CHARPY IMPACT TEST

INSTRUCTED BY: NAME: SAMARAKOON SMTS

REGISTRATION NO: EN121377

INDEX NO: 24/ENG/133

GROUP:

DATE OF PRACTICAL:

DATE OF SUBMISSION:
1. OBJECTIVE
The aim of the Charpy Impact Test is to determine the toughness of a material by measuring the energy it
absorbs when breaking under an impact load.

2. APPRATUS
 Pendulum Impact Tester WP 400
 Vernier Caliper
 Test Specimens (Standardized metal samples)
Usually made of metals like mild steel, brass, or aluminum, with a V-notch or U-notch in the center.
 Safety Goggles & Gloves
To protect the user during testing and avoid injury from flying fragments.

3. THEORY

Scale

Starting
Position

End of Swing

H
h

In this test, the pendulum is released from a specific height H, strikes a notched specimen, and fractures it.
After that pendulum swings up to a lower height h. The difference of potential energy before and after impact
gives the total energy used during the fracture.

Main Formula:

E = Ea + Ef

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Where:

 E = Total potential energy difference between initial and final positions (J)
 Ea = Actual energy absorbed by the specimen during fracture (J)

 Ef = Energy losses due to friction, air resistance, etc. (J)

If we neglect energy losses, then the absorbed energy is: E = Ea

Therefore; E = Ea = mg(H -h)

Where:

 m = Mass of the pendulum (kg)

 g = Acceleration due to gravity ( m/s²)
 H = Initial height of the pendulum (m)
 H = Final height after breaking the specimen (m)

Finally, the impact strength of specimen = Ea / A

A- Cross sectional area at the notch (mm2)

4. PROCEDURE

 Measured the width and height of the notch using a vernier caliper to find the area.
 By free swing the pendulum check whether any zero error in the scale or not. If present, adjust the zero
error
 Pulled the pendulum up to the starting position and locked it.
 Place the specimen on the anvil with the notch at center as well as facing the opposite side of the pendulum.
 Released the pendulum to hit the specimen and read the energy absorbed after the strike.
 Looked at the fracture surface and identify the characteristics of specimen (brittle or ductile).
 Repeat the procedure for all the samples.

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5. OBESERVATIONS

6. CALCULATIONS, ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

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7. DISCUSSION

a. Factors Affecting the Toughness of Metals

Toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and deform plastically without fracturing. Several
factors affect this property:

 Temperature : Materials generally become more brittle at lower temperatures. For example, body-
centered cubic structure (BCC) metals show a considerable drop in toughness at low temperatures due
to decreased ductility. (Callister, W.D. and Rethwisch, D.G., 2018. Materials Science and
Engineering: An Introduction. 10th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons).

 Thickness : Thinner materials often exhibit higher toughness as stress concentrations are less severe.
Conversely, thick sections may encourage brittle fracture under impact load.(Dieter, G.E., 1986.
Mechanical Metallurgy. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill).

 Notch Type : The shape and depth of the notch influence stress concentration. V-notches usually lead
to lower impact strength compared to U-notches due to sharper geometry.(Bhadeshia, H.K.D.H., 2001.
Steels: Microstructure and Properties. 2nd ed. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann).

 Strain Rate : High strain rates, like those experienced during impact loading, can lower toughness in
certain materials due to limited time for plastic deformation.

 Microstructure : Grain size and phase distribution play a role in toughness. Finer grains generally
enhance toughness, while brittle phases (like martensite) reduce it (Shackelford, J.F., 2009.
Introduction to Materials Science for Engineers. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education).

b. Applicability of Impact Test in Engineering Applications

The Charpy impact test is a standard method to evaluate materials under sudden loading. Its applications as
following:

 Welding Applications : Ensures that the weld and filler material do not become brittle, especially in
structures subject to dynamic loads.
 Nuclear Industry : Used to measure fracture toughness of materials used in reactors, where radiation
can embrittle metals (Khan, A.S., 2015. Radiation Effects on Materials and Components. Journal of
Nuclear Materials, 456, pp.23–35).

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  Automobile Components : Ensures that vehicle body panels and bumpers can absorb collision
energy, protecting occupants.
 Bridge Constructions : Tests materials under low temperatures to avoid catastrophic brittle failure
under dynamic loading.
 Pipeline Manufacturing: Ensures pipes can withstand accidental impacts or internal pressure surges
without sudden failure.

c. Other Important Points

 Errors :The equipment can have a zero error, incorrect specimen placement ,and environmental
conditions (e.g., temperature).
 Difference Between Charpy And Izod Test :

Property Charpy Test Izod Test

Generally used for Metals Metals and plastic
Specimen Position Horizontally Vertically
Striking point Middle of the specimen with Upper tip of the specimen with
unnotched area facing the pendulum notch area facing the
pendulum
Types of notches Charpy uses both V and U notches Izod typically uses a V-notch.

8. REFERENCES

Callister, W.D. and Rethwisch, D.G., 2018. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction. 10th ed.
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons

Dieter, G.E., 1986. Mechanical Metallurgy. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill

Bhadeshia, H.K.D.H., 2001. Steels: Microstructure and Properties. 2nd ed. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann

Shackelford, J.F., 2009. Introduction to Materials Science for Engineers. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson Education

Khan, A.S., 2015. Radiation Effects on Materials and Components. Journal of Nuclear Materials,
456, pp.23–35