SID: (Enter your Student ID here - DON'T FORGET!) MECH1280: Engineering Materials MECH1280: Semester 2 Composites Material Testing and Selection: Laboratory Assignment 1) Design Brief What are the considerations for materials selection? List the company's specifications. 2) Consideration of Methods [3 marks] [5 marks] In this laboratory you will carry out a three-point bend test, justify why this is an appropriate test to use to gain the data required. Semester 2 Laboratory Report Template [3 marks] Page 1 of 6 SID: (Enter your Student ID here - DON'T FORGET!) MECH1280: Engineering Materials 3) Experimental Results From the data you collect in the laboratory, plot load/displacement graphs and show them below (copy and paste from Excel - or MatLab). [3 marks] Use the table below to summarise the load and displacement data (i.e. at yield point and at fracture or failure point). Table 1: Data from load/displacement graph Dimensions/physical description Thickness (d) [mm] Breadth (b) [mm] Length between 2 lower supports (L) [mm] Maximum failure load (F) [assign appropriate unit] Displacement at max. failure load (8) [assign appropriate unit] Fracture description (Look at how the materials are structured in the lab information pictures and how they behave in the load/displacement graphs - now describe how you think they fractured in the laboratory) Semester 2 Laboratory Report Template Specimen 1: Specimen 2: Specimen 3: [12 marks] Page 2 of 6 SID: (Enter your Student ID here - DON'T FORGET!) MECH1280: Engineering Materials 4) Calculated Material Properties Complete the table below with the calculated material properties for each material. Show your working solutions in the appendix section. Table 2: Material properties derived from the test Material Plywood Carbon fibre/foam panel MDF 2nd moment of area (I) or Material property: Flexural strength Material Material property: property: moment of (Ofs) [assign inertia [assign appropriate unit] Flexural strain at flexural strength Flexural modulus (E) appropriate unit] (εfs) [assign appropriate unit] [assign appropriate unit] 5) Calculate Total Load [16 marks] Considering the dimensions of the go-kart barrier, what is the failure load for your materials? Show the equations used and working solution below. (You can either use pen & paper and take a picture and insert it in the space provided, OR you can type it in using the equation function. The main thing is that it is clear and readable) Calculations: Material: Failure load: Material: Failure load: Material: Failure load: Semester 2 Laboratory Report Template Page 3 of 6 SID: (Enter your Student ID here - DON'T FORGET!) MECH1280: Engineering Materials 6) Material Selection Which material that you tested would be most suitable and why? 7) Discussion Do your own independent research to help answer the questions below. a) What other materials would you consider for this application and why? [6 marks] [3 marks] [5 marks] b) What other test could have been carried out to help you decide the most suitable material? In your answer specifically state what information could be gained from the test. Semester 2 Laboratory Report Template [4 marks] Page 4 of 6 SID: (Enter your Student ID here - DON'T FORGET!) MECH1280: Engineering Materials Appendix: Show your calculations for section 4 below (use additional sheets if necessary). (You can either use pen & paper and take a picture and insert it in the space provided, OR you can type it in using the equation function. The main thing is that it is clear and readable) Semester 2 Laboratory Report Template Page 5 of 6/n MECH1280: Engineering Materials MECH1280: Semester 2 Composites Material Testing and Selection Laboratory Brief Design Brief A new local mini go-karting company are building a make-shift outdoor track for kids (aged between 7-10 years). They need a safety barrier around the track perimeter that is 10 metres away from the track. The barrier would need to be able to absorb energy from an impacting kart, must withstand loads of up to 1 kN before failure and impact speeds of up to 10 km/h. Each barrier must be no higher than 0.5 m and 1 m in length. The company would like to know what the most suitable material is for their application. Note that this is a commercial company that wants to appeal to as many customers as possible. Learning outcomes Following completing the laboratory session and associated assignment you should be able to: • Carry out a three-point bend test using an Instron machine • Use the data obtained in testing to derive mechanical properties. • Justify use of a three-point bend test to derive the required properties and demonstrate an understanding of other test methods that might provide useful information Select a material that meets a specification, and provide a rationale for the choice. Deliverables Each student should individually complete the laboratory assignment. This includes: Evaluating the requirements from the design brief (section 1). • Justifying the test method used (section 2). • • • Plotting the load/displacement curves and tables. These copied and pasted into the word file (section 3). Use the load/displacement data and the relevant equations to define mechanical properties of the three different materials. The working solutions should be written in the appendix (sections 4 & 5). Answer the remaining questions on the sheet, relating to the design brief, choice of material and other possible tests that could be carried out (sections 6, 7 & 8). The lab will be carried out in groups; however, the laboratory assignment must be completed individually. The deadline is as specified on the VLE (and will vary depending on the week you complete the lab). The laboratory report accounts for 10% of the overall module mark. NOTE: Attendance is compulsory. If you do not attend the lab, you will automatically have 25% deducted from your mark (the laboratory assignment is dependent on attending the practical session). If this is due to illness or another valid reason you need to submit mitigating circumstances (see the SSO). Semester 2 Laboratory [TOTAL 60 marks] Laboratory Brief and Outline Report Page 1 of 6 MECH1280: Engineering Materials MECH1280: Semester 2 Composites Material Testing and Selection: Laboratory Assignment Outline You need to download the word version of this report outline from MINERVA and complete the information requested. 1) Design Brief What are the considerations for materials selection? List the company's specifications. 2) Consideration of Methods [3 marks] [5 marks] In this laboratory you will carry out a three-point bend test, justify why this is an appropriate test to use to gain the data required. Semester 2 Laboratory Laboratory Brief and Outline Report [3 marks] Page 2 of 6 MECH1280: Engineering Materials 3) Experimental Results From the data you collect in the laboratory, plot load/displacement graphs and show them below (copy and paste from Excel) [3 marks] Use the table below to summarise the load and displacement data (i.e. at yield point and at fracture or failure point). Table 1: Data from load/displacement graph Dimensions/physical description Thickness (d) mm Breadth (b) mm Length between 2 lower supports (L) mm Maximum failure load (F) Displacement at max. failure load (8) Fracture description (using appropriate language, describe your observations on how the material failed) Specimen 1: Semester 2 Laboratory Laboratory Brief and Outline Report Specimen 2: Specimen 3: [12 marks] Page 3 of 6 MECH1280: Engineering Materials 4) Calculated Material Properties Complete the table below with the calculated material properties for each material. Show your working solutions in the appendix section. Table 3: Material properties derived from the test Material Plywood Carbon fibre/foam panel MDF 2nd moment of Material property: inertia (I) Material Material Flexural strength (Ofs) property: property: Flexural strain at flexural strength Tensile modulus (E) (Ets) 5) Calculate Total Load [16 marks] Considering the dimensions of the go-kart barrier, what is the failure load for your materials? Show the equations used and working solution below. Calculations: Material: Failure load: Material: Failure load: Material: Failure load: Semester 2 Laboratory Laboratory Brief and Outline Report [6 marks] Page 4 of 6 MECH1280: Engineering Materials 6) Material Selection Which material that you tested would be most suitable and why? 7) Discussion a) What other materials would you consider for this application and why? [3 marks] [5 marks] b) What other test could have been carried out to help you decide the most suitable material? In your answer specifically state what information could be gained from the test. [4 marks] Semester 2 Laboratory Laboratory Brief and Outline Report Page 5 of 6