Impact Testing

October 30, 2023

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Abstract
Toughness is a property, which is capacity of material to resist fracture, when subjected to impact.

That is the energy absorbed during the fracture. The toughness of the material depends on following

factors. • Temperature • Alloying composition • Heat treatments • Strengthening mechanisms Impact

testing involves the sudden and dynamic application of the load. Parts such as shafts, bolts, anvils and

dies are examples of items subjected to impact loading. Th machine measures the amount of energy

absorbed by the specimen for the rapture in Joules unit. The amount of energy absorbed can give an

idea indication of the toughness of a material. It can classify the different types of materials into either

brittle or ductile materials.

Temperature (degrees Impact

0 1.23

30 1.28

100 1.36

Table 2. Showing Temperature in 0C against Impact strength in ft/lb

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 Table of Content

Introduction…………………………………………………………………page 4 – 5

Objective……………………………………………………………………page 6

Theory………………………………………………………………………page 7 – 8

Apparatus…………………………………………………………………...page 9

Procedure…………………………………………………………………...page 10 -12

Report………………………………………………………………………page 13

Results………………………………………………………………………page 14 – 15

Discussion…………………………………………………………………..page 16

Conclusion………………………………………………………………….page 17

Reference…………………………………………………………………...page 18

Appendix…………………………………………………………………....page 19

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Introduction
The impact test determines the impact toughness, which is a material property of metals, most

commonly by measuring the work required to fracture metallic specimen under impact. The impact

toughness test of metals provides information on ductile-brittle nature of metallic material upon

different temperature.

There are two state administered test named Charpy and Izod, were planned advertisement utilized

widely to gauge the effect vitality. For the two tests, the example is broken by a solitary over-burden

occasion because of the effect of the pendulum. A stop pointer is utilized to record how far the

pendulum swings back up after cracking to cracking the specimen. This effect sturdiness of a metal is

controlled by estimating the vitality consumed in the break of the specimen. This is essentially

achieved by taking note of the stature at which the pendulum is discharged and the tallness to which

the pendulum swings after it has struck the specimen. The tallness of the pendulum times the

heaviness of the pendulum delivers the potential vitality and the distinction in potential vitality of the

pendulum towards the begin and the finish of the test is equivalent to the assimilated vitality.

Since toughness is largely affected by temperature, a Charpy and Izod test is often repeated numerous

times with each specimen tested at a different temperature. This produces a graph of impact toughness

for the material as a function of temperature. An impact toughness versus temperature graph for a

steel is shown in the image. It can be observed that at low temperatures the material is more brittle

and impact toughness is low. At high temperatures the material is more ductile and impact toughness

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is higher. The transition temperature is the boundary between brittle and ductile behavior and this

temperature is often an extremely important consideration in the selection of a material.

Figure 1 Charpy Tester

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Objective
To conduct a V-notch impact test and determine the impact strength and ductile-to-brittle transition

temperature of steel.

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Theory

Toughness is a measure of the amount of energy a material can absorb before fracturing. Brittle

fracture is accentuated if the material is subjected to triaxial stresses, a high strain rate or low

temperatures. The notched bar impact test was devised to simulate these conditions, in order test the

resistance of a material to failure under the most unfavourable conditions of loading that might be

encountered in service. Two standardized tests, the Charpy and Izod, are commonly used to measure

impact energy (sometimes referred to as Notch Toughness). For both Charpy and Izod, a V-notch is

machined into a bar specimen with either a round or square cross section. A standard V-notch test

apparatus is schematically illustrated in Figure 1. The load is applied as an impact blow from a

weighted pendulum hammer that is released from a predetermined height h. The specimen is

positioned at the base as shown (Figure 1). Upon release, a knife edge mounted on the pendulum

strikes and fractures the specimen at the notch, which acts as a point of stress concentration for the

high velocity impact blow. The pendulum continues its swing, rising to a maximum height h’, which

is lower than the original height. Based on the difference in the two heights, the energy (J or Nm)

absorbed by the specimen, the difference in potential energy of the pendulum before and after the test,

is E = mg(h-h '), where m is the mass of the pendulum and g is the acceleration due to gravity. The

primary difference between the Charpy and Izod techniques lies in the manner of specimen support as

is indicated in Figure 1. Variables including specimen size and shape, as well as notch configuration

and depth can influence the test results. The Charpy test is more convenient when the specimens are

in the heated or frozen condition, since the setting of the specimen is more quickly performed, and

there is less chance of any significant change in temperature taking place.

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Figure 2

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APPARATUS:

• Izod impact tester

• Charpy impact tester

• Specimens

• Thermometer

• Water

• Dry ice

• Hot plate/furnace

• Oven

• Bowls, tongs

• Heavily insulated gloves

• Safety glasses

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Procedure

Safety Warning

• Extreme caution was used with the impact machines.

• The pendulum is very heavy and will easily break bones!

• Only one person should operate the machine at a time.

• Use the safety catch until ready to test.

• Make sure everyone is away from the machine before releasing the pendulum.

Conducting the Test

A. Specimens

The specimens were placed into the available temperature media that was used:

a. Dry ice (-78.5 °C)

b. Ice bath (~0 °C)

c. Ambient room temperature (~30 °C)

d. Boiling water (100°C)

e. Oven (~300 °C)

B. Charpy Test (Hounsfield balanced impact machine)

1. The operation of the machine and associated accessories was studied before proceeding with the

testing.

2. The machine was set up by lifting the tups up to and secured it into the catches. The safety catch

was placed into the keyhole until it was ready to test.

3. The pointer was placed to read 48 foot-pound (65.1 Nm).

4. The lever at the top of the machine was pressed to release the tups.

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5. The frictional losses was recorded.

6. The desired specimen was placed onto the support with notch facing backside of the striking

direction (as quickly as possible for cold and hot specimens) and center the notch in between the

anvils.

7. The tups was lifted to the testing position and were secured into the catches. The safety catch was

placed into the keyhole until ready to test.

8.The pointer was placed to read 48 ft. lb. (65.1 Nm).

9. When ready to test, the lever at the top of the machine was pressed to release the tups. (The time it

takes to remove the specimen from the hot and cold media and complete the test should be ~5

seconds.)

10. The energy required to fracture the specimen was recorded by reading the gauge.

11. The fracture surface appearance was observed and noted. (A digital camera would be an asset)

12. Steps 5-11 was repeated for other specimens.

C. Izod Test (Avery impact machine)

1. The operation of the machine and associated accessories was studied before proceeding with the

testing.

2. The pendulum at the starting position was supported by the catch and placed the pointer to 120

foot-pound (162.7 Nm).

3. The pendulum was released.

4. The frictional losses was recorded.

5. The pendulum was attached to its normal resting position.

6. The specimen was placed onto the support with notch facing forward the direction of striker of the

striking direction and center the notch to the reference level.

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7. The pendulum was lifted to the starting position and secured it to the catch.

8. The gauge was set to read 120 ft. lb (162.7 Nm).

9. When ready to test, the pendulum was released.

10. The amount of energy consumed by the specimen for its rupture was later recorded.

11. The fracture surface appearance was observed and noted. (A digital camera would be an asset)

12. Steps 5-11 was repeated for other specimens.

13. When complete, the tups was locked with the pin provided.

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Report

1. For each type of material, determine the impact strength and its uncertainty at room temperature.

2. For each material, plot the mean fracture energy versus the temperature.

3. Discuss the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature.

4. Describe the fracture surface appearance for each type of specimen and for each

temperature.

5. What is the effect of temperature on the fracture of metal?

6. What errors should be minimized (and how) to improve the accuracy of your results?

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Results

Initial energy of 120

the handle (ft/lb)

Friction (ft/lb) 6

Cross- sectional 78.54

area (mm^2)

Temperatu Initial Energy Consumed Final Energy Consumed Average Impact

re (degrees (ft/lb) (ft/lb) energy strength

Celsius) S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 (ft/lb) (ft/lb)

0 72 79 104 118 108 72 79 104 118 108 96.60 1.23

.5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5

30 11 10 85 72 119 119 10 85 72 119 100.34 1.28

9.8 5 .9 .8 5 .9

100 11 92 113 103 118 92 113 103 - 106.63 1.36

8.5 .5

Table 1. Energy absorbed by specimen (ft/lb)

Calculations

Impact strength (ft/lb) or J = Energy absorbed (final reading)/ cross-sectional area

= 113.8/78.54

= 1.45 ft/lb

Area of circle = πR2

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= π52

= 78.54 mm2

Determination of Notch area

AE*EC = BE*ED

Now AE= EC = ½ AC and BD = diameter = 2R

Therefore, 0.5AC*0.5AC = BE*(2R-BE)

And AC = 2 √(2𝑅 − 𝐵𝐸) ∗ 𝐵𝐸

AC = 2 √(2(5) − 2) ∗ 2

AC = 8 mm

Area of triangle = 0.5R2 sinƟ

= ½ (52) sinƟ

To find angle, Ɵ:

AE/R = sin(0.5* Ɵ)

0.5AC/R = sin(0.5* Ɵ)

0.5∗𝐴𝐶
Therefore, Ɵ = 2 ∗ sin−1 𝑅

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 0.5 ∗ 𝐴𝐶
Ɵ = 2 ∗ sin−1
𝑅

0.5 ∗ 8
Ɵ = 2 ∗ sin−1
5

Ɵ = 106.260

Ɵ 1
Area of segment = ∗ 𝜋𝑅 2 − 𝑅 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛Ɵ
360 2

Notch area = area of circle- area of segment

Ɵ 1
Notch area = 𝜋𝑅 2 − [360 ∗ 𝜋𝑅 2 − 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛Ɵ]

𝜋Ɵ
= 𝑅 2 (𝜋 − (360) + 0.5sinƟ

𝜋106.26
= 52 (𝜋 − ( 360
)+ 0.5sin106.26

= 25(𝜋 − 0.93 + 0.48)

Notch area = 43.25 mm2

Final reading = energy absorbed by specimen – friction

= 119.8 – 6 = 113.8 ft/lb

Uncertainty

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 Mean fracture energy vs temperature
1.30
Mean fracture energy (ft/lb)

1.28 y = 0.0013x + 1.1572

1.26
1.24
1.22
1.20
1.18
1.16
1.14
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Temperature (degrees celcius)

Graph 1. Graph showing Mean fracture energy against Temperature.

Discussion

The main of the lab conducted was to determine the impact strength and ductile-to-brittle

transition temperature of steel. With further experimenting, it was noticed that with temperature, then

property of the specimen varies. Hence the toughness which is a major property of a material tend to

be directly proportional to temperature. Furthermore, if the temperature increases, the toughness

increases and vice versa. The standard condition that the lab was conducted with the temperatures; 00,

300, 1000. The transition temperature from the graph of the impact strength against temperature was

not 100% accurate due to the loss of temperature when transferring the specimen form the heater to

the Izod machine and the delay when setting up the specimen in the machine. Sources of errors

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include Parallax error when reading the value of the energy, the AC which contributed to temperature

loss and human error in data analysis. The impact strength at 00 is 1.23 ft/lb, 300 is 1.28 ft/lb and the

1000 is 1.36 ft/lb.

Conclusion

Toughness of a material is a major property of a material. Furthermore, the toughness of a

material depends on the amount of energy absorbed by the material. There is a variation of toughness

under different temperatures. Hence, the toughness will increase with high temperature and vice versa

for low temperature. The impact test is conducted in three different temperatures (0 0C, 30 0C, 100 0C)

to explore the variations when hit by the hammer. Temperature can change the behavior of steel from

brittle to ductile with addition of heat and from ductile to brittle with the reduction of heat.

Furthermore, a greater amount of energy is required to break a ductile material than a brittle material.

Therefore, we can conclude from the graph of Impact strength against Temperature proves the theory

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of ductility of a material varies with the temperature and it shows that the material is more ductile at

high temperature and more brittle at low temperatures.

Reference

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Appendix

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Symbol Definition

ft/lb feet per pound

0
C degrees Celsius

Nm Newton meters

J Joules

E Energy

h height

m mass

g gravitational acceleration

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