Sr. No Topic Page. No.

01. Title 02.

02. Introduction 02.

03. Theory of Experiment 03.

04. Charpy Test 05.

05. Quantitive Result 07.

06. Sample Size 08.

07. Impact test results on low- and high-strength 08.

materials

08. Procedure 09.

09. Result 10.

10. Discussion 10.

11. Conclusion 11.

12. Izod test 12.

13. Impact Energy 12.

14. Procedure 13.

15 Result 14.

16. Differnce Between Izod and Charpy Test 15.

17. Reference 16.

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Title
Impact Test

Introduction
Impact test determines the amount of energy absorbed by a material during fracture. This
absorbed energy is a measure of a given material's toughness and acts as a tool to study
temperature-dependent brittle-ductile transition. It is to determine whether the material is brittle
or ductile in nature.

The impact test is a method for evaluating the toughness, impact strength and notch sensitivity of
engineering materials.The quantity usually measured is the energy absorbed in breaking the
specimen in a single blow, as in the Charpy impact test and Izod impact test.

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Theory of experiment

Fracture in materials was widely investigated especially during the industrial revolution where
extraction processes of iron and steels led to the wide-spread uses of iron and steels for structural
and transportation applications, etc. However, metallurgy of iron and steels was not deeply
understood, which resulted in improper utilization of materials. Moreover, with low engineering
technology, defects were normally observed in jointed metals or assembled parts, which were the
main problems leading to weakening and global failure of engineering structures during services.
The well known case has been the tragic failure of the Liberty ships and T-2 tankers. The Liberty
ships built during the World War II appeared to have cracks along the welds resulting in
fracturing into two halves as they were at the deck prior to services. Brittle fracture has then been
investigated in great details whereas ductile fracture was however studied in a lower extent due
to its less deleterious effects. Since brittle fracture has been one of the most catastrophic types
leading to losses of life and cost, study of brittle fracture especially in steels has therefore been
on the main focus. Investigation into causes and factors affecting fracture behaviour has been of
great interest and solutions to its problems have also been cooperated.

Charpy impact test is practical for the assessment of brittle fracture of metals and is also used as
an indicator to determine suitable service temperatures. The Charpy test sample has 10x10x55
mm 3 dimensions(say DIN 50115), a 45oC V notch of 2 mm depth and a

0.25 mm root radius will be hit by a pendulum at the opposite end of the notch as shown in
figure 1. To perform the test, the pendulum set at a certain height is released and impact the
specimen at the opposite end of the notch to produce a fractured sample. The absorbed energy
required to produce two fresh fracture surfaces will be recorded in the unit of Joule. Since this
energy depends on the fracture area (excluding the notch area), thus standard specimens are
required for a direct comparison of the absorbed energy.

As the pendulum is raised to a specific position, the potential energy (mgh) equal to
approximately 294J is stored. The potential energy is converted into the kinetic energy after
releasing the pendulum. During specimen impact, some of the kinetic energy is absorbed during
specimen fracture and the rest of the energy is used to swing the pendulum to the other side of
the machine as shown in figure 1. The greater of the high of the pendulum swings to the other
side of the machine, the less energy absorbed during.

the fracture surface. This means the material fractures in a brittle manner. On the other hand, if
the absorbed energy is high, ductile fracture will result and the specimen has high toughness.
Generally, fracture behaviour of BCC structured metals such as mild steels varies with
temperature. At low temperature, BBC metals fracture in a brittle mode and becomes more
ductile as the temperature increases. FCC structure metals such as stainless steels, copper and
aluminum however do not show a dramatic change in fracture behaviour with increasing

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temperature. Therefore, an investigation of fracture behaviour in BCC structure metals is
concerned with the ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) curve. This curve shows
three different regions of lower shelf, upper shelf and transition region as shown in figure 3. If
we first consider fracture surfaces of samples tested at low temperatures, the brittle fracture
surfaces consisting primarily of cleavage facets and in some cases with small areas of ductile
dimple as illustrated in figure 4. Cleavage fracture requires less energy to produce flat fracture
surfaces of the cleavage facets. As the temperature increases, the area of cleavage facets is
reduced as opposed to increasing regions of ductile dimples or ductile tearing. Within a transition
range, the absorbed energy increases rapidly and the specimen fracture surfaces now show a
mixed mode of ductile and brittle features. The percentage of ductile and brittle features in this
region depends on the test temperatures. The higher the temperature, the more ductile areas will
result. In the upper shelf region according to the DBTT curve, the fracture surfaces become fully
ductile (100% fibrous). The fracture surface appears relatively rough, dull and gray due to
microvoid formation and coalescence. This type of fracture surface provides the highest energy
absorption due to extensive plastic deformation.

the fracture surface. This means the material fractures in a brittle manner. On the other hand, if
the absorbed energy is high, ductile fracture will result and the specimen has high toughness.
Generally, fracture behaviour of BCC structured metals such as mild steels varies with
temperature. At low temperature, BBC metals fracture in a brittle mode and becomes more
ductile as the temperature increases. FCC structure metals such as stainless steels, copper and
aluminum however do not show a dramatic change in fracture behaviour with increasing
temperature. Therefore, an investigation of fracture behaviour in BCC structure metals is
concerned with the ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) curve. This curve shows
three different regions of lower shelf, upper shelf and transition region as shown in figure 3. If
we first consider fracture surfaces of samples tested at low temperatures, the brittle fracture
surfaces consisting primarily of cleavage facets and in some cases with small areas of ductile
dimple as illustrated in figure 4. Cleavage fracture requires less energy to produce flat fracture
surfaces of the cleavage facets. As the temperature increases, the area of cleavage facets is
reduced as opposed to increasing regions of ductile dimples or ductile tearing. Within a transition
range, the absorbed energy increases rapidly and the specimen fracture surfaces now show a
mixed mode of ductile and brittle features. The percentage of ductile and brittle features in this
region depends on the test temperatures. The higher the temperature, the more ductile areas will
result. In the upper shelf region according to the DBTT curve, the fracture surfaces become fully
ductile (100% fibrous). The fracture surface appears relatively rough, dull and gray due to
microvoid formation and coalescence. This type of fracture surface provides the highest energy
absorption due to extensive plastic deformation.

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Charpy Test.
The Charpy impact test, also known as the Charpy V-notch test, is a standardized high strain-
rate test which determines the amount of energy absorbed by a material during fracture.
Absorbed energy is a measure of the material's notch toughness. It is widely used in industry,
since it is easy to prepare and conduct and results can be obtained quickly and cheaply. A
disadvantage is that some results are only comparative. The test was pivotal in understanding the
fracture problems of ships during World War II.

The test was developed around 1900 by S.B. Russell (1898, American) and Georges
Charpy (1901, French).[4] The test became known as the Charpy test in the early 1900's due to the
technical contributions and standardization efforts by Charpy.

History

In 1896, S. B. Russell introduced the idea of residual fracture energy and devised a pendulum
fracture test. Russell's initial tests measured un-notched samples. In 1897, Frémont introduced a
test to measure the same phenomenon using a spring-loaded machine. In 1901, Georges
Charpy proposed a standardized method improving Russell's by introducing a redesigned
pendulum and notched sample, giving precise specifications.

Definition

The apparatus consists of a pendulum of known mass and length that is dropped from a known
height to impact a notched specimen of material. The energy transferred to the material can
be inferred by comparing the difference in the height of the hammer before and after the fracture
(energy absorbed by the fracture event).

The notch in the sample affects the results of the impact test, thus it is necessary for the notch to
be of regular dimensions and geometry. The size of the sample can also affect results, since the
dimensions determine whether or not the material is in plane strain. This difference can greatly
affect the conclusions made.

The Standard methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of Metallic Materials can be found in
ASTM E23, ISO 148-1 or EN 10045-1 (retired and replaced with ISO 148-1), where all the
aspects of the test and equipment used are described in detail.

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Quantitive Result
The quantitative result of the impact tests the energy needed to fracture a material and can be
used to measure the toughness of the material. There is a connection to the yield strength but it
cannot be expressed by a standard formula. Also, the strain rate may be studied and analyzed for
its effect on fracture.

The ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) may be derived from the temperature where
the energy needed to fracture the material drastically changes. However, in practice there is no
sharp transition and it is difficult to obtain a precise transition temperature (it is really a transition
region). An exact DBTT may be empirically derived in many ways: a specific absorbed energy,
change in aspect of fracture (such as 50% of the area is cleavage), etc.

The qualitative results of the impact test can be used to determine the ductility of a material If the
material breaks on a flat plane, the fracture was brittle, and if the material breaks with jagged
edges or shear lips, then the fracture was ductile. Usually a material does not break in just one
way or the other, and thus comparing the jagged to flat surface areas of the fracture will give an
estimate of the percentage of ductile and brittle fracture.

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Sample Size
According to ASTM A370,[12] the standard specimen size for Charpy impact testing is 10 mm ×
10 mm × 55 mm. Subsize specimen sizes are: 10 mm × 7.5 mm × 55 mm, 10 mm × 6.7 mm ×
55 mm, 10 mm × 5 mm × 55 mm, 10 mm × 3.3 mm × 55 mm, 10 mm × 2.5 mm × 55 mm.
Details of specimens as per ASTM A370 (Standard Test Method and Definitions for Mechanical
Testing of Steel Products).

According to EN 10045-1 (retired and replaced with ISO 148),[10] standard specimen sizes are
10 mm × 10 mm × 55 mm. Subsize specimens are: 10 mm × 7.5 mm × 55 mm and 10 mm ×
5 mm × 55 mm.

According to ISO 148,[9] standard specimen sizes are 10 mm × 10 mm × 55 mm. Subsize

specimens are: 10 mm × 7.5 mm × 55 mm, 10 mm × 5 mm × 55 mm and 10 mm × 2.5 mm ×
55 mm.

According to MPIF Standard 40[13], the standard unnotched specimen size is 10 mm (±0.125
mm) x 10 mm (±0.125 mm) x 55 mm (±2.5 mm).

Impact test results on low- and high-strength materials

The impact energy of low-strength metals that do not show a change of fracture mode with
temperature, is usually high and insensitive to temperature. For these reasons, impact tests are
not widely used for assessing the fracture-resistance of low-strength materials whose fracture
modes remain unchanged with temperature. Impact tests typically show a ductile-brittle
transition for low-strength materials that do exhibit change in fracture mode with temperature
such as body-centered cubic (BCC) transition metals.

Generally, high-strength materials have low impact energies which attest to the fact that fractures
easily initiate and propagate in high-strength materials. The impact energies of high-strength
materials other than steels or BCC transition metals are usually insensitive to temperature. High-
strength BCC steels display a wider variation of impact energy than high-strength metal that do
not have a BCC structure because steels undergo microscopic ductile-brittle transition.
Regardless, the maximum impact energy of high-strength steels is still low due to their
brittleness.[14]

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Procedure
1. A Charpy V-notch specimen is placed across parallel jaws in the impact-testing machine.

2. The pointer is set up to its maximum value(300 J).

3. The hammer is released from the initial height downward towards the sample.

4. Observations and the energy absorbed are recorded and tabulated.

5. Steps 1-3 are repeated for another specimen.

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Results

Energy loss due to friction is 2 joules

Area of the V-notch specimen is 0.8cm2

Temperature in energy consumed in Average impact strength in

o
C j/cm2
Joule energy in
Joule
S1 S2 S3

100 176 170 183 176.3 220.375

32 13 202 183 133.7 167.125

0 12 188 184 128 160

-22 08 66 190 88 110

Temperature (˚C) Average

percentage of
Percentage of brittleness (%)
brittleness (%)

100 80 80 50 70

32(RT) 90 90 90 90

0 30 30 10 23.33

-22 20 40 20 26.67

Discussion
The transition temperature from the graph of the impact strength against temperature and that of
percentage of brittleness against temperature are not the same because there was an error which
was caused by the loss of temperature of the specimen when transferring it from the heater to the
charpy machine and when delaying placing the specimen on the machine.

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CONCLUSION
Although the transition temperature being different from the graph of impact strength against
temperature and the graph of average percentage of crystalline against temperature, we can still
conclude that the graph of the impact strength against temperature proves the theory that ductility
of the material varies with the temperature and it shows that the material is more ductile at high
temperatures and more brittle at low temperature.

Also the graph of percentage of crystalline against temperature show that the percentage of
brittleness of the fracture increases as the temperature decrease this conclude that ,the mild steel
becomes brittle at low temperature and it becomes ductile at high temperature.

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Izod Test
The Izod impact strength test is an ASTM standard method of determining the impact resistance
of materials. A pivoting arm is raised to a specific height (constant potential energy) and then
released. The arm swings down hitting a notched sample, breaking the specimen. The energy
absorbed by the sample is calculated from the height the arm swings to after hitting the sample.
A notched sample is generally used to determine impact energy and notch sensitivity.

The test is similar to the Charpy impact test but uses a different arrangement of the specimen
under test.[1] The Izod impact test differs from the Charpy impact test in that the sample is held in
a cantilevered beam configuration as opposed to a three-point bending configuration.

The test is named after the English engineer Edwin Gilbert Izod (1876–1946), who described it
in his 1903 address to the British Association, subsequently published in Engineering.

Impact energy
Impact is a very important phenomenon in governing the life of a structure. For example, in the
case of an aircraft, impact can take place by a bird hitting a plane while it is cruising, or during
take off and landing the aircraft may be struck by debris that is present on the runway, and as
well as other causes. It must also be calculated for roads if speed breakers are present, in bridge
construction where vehicles punch an impact load, etc.

Impact tests are used in studying the toughness of material. A material's toughness is a factor of
its ability to absorb energy during plastic deformation. Brittle materials have low toughness as a
result of the small amount of plastic deformation they can endure. The impact value of a material
can also change with temperature. Generally, at lower temperatures, the impact energy of a
material is decreased. The size of the specimen may also affect the value of the Izod impact test
because it may allow a different number of imperfections in the material, which can act as stress
risers and lower the impact energy.

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Procedure
1. A Izod V-notch specimen is placed across parallel jaws in the impact-testing machine.

2. The pointer is set up to its maximum value(300 J).

3. The hammer is released from the initial height downward towards the sample.

4. Observations and the energy absorbed are recorded and tabulated.

5. Steps 1-3 are repeated for another specimen.

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Results

Energy loss due to friction is 2 joules

Area of the V-notch specimen is 0.8cm2

Temperature in energy consumed in Average impact strength in

o
C j/cm2
Joule energy in
Joule
S1 S2 S3

100 116 110 113 113 287

32 13 202 183 133.7 167.125

0 12 188 184 128 160

-22 08 66 190 88 110

Temperature (˚C) Average

percentage of
Percentage of brittleness (%)
brittleness (%)

100 80 80 50 70

32(RT) 90 90 90 90

0 30 30 10 23.33

-22 20 40 20 26.67

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Difference between Izod and Charpy Impact Test:
Position of Specimen/Test Material: – In the Izod Impact Test, the specimen is positioned
vertically. On the other hand, it is positioned horizontally in the Charpy Impact Test.

Direction of Notch-Face: – The notch of the test material faces the hammer/striker fastened to
the pendulum in Izod Test. But, in the case of the Charpy Test, the face of the notch is away
from the striker.

Type of Notch: – In impact resistance testing, there two types of notches generally, V-Notch and
U-Notch. In the Izod Impact Test, only V-Notch is used but in Charpy Impact Test V-Notch as
well as U-Notch both can be used.

Size of Specimen: – The dimension or size of the specimen used in the Izod Test is 75mm x
10mm x 10mm. On the other hand, the dimension of the specimen used is 55mm x 10mm x
10mm in Charpy Test.

Type of Hammer: – The hammers used as a striker in both of the Izod and Charpy Impact Test
are different from each other. In the Izod Test, Farming Hammer is used and in Charpy Test, Ball
Pin Hammer is used as a striker.

Striking Point: – The point at which the striker strikes or attacks during the experiment/test is
also different in both of the tests. In the Izod Impact Test, the striker attacks or strikes at the
upper tip of the test material/specimen. But in the case of Charpy, it strikes at the middle point
(in the notch) or center of the specimen.

Material Tested: – Only metals can be tested by Charpy Test but Izod Test can be used for
testing impact resistance of both metals and plastics.

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Reference
 www.wikipedia.com

 www.splung.com

 www.guidebytips.com

 www.civilenginering.com

 www.civilindian.com

 Text book of Mechanics of Structure

 Reference book of Mechanic of structure

 Manual of Mechanics of Structure (S.Y civil engineering diploma)

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