Experiment No.

4
IMPACT TEST OF METAL SPECIMENS
4.1 Introduction
The behaviour of materials under dynamic loading may sometimes differ markedly from
their behaviour under static or slowly applied loads. Impact loading is an important type of
dynamic loading in which the load is applied suddenly, as from the impact of a moving
mass. The velocity of a striking body is changed, there must occur a transfer of energy,
work is done on the parts receiving the blow. The mechanics of impact involves not only
the question of stresses induced but also a consideration of energy transfer and energy
absorption and dissipation.

The effect of an impact load in producing stress depends on the extent to which the energy
is expended in causing deformation. In the design of many types of structures and
machines that must take impact loading, the aim is to provide for the absorption of as much
energy as possible through elastic action and then to rely upon some kind of damping to
dissipate it. In such structures the resilience (i.e. the elastic energy capacity) of the
material is the significant property. In most cases the resilience data derived from static
loading may be adequate. Examples of impact loading include rapidly moving loads such
as those caused by a train passing over a bridge, or direct impact caused by the drop of a
hammer. In machine service, impact loads are due to gradually increasing clearances
which develop between parts with progressive wear.

2.2 Apparatus
Impact Testing Machine:
The standard notched bar impact testing machine is of the pendulum type (Fig. 4.1). The
pendulum consists of an I-section with heavy disc at its end. It is suspended from a shaft
that rotates in ball bearings and swings midway between two upright stands, at the base of
which is located the specimen support. The impact testing machine generally has
arrangement for two different initial position of the hammer block. The one in the higher
position is for specimens which are likely to withstand higher energy.

Fig. 4.1. Impact Testing Machine

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The energy-scale for this case is graduated over arrange of 0-240 ft-lb, whereas for the
specimens which are likely to absorb less energy, are tested with the hammer block
positioned at a lower initial height. This second position of the hammer block is to be used
with a corresponding energy scale over a range of 0-100 ft-lb.
Impact tests are performed by applying a sudden load or impulse to a standardised test
piece held in a vise in specially designed testing machine. Before performing the
experiment, intial error must be determined if any. The specimen is held in an anvil and is
broken by a single blow of the pendulum or hammer, which falls from a fixed starting point
(Fig. 4.2). In this condition it has a potential energy equal to the "WH" where W is the
weight of the pendulum and H is the height of the centre of gravity above its lowest point.
Upon release, and during its downward swing the energy of the pendulum is transformed
from potential to kinetic energy is equal to WH. A certain portion of this kinetic energy goes
into breaking the specimen. The remainder carries the pendulum through the lowest point
and is then transformed back into potential energy WH' by the time the pendulum comes to
rest where H' is the height in position B.

Point of
O support

Angle R
of fall

Angle A
of rise

W
B H

H'
W

Fig.4.2 Space relation of pendulum machine.

4.3 Specimens for Impact Testing

Notched bar test specimens of Mild Steel and Cast Iron having different designs are used
for impact test. Two types of specimens are standardised for notched impact testing and
the impact tests for metals and alloys are generally classified as the Charpy test (popular in
U.S.A.) and the Izod test (commonly used in U. K.). Usually the same impact machine is
designed to conduct both the Charpy and the Izod tests. The essential difference between
these tests are in the positioning of the specimen (Fig.4.3 and Fig.4.4). Following three
types of specimen are used for impact testing of metals:

a) Charpy simple beam

b) Izod cantilever beam
c) Charpy tension rod
Charpy simple beam:
The standard flexure test specimen is a piece 10 by 10 by 55 mm notched as shown in
Fig.4.3 (a) (ASTM A370). The specimen which is loaded as a simple beam, is placed

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horizontally between two anvils as shown in Fig. 4.3(b), so that the knife strikes opposite
the notch at the mid-span.
55 mm
10 mm
L L
45
10 mm

(a) Charpy simple beam

40 mm
80
Anvil

(b) Arrangement of the specimen in machine (top view).

Fig. 4.3. Details of the charpy simple beam

Charpy tension rod:
For impact-tension tests a specimen is secured to the back edge of the pendulum. As the
pendulum falls, a hammer block secured to the outstanding end of the specimen strikes
against two extended anvils, the specimen being ruptured as the pendulum passes
between the two anvils. Tension specimens may be plain or with circumferential notch.
One type of plain specimen has a diameter of 6 mm; a corresponding notched specimen
has a diameter of 6 mm as for the first type. The tension test has not been standardised
and is not used to any great extent in commercial practice.

Izod cantilever beam:

The cantilever specimen is a 10 by 10 mm in section and 75 mm long having a standard 45
notch 2 mm deep. The specimen is clamped to act as a vertical cantilever. The mounting
of the specimen and the relative position of the striking edge are shown in Fig. 4.4.

5 Striking edge
of pendulum
75
10

28 mm 22 mm
8 mm

75 mm Vise

47 mm
10 mm

Fig. 4.4 Cantilever beam specimen and mounting for the Izod test.

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8.4 Testing Procedure
i. Measure the lateral dimensions of the specimen at a full section and at the notch.
ii. Set the pointer to read minimum on the graduated disc and note down the initial error as
explained in (iii).
iii. Set the hammer block in the position ‘A’ and the pointer along with the carrier, in the
position ‘a’ (see figure below) and then release it. When the hammer block stops
swinging, the pointer should be in position ‘b’, if not read the initial error bb'=i (this is to
be used for high scale).

Figure 4.5

iv. In the same way as described in `iii' determine the initial error for the low scale.
v. Place and position the sample appropriately in the vise.
vi. Raise the pendulum and fix it in proper position. Release the pendulum and record
the energy absorbed.
vii. The corrected energy absorbed by the specimen is then found taking into consideration
of the initial error determined earlier. Note the condition of the failed specimen (whether
broken or not).
viii. Repeat steps (v) to (vii) for each of the specimen supplied.

4.5 Calculation
The energy delivered to the specimen is (WH-WH'), the impact value (Fig. 8.5). The values
of H and H' are indicated by a pointer moving on a scale. The scale is usually calibrated to
read directly in feet-pound. Calculate the impact value for the specimen from the
differences between the initial and final dial reading. Adjust the initial error prior to the
experiment if any.

4.6 Usefulness of Impact Tests

The results obtained from notched bar tests are not readily expressed in terms of design
requirements. Furthermore, there are no general agreement on the interpretation or
significance of results obtained with this type of test. The impact test measures the energy
absorbed in fracturing the specimen.

The sharpness of the notch significantly affects this value, but geometrically similar notches
do not produce the same results on large parts as they do on small test pieces.
Consequently true behaviour of a metal in service can only be obtained by testing full-size
components, in a manner as they will be used in service. The figures, therefore, have no
design value. A material of 40 ft. lb. is not twice as strong as one of 20 ft.lb.

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