Faculty of Engineering - Pre-Engineering Programme

Strength of Materials Lab

Tensile Testing Machine
A tensile testing machine is an electromechanical test system that applies a tensile (pull) force
to a material to determine the tensile strength and deformation behaviour until break.

What is a tensile test?

A tensile test is a test method used to determine how a material reacts to an applied (pulling)
force. Properties that are measured directly in a tensile test include tensile strength, maximum
extension and reduction of area. These measurements can also be used to determine the
following characteristics: Young's modulus, deformation (Poisson’s ratio), yield point and
hardening properties.

• Tensile strength - the maximum mechanical tensile stress a material can sustain before
fracture.
• Maximum extension - the maximum elongation that a material can undergo before it
fails.
• Reduction of area - comparison of the initial cross-sectional area of a specimen and the
smallest cross-sectional area of the same specimen after complete fracture. This serves
as an indicator of how much a material deforms under tensile load.
• Young’s modulus - essentially the stiffness of a material. That is, it indicates how easy
it is to bend or stretch a material:
o Young's modulus = stress/elongation
o Stress = force/cross-sectional area
o Extension = change in length/original length
• Poisson’s ratio – the ratio between the change in width and the change in length in the
direction of the stretching force.
• Yield point – the maximum tensile stress that an elastic material can sustain before it
permanently deforms.
• Properties of stain hardening - strain hardening occurs when a material is stretched
beyond the yield point. Strain hardening increases the mechanical strength and hardness
but reduces the ductility. Manufacturers can use this information to determine the
material that meets the ductility requirements while simultaneously displaying the
highest possible strength.

The data obtained during a tensile test can be plotted on a graph to produce a stress/strain curve.

This stress/strain curve shows a curve with a high level of strain hardening (1) and with a low
level of strain hardening (2) after the yield point.

Manufactures in every industry from plastics and composites, to automotive, food and
beverage and the highly regulated medical and pharmaceutical industry use tensile testing
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equipment to perform industry-standard tests to precisely measure the defining properties of

their material, ensure standard-compliance, and ultimately be able to guarantee the quality and
safety of their products.

Tensile testing application examples include:

• Plastic packaging − tensile force is applied to a plastic material specimen to help

manufacturers determine the protective characteristics of the plastic when it is subjected
to pulling forces like those that occur during shipping processes, for example.
• Concrete-reinforcing steel bars − tensile tests on metal specimens are used to determine
various mechanical properties such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength,
elongation, and reduction of area to help manufacturers not only meet advertised
quality and high-performance specifications but to comply with industry standards to
ensure that products are safe for market release.
• Rubber compounds for use in tires – the elongation and tensile strength of tire rubber
is tested for quality control purposes to avoid tire failures such as tread separation and
blowouts.

Tinius Olsen Universal Testing Machine

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Specimens used with the Tinius Olsen Universal Testing Machine

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Thermodynamics Lab
The Rankine Cycler

The Rankine cycle is an idealized thermodynamic cycle describing the process by which
certain heat engines, such as steam turbines or reciprocating steam engines, allow mechanical
work to be extracted from a fluid as it moves between a heat source and heat sink. The Rankine
cycle is named after William John Macquorn Rankine, a Scottish polymath professor
at Glasgow University.
Heat energy is supplied to the system via a boiler where the working fluid (typically water) is
converted to a high-pressure gaseous state (steam) in order to turn a turbine. After passing over
the turbine the fluid is allowed to condense back into a liquid state as waste heat energy is
rejected before being returned to boiler, completing the cycle. Friction losses throughout the
system are often neglected for the purpose of simplifying calculations as such losses are usually
much less significant than thermodynamic losses, especially in larger systems.

There are four processes in the Rankine cycle. The states are identified by numbers in the diagram.

Successive processes of the Rankine cycle

Name Summary Explanation

The working fluid is pumped from low to high pressure.

Process
Isentropic compression As the fluid is a liquid at this stage, the pump requires
1–2
little input energy.

The high-pressure liquid enters a boiler, where it is

heated at constant pressure by an external heat source
to become a dry saturated vapour. The input energy
Process Constant pressure heat
required can be easily calculated graphically, using
2–3 addition in boiler
an enthalpy–entropy chart (h–s chart, or Mollier
diagram), or numerically, using steam tables or
software.

The dry saturated vapour expands through a turbine,

generating power. This decreases the temperature and
Process
Isentropic expansion pressure of the vapour, and some condensation may
3–4
occur. The output in this process can be easily
calculated using the chart or tables noted above.

The wet vapour then enters a condenser, where it is

Process Constant pressure heat
condensed at a constant pressure to become
4–1 rejection in condenser
a saturated liquid.
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The Rankine Cycler

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Robotics Lab
Fanuc Robotics
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Field Machinery Lab

Vickers Portable Hydraulic Trainer

What is the use of hydraulic trainer?

Hydraulic Trainers are useful in understanding the operation of the hydraulic control system,
its components, and how it is applied.

They work on the principles of the hydraulic power system which consists of a hydraulic
pump, hydraulic motor, and hydraulic controller.
Vickers Portable Hydraulic Trainer
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Oil hydraulics today is an essential area of knowledge for anyone who has a technical interest
in mobile machinery or any automotive-type vehicles. In farm tractors and implements,
industrial trucks, earth-moving equipment, self-propelled vehicles of all kinds, we find
applications of brute force with very precise control through hydraulic systems.
It’s easy to park a two-ton automobile with only a slight effort at the steering wheel...the
touch of a handle lifts several yards of dirt in the bucket of a loader...trenches are dug quickly
without anyone lifting a shovel full of dirt...because the hidden giant hydraulics is there.
The Vickers Portable Hydraulic Trainer includes gauges, manifolds, cylinders, valves
(relief/sequence, pressure reducing, check, directional control, etc.), flow meter, and
hydraulic motor.
The components of this portable trainer are all industrial quality, not only to ensure durability,
but also to help learners become better prepared for what they will encounter on the job.
Learners will use these components to practice vital hydraulics skills, such as:
• connecting and adjusting a flow control valve to control the speed of an actuator.
• Designing an independent speed control circuit and two-speed actuator circuit.
• Operating a double-acting cylinder and operating of an integral check valve.
 Faculty of Engineering - Pre-Engineering Programme

CNC Lab

Haas CNC Lathe

For those new to the industry, the sheer variety, sizes and specialised uses of CNC (Computer
Numerical Control) machines used in manufacturing can be mind boggling, from lathes,
milling machines, and multi-axis machines to other machine tools.

A CNC lathe machine is normally used to perform or produce precise round shapes with both
an Outer Diameter (OD), and an Inner Diameter (ID).

Practically all kinds of structures could be machined with this machine tool, depending on their
needs in different industries.

Operated with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) systems and provided with precise design
instructions, CNC Lathes are machine tools where the material or part is clamped and rotated
by the main spindle, while the cutting tool that work on the material, is mounted and moved in
various axis.

CNC Lathes are normally used for machining parts, where the material / part is clamped and
rotated whereas the cutting tool is stationery mounted for OD (Outer Diameter) and ID (Inner
Diameter) operations, e.g. shafts and pipes. They are ideal for parts that have same symmetry
around an axis that could be chucked up (i.e. radially clamped) in the spindle.
A simple CNC Lathe operates on 2-axis and the tool is located in a fixed position at 8 to 24
station turrets. The rotating action of the part is called “turning”, hence certain types of CNC
Lathes are called CNC Turning Machines.

Milling (cutting tool moves around stationery workpiece), boring and tapping (a tool that cuts
threads inside hole) tools are normally driven by a separate drive system inside the turret.
Depending on the application, the life tools (i.e. active tool) are mounted for axial or radial
operational directions. These could be found in 3-axis CNC Lathes or CNC Turning Machines.

Lathe machines with additional options such as Y-axis, sub-spindles, or specific selected
options for automation are commonly called Turning Centres. These sophisticated machine
tools are capable of machining complex parts – these go beyond standard OD & ID turning
operations and may incorporate milling, drilling and tapping operations to complete the part in
one setting. Taking a piece from raw part to finished product, such all-in-one machine tools
significantly improves productivity.
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Haas CNC Lathe

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Roland CNC Mill

CNC milling is a process that uses computer-controlled machines and tools to remove
material from a workpiece along multiple axes, creating complex shapes and patterns. CNC
milling can achieve high levels of accuracy and precision, as well as flexibility and
versatility, as the machine can change tools and directions according to the programmed
instructions.

CNC milling can also handle large batches of workpieces with consistent quality and
efficiency. However, CNC milling also has some drawbacks, such as the high initial
investment and maintenance costs, the need for skilled operators and programmers, the risk
of errors and breakdowns due to software or hardware issues, and the potential waste of
material and energy.

Roland CNC Mill

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Boxford CNC Router

CNC routers are machines used to cut many types of materials, such as wood, plastic,
aluminium, and high-density foam.

CNC stands for computer numerical control, which indicates computer software and
electronics-controlled machines instead of a direct human operator.

Main pros for buying and owning a CNC router.

• A CNC can help you automate your business tasks.
• Keep staff levels at a more consistent level.
• Helps to reduce waste by optimising your material usage.
• High accuracy and repeatability.
• Huge range of materials that can be cut and engraved.

Boxford CNC Router