Impact Test

An impact test is a dynamic test in which a selected specimen which is usually notched, is struck and broken by a single blow in a specially designed machine. Using an impact machine, the energy absorbed while breaking the specimen is measured.

(a)

(b)

Figure 1. Pendulum type impact testing machines. (a) for metals (b) for plastics The energy quantities determined are qualitative comparisons on a selected specimen and cannot be converted to energy figures that would serve for engineering design calculations. In our laboratory, impact testing is done on the Tinius Olsen Impact testing machine, and consists of two tests: 1. Charpy Test 2. Izod Test The purpose of the impact test is to measure the toughness, or energy absorption capacity of the materials. The principal difference between two tests is the manner in which the specimen is supported. In the Charpy test the specimen is supported as a simple beam with a notch in the center. The specimen is supported so that the notch is on the vertical face away from the point of impact. Figure 2 and 3 show the dimensions of the Charpy test specimen and the positions of the striking edge of the pendulum and the specimen in the anvil.

Figure 2. Charpy specimen

Figure 3. Position of the Charpy test specimen on the impact test machine

In the Izod test, the specimen is held on one end and is free on the other end. This way it forms a cantilever beam. Figures 4 and 5 show the dimensions of the Izod test specimen and the positions of the striking edge of the pendulum and the specimen in the anvil. In this case the notch is just at the edge of the supporting vise and facing into the direction of impact. As with the Charpy, this position places the notch at the location of the maximum tension.

Figure 4. Izod test specimen

Figure 5. Izod test specimen and its position in the anvil.

The results of the impact test of metals made with various machines differ, owing to the following: 1. Variation in amounts of energy transformed at impact into vibrations of parts of the machines, 2. Variations in striking velocity of the pendulum (striking hammer) 3. Size and form of the specimen.

The major factors that affect the results of an Impact Test are:

1. Velocity 2. Specimen 3. Temperature Velocity: The velocity at impact does not appear to appreciably affect the results. However, experiments conducted with machines that develop velocities above certain critical values, impact resistance appears to decrease markedly. In general, the critical velocities are much less for annealed steels than for the same steels in the hardened condition. Specimen: In some cases it is not possible to obtain a specimen of standard width from the stock that is available. Decreasing either the width or the depth of these specimen decreases the volume of metal subject to distortion, and thereby tends to decrease the energy absorption when breaking the specimen. The effect of the notch is to concentrate stresses at the root of the notch, embrittle the material in the vicinity of the notch and , at the same time, raise the elastic limit of the material in this area. When a crack forms at the root of the notch the stress is greatly intensified and the crack quickly progresses across the section. Without the notch, many compositions would simply bend without fracture, and their total capacity to absorb energy could not be detected. The sharper the notch (i.e. the smaller the included angle) the more pronounced are the effects noted above. The specimen sizes have been standardized so that results can be compared with reasonable confidence. Temperature: In contrast to the relatively small effect of temperature on the static strength and ductility of metals, at least within the atmospheric range, temperature has a very markedly effect on the impact resistance of the notched bars. Figure 6 shows the effect of temperature on the impact energy absorbed.

Figure 6 For a particular metal and type of test, below some critical temperature the failures are brittle, with low energy absorption. Above some critical temperature, the failures are ductile, with energy absorption that may be many times that in the brittle fracture range. Between these temperatures is what has been termed as transition-temperature range, where the character of the fracture may be mixed. With the standard notch , the critical range for many steels appears to occur between the freezing point and room temperature; in some metals it may be extended to temperatures well below the freezing point.