Comprehensive Materials Testing System
The following list of activities are designed for use with PASCO's Comprehensive Materials Testing System. You may preview and download student handouts as well as Capstone data files. Individual materials lists are included within each handout, and a complete materials list is provided below.
Grade Level: College
Subject: Engineering
Student Collection Files
| MTS Experiment Manual | 2.71 MB | |
| MTS Student Capstone Files | 49.58 MB | |
| MTS Word Files | 32.19 MB |
Teacher Collection Files
Sign In to your PASCO account to access teacher files and sample data.
Activities
01) Introduction to Materials Tester
This is a general introduction to PASCO's Material Testing Machine (ME-8236) to show how to set up the machine, make measurements, and use accessories.
02) Compliance Calibration Tutorial
This tutorial takes you through all the steps of calibrating the Material Testing Machine.
03) Tensile Testing
In this lab, brass will undergo a tensile test. Quantities measured include Young’s Modulus, Yield Strength, Tensile Strength, Ductility, and Modulus of Resilience.
04) Young's Modulus
In this lab, students will collect stress vs. strain data for a test sample in the elastic region. Several runs will be taken for the same sample to calculate the average value of Young's Modulus for the material.
05) Tensile Testing - Annealed Steel
This lab investigates what effect annealing has on the properties of material. Properties measured for both samples include Young’s Modulus, Yield Strength, Tensile Strength, Ductility, and Modulus of Toughness.
06) Tensile Testing - Metals
The properties measured for steel, brass, and aluminum include Young’s Modulus, Yield Strength, Tensile Strength, Ductility, and Modulus of Toughness.
07) Tensile Testing - Plastic Samples
In this lab, tensile tests are completed on two types of plastic and the stiffness of the materials is measured using several different methods.
08) Tensile Testing - Plastic Coupons
Measure the stiffness of the materials using several different methods, in addition to determining the tensile strength. Plastics tested are ABS, Nylon, Polypropylene (PP) and High-Impact Polystyrene (HIPS).
09) Three Point Bending
In this lab, a Three-Point Bend test is performed on a round rod. The distance between the anvils is varied, and the resulting effect on the stiffness of the beam is measured. A graph of the resulting data yields the Flexural Elastic Modulus for the material.
10) Round Rod Bending
In this lab, a three-point bend test is performed on a round rod. The Flexural Elastic Modulus for the material is calculated. Materials tested include aluminum, brass, and steel.
11) Bend Testing Beams
In this lab, a Three-Point Bend Test is performed on the ABS plastic beams included with the PASCO Structures System. Then, the Flexural Elastic Modulus for the material is calculated.
12) Tensile Testing Beams
In this lab, a Tensile Test is performed on plastic beams and Young's Modulus is measured. Students test beams with varying cross-sectional shapes to investigate the effect, if any, shape has on the outcome of the experiment.
13) Column Buckling and Slenderness Ratio
In this lab, three different lengths of plastic I-beams are tested under compression to investigate their method of failure. The way in which a member fails (buckling or not) is determined by its Slenderness Ratio, which is calculated for each beam. This lab also covers the Radius of Gyration and the Area Moment of Inertia.
14) Euler Column Buckling
The Euler Column Equation predicts the maximum compressional force applied to a column before it buckles. This value depends on the length of the column, its Area Moment of Inertia, and Young's Modulus for the material.
15) Column Buckling Tensile Samples
The Euler Column Equation predicts the maximum compressional force applied to a column before it buckles. This value depends on the length of the column, its Area Moment of Inertia, and Young's Modulus for the material. In this lab, machined metal samples that are normally tested in tension are column buckled. The predicted value for the critical buckling force is compared to the actual values.
16) Compression Testing Cast Beams
In this lab, Plaster of Paris cast beams are tested to destruction using compression. Quantities measured include Young's Modulus and the Compressive Strength for the material.
17) Bend Testing Cast Beams
In this lab, a three-point bend test is performed on Plaster of Paris cast beams and the Flexural Elastic Modulus for the material is calculated. The maximum load force at fracture is measured, and is used to calculate the Modulus of Rupture.
18) Shear Testing Round Rods
In this lab, a single-shear test is performed on 1/8 inch diameter metal rods. The maximum force needed to shear the rod is measured and used to calculate the Shear Strength of the material. Tested materials include steel, brass, and aluminum.
19) Strength of Materials
This lab investigates two ways in which a member can fail: In tension and in shear. A standard tensile test is performed using the Tensile Samples, and the Tensile Strength is measured. A shear test is then performed (on the same sample), and the Shear Strength is measured. Four metal samples (steel, annealed steel, brass, and aluminum) are measured, and the shear/tensile strength ratio is calculated for each.
20) Photoelasticity
Photoelasticity is used to determine the stress distribution in birefringent plastics, such as polycarbonate. This experiment uses the clear polycarbonate beams from the PASCO Structures System. Two crossed polarizing sheets are placed in front of, and behind, the clear beam. When illuminated from behind by a bright white light, fringes become visible.
21) Four Point Bending
In this lab, a Four-Point Bend Test is performed on ABS plastic beams from the PASCO Structures System and the Flexural Elastic Modulus for the material is calculated.
22) Compression Testing
In this lab, a compression test is performed on a polyethylene cylinder. Quantities measured include Young's Modulus and the Yield Strength for the material.
