CAIRO UNIVERSITY MECHANICAL DESIGN &

MDP 4002
PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

CREEP AND RELAXATION

TENSILE AND BENDING
LOADING

Submitted by Mohamed Osama Mohamed Hassan

Code 9221480
 1. Objective
The objective of this experiment is to determine the material creep parameters,
namely 𝐵 and 𝑁, from a creep test. These values are then compared with the
corresponding parameters obtained from previously conducted tensile test data
provided in the laboratory sheet.
Additionally, the experiment aims to analyze the creep behavior of a beam subjected
to pure bending, using the constitutive creep relation:
𝜀̇𝑐 = 𝐵𝜎𝑁

2. Theoretical Background
Creep is defined as the time-dependent deformation of a material under
constant load or stress, particularly at elevated temperatures. In this experiment, the
creep behavior is investigated through both tensile loading and beam bending.
For the beam case, the experiment measures the deflection as a function of time
under three-point bending at constant temperature. The experimental results are
compared with predictions obtained from the following theoretical expression:

2𝑁 + 1 2 " 2 𝑝 " 𝑍 "#! 𝐿 "#$ 𝑧

𝑣̇ = 𝐵 ) . ! 0 ⋅ ( ). 4 6 [ 8 :−) 0 .( ) ]
𝑁 𝑏𝑑 𝑑 2 (𝑁 + 1)(𝑁 + 2) 2 𝑁+1

3. Definition of Parameters
The variables used in the above equation are defined as follows:
• 𝐵, 𝑁 → Material creep constants
• 𝑏 → Width of the beam cross-section
• 𝑑 → Height (thickness) of the beam cross-section
• 𝑝 → Transverse load applied at the midpoint of the beam
• 𝑧 → Distance measured from the beam support
• 𝐿 → Total length of the beam

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4. Experimental Procedure & setup
4.1 Tensile Creep Testing

• The tensile specimen is properly mounted in the creep testing machine.

• A constant load is applied to the specimen.
• The axial deformation (extension) is measured as a function of time.
• Measurements are continued until a maximum axial deformation of
approximately 10 mm is reached.
• The experimental setup is arranged as illustrated in Figure (1).

Figure 1: Tensile creep experiment setup

Remarks
• The strain is calculated from the measured extension using the initial gauge
length of the specimen.
• The strain rate is determined from the slope of the strain–time curve,
particularly within the secondary (steady-state) creep region.
• The parameters 𝐵 and 𝑁 are obtained using logarithmic transformation and
linear regression techniques.

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 • Experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions to evaluate
the validity of the creep model.
4.2 Bending Experiment

• A beam of width (b) and height (d) was prepared.

• The beam rests on two supports in the test rig as shown in figure (3) that’s
used in
• The bending experiment such that the distance between the two supports is
(L).
• A weight of is used to apply a transverse force (P) on the middle of the tested
beam.
• The transverse force (P) is calculated as follow: Applied weight x lever ratio.
• A dial indicator is used to measure the deflection of the specimen on proper
time intervals.

Figure 2: Bending experiment setup

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5. Experiments

5.1 Tensile creep

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Solving (1) & (2) in the two variables B, N with the calculated stress and strain rate
in the two specimen we got:

N=12.89 & B= 1.16*10^-20

5.2 Bending creep

The recorded deflections of the tested beam at different time intervals are used
to plot deflection vs time graph

𝑣̇ ) experimental = 0.0024 mm/sec

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 Using B, N that are obtained from the tensile experiment and given that
𝐛 = 12.62 mm
𝐝 = 12.91 mm
L = 100.33 mm
𝐏 = 70 N
Leverage ratio = 4.666666667

substitute in the following equation:

2𝑁 + 1 2 " 2 𝑝 " 𝑍 "#! 𝐿 "#$ 𝑧

𝑣̇ = 𝐵 ) . ! 0 ⋅ ( ). 4 6 [ 8 :−) 0 .4 6]
𝑁 𝑏𝑑 𝑑 2 (𝑁 + 1)(𝑁 + 2) 2 𝑁+1

𝑣̇ ) 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 = 0.00163 mm/sec

6. Discussion
The results obtained from the bending creep experiment show a difference
between the experimental and theoretical deflection rates:

o 𝑣̇exp = 0.0024 mm/s

o 𝑣̇ theoretical = 0.0018 mm/s

The experimental value is higher than the theoretical prediction. The percentage error
between the two values is:

+𝑣̇exp − 𝑣̇ theoretical +
% error = × 100
𝑣̇ theoretical

• Substituting:
|0.0024 − 0.0018|
% error = × 100 ≈ 33.3%
0.0018

This indicates a moderate deviation, which is acceptable in creep experiments due to

sensitivity to multiple variables.

Sources of Error

• Idealized Theoretical Assumptions

o The model assumes:
§ Homogeneous material
§ Perfect geometry
§ Pure bending conditions
 • Measurement and Experimental Errors
• Loading Conditions
• Boundary Conditions
• Temperature Effects
§ Creep behavior is highly temperature-dependent
§ Small variations in ambient temperature can significantly affect deformation
rate.

Despite the relatively high percentage error (33.3%), both values are of the same order of
magnitude. This indicates that the theoretical model provides a reasonable approximation of the
material’s creep behavior. The deviation highlights the importance of experimental conditions and
real material behavior in creep analysis.

.
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 CAIRO UNIVERSITY MECHANICAL DESIGN &
MDP 4002
PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

Determination of critical stress intensity

factor for acrylic sheets in tension and
bending

Submitted by Mohamed Osama Mohamed Hassan

Code 9221480
1. Introduction
Fracture toughness is a fundamental material property that characterizes a
material’s resistance to crack propagation. In brittle materials such as acrylic, failure
often occurs suddenly due to the rapid growth of pre-existing cracks.

The purpose of this experiment is to determine the fracture toughness of acrylic

material through tensile and bending tests. Tensile tests are conducted on specimens
with varying strain rates and geometrical configurations, including both cracked and
uncracked specimens.

Additionally, the experimentally obtained fracture toughness is used to estimate the

breaking load of a three-point bending beam containing a V-notch, providing a
practical application of fracture mechanics principles.

2. Objective
The objectives of this experiment are:

1. To study the effect of loading (strain) rate on the strength of uncracked (plain)
specimens at fracture.

2. To determine the fracture toughness of acrylic using:

• Cracked specimens under tensile loading
• Cracked specimens under bending (three-point loading)

3. To utilize the obtained fracture toughness value in predicting the failure load
of a notched beam.

3. Experimental Setup and Procedure

3.1 Tension Experiment

• Four specimens are prepared:

o Two cracked specimens with double-edge cracks (as shown in
Figure 3).
o Two uncracked (plain) specimens (as shown in Figure 4).

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 • The dimensions of all specimens are measured, including: Width, Length,
Thickness initial crack length (for cracked specimens) The two uncracked
specimens are tested at different loading rates:
§ One at the lowest crosshead speed
§ One at the highest crosshead speed
• Each specimen is carefully mounted between the jaws of the universal testing
machine (UTM), ensuring proper alignment before testing.

Figure 3: Two cracked specimens with double-edge Figure 4: Plain Free-Crack specimen
cracks

Remarks

• The fracture load is recorded for each specimen during testing.

• For cracked specimens, the fracture toughness is determined using standard
fracture mechanics relations.
• The influence of loading rate on material strength is evaluated by comparing
results from different crosshead speeds.
• Experimental results are later used to predict failure conditions in bending
applications.

3.2 Bending Experiment

• A single-edge cracked specimen is prepared, as illustrated in Figure (5).

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 • The specimen dimensions are measured and recorded, including: Width,
Thickness, Length and Crack size (initial notch length).
• The specimen is carefully positioned and secured in the three-point bending
rig, ensuring proper alignment as illustrated in Figure (6).
• The load is applied incrementally:

o The applied load is increased in steps of 5 kg.

o Loading is continued progressively until fracture occurs.

Figure 5: single-edge cracked specimen

Figure 6: Bending Setup

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Remarks

• The fracture load obtained from the bending test is used to evaluate the
material’s resistance to crack propagation.
• This value is later compared with theoretical predictions based on fracture
toughness 𝐾𝐼𝐶.
• Proper alignment during loading is critical to ensure accurate results and avoid
bending irregularities.

4. Results

4.1 Tension Experiment

i. Plain free-crack specimen

Table 1:Recorded data for the tension test on the two plain free-crack specimen at different cross head speed

ii. Cracked specimen

Table 2: Recorded data for the tension test on the two double edge cracked specimen

4.1 Bending Experiment

Table 3:Recorded data for the bending test on the single edge cracked specimen

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4. Discussion

For different head speed

The fracture load decreases as the head speed decrease and this was shown in
the previous tables. The strength at fracture was higher in case of faster cross head
speed as at higher speed the material resists the bonding force between atoms which
is usually higher than the resistance forces to dislocation motion at lower speed.

For cracked tensile specimens

Both values of fracture toughness values are totally within the range for
material properties of acrylic which is from 0.8 to 1.7 (MPa.m^0.5). Also, these
given values are consistent with the fact that as thickness increases the fracture
toughness of the material decreases.

For cracked bending

Kc obtained from bending test = 1.654

this noticeable difference is because:

1- Thickness for both tests weren’t the same.

2- Exact fracture load for bending test wasn’t accurate.
3- Material of the acrylic itself isn’t the same.

Source of errors
1- Human error in measuring the specimen dimensions.
2- Lack of accuracy in fixing the specimen between the machine’s two jaws in
tension
experiment.
3- Slight bending of the prepared specimen.
4- Lack of accuracy in weights loading in bending experiment.
5- Specimen dimensions aren’t uniform.

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