560
41 1300 83 550
40 1250 82 530
39 1220 81 505
38 1180 80 495
37 1140 79 485
36 1110 78 475
35 1080 77 470
34 1050 76 460
33 1030 75 455
32 1010 74 450
31 970 73 440
30 950 72 435
29 930 71 425
28 900 70 420
27 880 69 415
26 860 68 405
25 850 67 400
24 820 66 395
23 810 65 385
22 790
21 770
20 760
4