Impact tests are performed to measure the response of a material

to dynamic loading. When two objects collide, damage is often done

to one or other of them. How well something resists damage is
called its impact resistance. An impact test measures how much
energy is absorbed when an object fractures or breaks under a high
speed collision.
Its an important property. The safety of many consumer
products depends on their resistance to breaking. Therefore,
Engineers need to know about how materials and products behave
under impact and the magnitude of forces they can resist.
Part or product tested no longer maintains its original shape
or surface texture.
Mechanical test methods are all destructive.
Other destructive tests include
speed testing of grinding wheels to determine their bursting speed
high pressure testing of pressure vessels to determine their bursting
pressure.
Toughness
is a measure of the amount of energy required to cause an item to
fracture and fail. The more energy that is required then the tougher the
material.
Impact
is a high force or shock applied over a short time period when two
or more bodies collide.
Impact resistance or Impact energy
How well something resists damage
is a measure of the work done to fracture a test specimen.
Notches
The notch serves as a stress concentration zone and some materials
are more sensitive towards notches than others.
The impact test is a method for evaluating the toughness and
notch sensitivity of engineering materials. It is usually used to
test the toughness of metals, but similar tests are used for
polymers, ceramics and composites. Metal industry sectors
include Oil and Gas, Aerospace, Power Generation, Automotive,
and Nuclear.
The notched test specimen is broken by the impact of a heavy
pendulum or hammer, falling at a predetermined velocity
through a fixed distance. The test measures the energy absorbed
by the fractured specimen.
There are primarily 2 types of impact test -
Charpy impact test and Izod impact test.
Both tests involves fracturing a notched
specimen of standard dimension and
measuring the amount of energy absorbed
to fracture the specimen. Both involve
striking a standard specimen with a
controlled weight pendulum traveling at a
set speed.
Measure in J (n-m) of lb-ft
These tests show that metals can be
classified as being either 'brittle' or 'ductile'.
A brittle metal will absorb a small amount
of energy when impact tested, a tough
ductile metal a large amount of energy.

The test was developed around 1900 by S. B. Russell (1898, American)

and G. Charpy (1901, French). The test became known as the Charpy
test in the early 1900s due to the technical contributions and
standardization efforts by Georges Charpy. The test was pivotal in
understanding the fracture problems of ships during WWII.
A test specimen is machined to a 10mm x 10mm (full size) cross-
section, with either a "V" or "U" notch. Sub-size specimens are used
where the material thickness is restricted. Specimens can be tested
down to cryogenic temperatures. -150
PRINCIPLE
The Charpy impact test is a dynamic
test in which a test piece U-notched
or V-notched in the middle and
supported at each end, is broken by a
single blow of a freely swinging
pendulum.
The test is named after the English engineer Edwin Gilbert Izod
(18761946), who described it in his 1903 address to the British
Association, subsequently published in Engineering.
The test specimen is machined to a square or round section,
with either one , two or three notches. The specimen is clamped
vertically on the anvil with the notch facing the Hammer.
PRINCIPLE
The Izod impact test is a dynamic
test in which a test piece V-
notched test piece, gripped
vertically, is broken by a single
blow of a freely swinging
pendulum (Fig.). The blow is
struck on the same face as the
notch and at the fixed height
above it. The energy absorbed is
measured. This absorbed energy is
a measure of the impact strength
of material.
1) The test notches for the impact specimens for the tests have different
dimensions. The Izod test is a V-notch; the Charpy test has three different
specimen types: U-notchand V-notch. However, other specimen types may
be specified as required for both tests.
2) The specimens are held differently. The Izod specimen is held in a
cantilevered manner; the Charpy test is held such that the specimen rests
against two supports on either side of the test notch.
3) The impact location is different. The Izod test impact is against the end
of the exposed cantilever; the Charpy test is struck directly behind the test
notch such that the specimen undergoes three point bending.
4) The test specimens have different dimensions. The basic Izod test
specimen is 75 x 10 x 10mm (2.95" x 0.394" x 0.394"); the basic Charpy test
specimen is 55 x 10 x 10mm (2.165" x 0.394" x 0.394")
Drop weight impact testers
A mass is dropped vertically on to a test
specimen. A tube or rails are used to guide
the falling mass. Since the mass either stops
dead on the specimen or breaks it, the test
was essentially pass/fail.
However, the energy absorbed by a
specimen when it breaks can be estimated:
the mass is dropped from increasing
heights until the specimen fractures or
breaks
further tests are carried out on other
samples to get more accurate value. This can
involve anything up to 100 test samples.
Keyhole Impact Test
The steel casting industry uses this type of specimen more
frequently. The notch is machined to look like a keyhole. It is tested
in the same manner as the "V" and "U" notch.