Lab Impact Test

Report Title: Impact Test
INTRODUCTION
Impact test is a test used in studying the toughness of material. The definition of
toughness is defined as the capacity of material to absorb energy and deform plastically
before fracturing. Toughness is associated with both ductility and strength of materials.
[1]
There are two types of method to test impact test which is Izod and Charpy tests
or also known as the Charpy V-notch test. These two methods are different in placing
the specimens. In Izod test, the specimen is placed in vertical position and the notch is
faces the pendulum. Meanwhile in Charpy test, the specimen is placed horizontally and
unnotched area is faces the pendulum. Moreover, Izod impact specimen only has a V-
notch specimen while Charpy impact specimen has both U-notch and V-notch specimen.
Charpy test result can indicate how brittle the materials are. [2]
Because the Charpy’s specimen is easier to place than Izod specimen, it is

widely used to test the impact test. It also can test the specimens at different
temperatures. It is because the impact values of a material also change with
temperature. Generally, at lower temperatures the impact energy of a material is
decreased. Moreover, Charpy test can determine the toughness of different materials.
Charpy test is used widely as a tool for selecting materials in design. It also used
in many industries. For example to test materials used in the construction of pressure
vessels and bridges. It may use for quality control to ensure the materials produced
reach a minimum specified toughness level. [3]
OBJECTIVES
 To develop an understanding of fracture toughness

 To investigate the notched bar impact work and strength of various
engineering materials
 To investigate the influence the notch shape on the notched bar impact
work.
METHOD
1) The dimensions of the unnotched length and the thickness of the specimen was
measured (Figure 4)
2) Raised the pendulum to the left until it indicates the maximum energy range on the
upper indicator unit.
3) The specimen was placed horizontally across supports with the notch away from the
pendulum (Figure 5)
4) Pendulum was released.
5) Indicated value from the indicator unit was recorded.
6) The pendulum has returned to its stable hanging vertical position by applied the
brake.
7) The specimen from the testing area was removed and failure surfaced was observed.
RESULTS
All the measurements of specimens are recorded in Table 1.
I. Thickness h [mm]
II. Unnotched length l [mm]
Specimen Dimension Datum 1 Datum 2 Datum 3 Average Height after

[mm] [mm] [mm] [mm] Data, hₒ impact, h
[mm] [mm]
Mild Steel h : 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 22.50
U-notch l : 5.90
Mild Steel h : 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 25.50
V-notch l : 8.20
Carbon Steel h : 5.00 5.00 4.95 4.95 4.97 23.00
U-notch l : 5.30
Carbon Steel h : 5.00 5.00 4.95 5.00 4.98 17.00
V-notch l : 7.85
Table 1: Data for Mild Steel and Carbon Steel

DISCUSSION
1. The theory state that, the greater the energy used in the breaking, mean that, the
greater energy ‘loss’ of energy so the lower the height to which the pendulum rises. A
toughness material will absorb more energy upon impact. Therefore, the specimen with
highest absorbed energy mean (lowest energy loss) it’s ductile and has highest
toughness which can withstand the sudden high loads whereas the specimen with
lowest absorbed energy (highest energy loss) mean it’s brittle and has the least
toughness which can break easily. In shape aspects, the specimen with U-notch usually
is the brittle specimen whereas the v-notch specimen is the ductile specimen.
Carbon is less ductile than mild steel but it is more brittle. It is because carbon has high
percentage of carbon in it and it is lowering the ability to absorb energy when impact is
applied.
From the results obtained, mild steel with v-notch is the most ductile among the steels
that has been used in the test which is its height after impact is 25.50mm whereas the
most brittle specimen is carbon steel with v-notch which is its height after impact is
17.00mm. [4]
2. From the results in Table 1, there is slightly differences between the theoretically and
experimental result. From the theory, carbon steel u-notch should be the most brittle
specimen but from the experiment that has been done, the carbon steel v-notch is the
most brittle as the height of pendulum after impact is the lowest. In Table 1, the mild
steel with v-notch is the most ductile among the steels that has been used in the test
which the height of the pendulum after impact is 25.50mm whereas the most brittle
specimen is carbon steel with v-notch which the height of the pendulum after impact is
17.00mm.
The slightly differences occur because some error that not prevented during the test.
There are several error has occurred during the test. One of the error is the specimen
does not placed properly. Other than that, the eye position during taking the
measurement is not perpendicular with the scale of pendulum impact tester.
3. Impacted specimens with small fracture or with very little deformation is said to be in a
brittle while fracture of a metal after extensive plastic deformation is said to be in a
ductile manner. In this experiment, the mild steel crack but not completely break and
some part is still attached. Mild steel is said in ductile manner and the fracture looks
grayish and fibrous. From the observation, the carbon steel break completely and split
into two part. The broken part is smoother than the mild steel. Carbon is said in brittle
behavior and it has clear and shinny with surface. Carbon is less ductile than mild steel
but it is more brittle. It is because carbon has high percentage of carbon in it and it is
lowering the ability to absorb energy when impact is applied. Ductile materials are better
because more energy is needed in ductile fracture since it is a tough material.
4) a. Specimen – The results obtained from notched-bar tests are not readily
expressed in terms of design requirements, since it is not possible to measure the
components of the tri-axial stress condition at the notch. Furthermore, there is no
general agreement on the interpretation or significance of results obtained with this
type of test. The principal measurement from the impact test is the energy
absorbed in fracturing the specimen. After breaking the test bar, the pendulum
rebounds to a height which decreases as the energy absorbed in fracture
increases. The energy absorbed in fracture, usually expressed in joules, is rending
directly from a calibrated dial on the impact tester. The notched-bar impact test is
most meaningful when conducted over a range of temperatures so that the
temperature at which the ductile-to-brittle transition takes place can be determined
b. Equipment – Parallax error on pendulum scale as the eyes not perpendicular

with the scales during taking the measurement. [5]
5. Notched impact strength is an important characteristic for applications in pipeline

construction and shipbuilding and can be determined with Charpy specimens in
pendulum impact testers. The standardized notched specimens are inserted by hand, by
means of simple feeding devices, or using robotic systems and impacted with energies
up to 750 J. [6]
The Charpy Test is commonly used on metals, but is also applied to composites,
ceramics and polymers. With the Charpy test one most commonly evaluates the relative
toughness of a material, as such; it is used as a quick and economical quality control
device. [7]
CONCLUSION
 Carbon steel is a brittle material but mild steel is a ductile material as we

can see the reading of carbon steel V-notch only need 17.00mm while
mild steel V-notch 25.50mm.
 U-notch is easily to break down compared to V-notch as we can see the
reading of mild steel U-notch is 22.50mm while V-notch mild steel is
25.50mm.
 U-notch breaks with a flat plane while V-notch breaks with jagged edges
or shear lips.
 Carbon steel is hard material but easily broken and that’s the reason
carbon is wide used to form hand tools for example machete as it is easy
to deform.
 Mild steel is a ductile material and that’s the reason mild steel can be
made into a thin wire.
REFERENCES :
1) E-book second edition (Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering:

Thermodynamics, Mechanics, Theory of machines and Strength of Materials)
2) What is the difference between izod and charpy test?
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080901082515AAifcXU
access on 3/4/14
3) Charpy impact test http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charpy_impact_test access on
3/4/14
4) http://www.aeisndt.com/impact-testing.html
http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2763
http://www.slideshare.net/charliechong/charpy-testing
5) http://www.keytometals.com/page.aspx?ID=CheckArticles&site=kts&NM=1
36
6) http://www.zwickusa.com/en/applications/metals/heavy-plate/charpy-impact-
testing.html
7) http://www.wmtr.com/Content/charpy.htm
APPENDIX
Figure 6 : Pendulum impact tester scale

Figure 7 : Observation of specimen after impact applied
Figure 8 : The specimen after impact test

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Report Title: Impact Test

Because the Charpy’s specimen is easier to place than Izod specimen, it is

 To develop an understanding of fracture toughness

4) Pendulum was released.

5) Indicated value from the indicator unit was recorded.

All the measurements of specimens are recorded in Table 1.

Specimen Dimension Datum 1 Datum 2 Datum 3 Average Height after

Table 1: Data for Mild Steel and Carbon Steel

b. Equipment – Parallax error on pendulum scale as the eyes not perpendicular

5. Notched impact strength is an important characteristic for applications in pipeline

 Carbon steel is a brittle material but mild steel is a ductile material as we

1) E-book second edition (Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering:

Figure 6 : Pendulum impact tester scale

Figure 8 : The specimen after impact test

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