Sample Lab Report

A laboratory report usually gives:

• the OBJECT of the experiment
• the EQUIPMENT used in the experiment
• the PROCEDURE that was followed
• the RESULTS which were obtained.

The final part of the report should give:

• the CONCLUSIONS which were drawn from the experiment.

  Technical reports are written using mainly PASSIVE VOICE, i.e. focusing on WHAT WAS DONE, not WHO DID WHAT.

  Look at the sample report below, which describes a tensile test carried out on an annealed mild steel specimen.

TENSILE TEST

Object
To determine the load/elongation curve for the mild steel specimen provided. To calculate for the specimen :

i)  the tensile strength

ii) the percentage elongation (indication of ductility).

Equipment
Tensile testing machine, specimen, extensometer, dividers, steel rule.

Procedure
The specimen was set between the jaws of the testing machine. The extensometer was attached to the specimen with its locating points set at 'gauge length' distance apart.

 A tensile load was applied to the specimen and the elongation was measured on the extensometer. The load was increased and the corresponding elongation was measured again. These measurements were repeated as the load was progressively increased in steps of 10 kN.

 It was noted that at just over 40 kN the increase in length was no longer proportional to the increase in load. At this point the test had exceeded the elastic limit of the specimen (shown as 'E' on the graph). The extensometer was removed so it would not be damaged by the specimen fracturing. Subsequent measurements were taken using the dividers and steel rule.

 The maximum load applied was 80 kN and at this point 'necking' was observed. Even though the load was reduced, elongation continued until the specimen fractured at at load of 60 kN. The specimen was removed and its broken ends fitted together so the gauge length could be measured at the moment of fracture.

Results

Graph

Calculations

Conclusion
The specimen exhibited elastic properties up to a load of approximately 40 kN. The maximum load was approximately 80 kN, after which necking commenced. After this point the stress increased until the specimen fractured. This occurred at a load of approximately 60 kN.

 Calculations showed that the specimen had a tensile strength of 453 Newtons per square millimetre and a percentage elongation of 22%. These results indicate that mild steel has relatively high tensile strength and ductility.

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