NWU

Rockwell Hardness Test

Sessional on Solid Mechanics- 2


3/14/2014




A.S.M. Asif Iqbal
Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering,
North Western University, Khulna
Test 03
Test Name: Rockwell Hardness Test

Objectives:
1. To study the hardness of different material
2. To find out the tensile strength of steel and aluminum

Introduction
Hardness is the resistance of a material to penetration or abrasion under a locally
applied load. We use the concept of hardness almost every day. Any time we file
our nails with a nail file or scratch a CD with our finger nails, hardness is involved.
Hardness is used to measure a variety of resistances including: scratching, cutting,
and indenting. Also, Hardness may be used for grading similar materials, checking
or controlling quality level and controlling uniformity of tensile strength.

Hardness refers to the resistance, which a body has to the penetration of another.
Accordingly, in common hardness testing methods, a hard test body is pressed
into the sample perpendicular to its surface.


Rockwell Hardness

The Rockwell hardness tester is a reliable hardness tester used most widely for
testing metal to plastic materials due to its easy handling even by inexperienced
operators and relatively little personnel errors in measurement.



In order to determine tensile strength, a standardized table showing the
relationship between Rockwell Hardness Numbers, tensile strength and other
properties has been developed and is provided below in Table II.

Table: Relationship of Hardness Number

Tensile Strength (psi) Rockwell No
50000 57
54000 62
60000 68
65000 73
75000 81
100000 95
125000 102
150000 108


Apparatus
Rockwell Hardness Tester

Specimen
1. Steel 1020
2. Aluminum 2024

Procedure
1. Verify using the test block that the machine is accurate.
2. Determine the indenter to use. In this lab we will use a steel ball 1/16- inch in
diameter.
3. Select a test area on the sample, being sure to stay away for the edges and
other indentions made on the sample.
4. Raise the sample against the indenter by turning the large screw until the
center gauge is vertical.
5. Use the small screw to set the dial reading to zero.
6. Press the lever down to start the test.
7. Read the RHN from the red scale on the dial
8. Repeat steps (3)-(7) four times so that a total of five indentations are on the
sample.

Specimen Steel Aluminum
Test No Diameter (mm)
1 91.7 77.7
2 93.0 78.2
3 93.0 79.0
4 93.2 78.9
5 93.0 78.0
Mean Diameter
(mm)

RHN 88 75
Tensile Strength
(psi)



Assignments:
1. What do you understand by hardness?
2. Why hardness test is conducted?
3. How can you get the tensile strength of a specimen by Rockwell hardness
test?
4. By observing the hardness value, which is better steel or aluminum by
taking necessary data, explain your answer.