CHARPY IMPACT TEST

OBJECT

To study the impact strength properties of a brittle and a ductile material on a

Charpy Impact Testing machine.

INTRODUCTION AND THEORY

Impact tests are designed to measure the resistance to failure of a material to

a suddenly applied force. The test measures the impact energy, or the energy
absorbed prior to fracture.During the first part of the 20th century, a metallurgist
named Izod invented an impact test for determining the suitability of various metals
to be used as cutting tools. Some years later another metallurgist named Charpy
modified the test slightly by orienting the specimen in a horizontal fashion. The test
consists of measuring the energy absorbed in breaking a standard U-notched
specimen (IS 1499-1959) by giving a single blow by a swinging hammer. The specimen
is simply supported at its ends.

As 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 mechanism of impact
involves not only the question of stresses induced, but also a consideration of energy
transfer and of energy absorption and dissipation.

The energy of a blow may be absorbed in a number of ways: through elastic

deformation of the member, through plastic deformation and through effects of
inertia of the moving parts. The effect of impact load in producing stress depends
upon the extent to which energy is expended in causing deformation.

The ability of a material to absorb energy and deform plastically before

fracture is called 'toughness'. It is usually measured by the energy absorbed in
notched bar impact tests like Charpy and Izode Tests. The area under the stress-strain
curve in a tensile test is also a measure of the toughness and as such is proportional
to the combined effects of tensile strength and ductility.

Energy absorbed (kgf-m)

Impact Strength = -------------------------------------------------
2
Cross-sectional area at the breaking point (cm )

EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP

The machine has a pendulum, which when released from the initial position,
drops through a height 'h' pushing an indicator around the scale as it swings through
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the specimen to a height h1. The scale shows the angle of swing. The energy absorbed
by the specimen for fracture is also read from this scale.

h
h1

The specimen is a bar of square cross-section notched on one side at the mid-point of
its length. This specimen is simply supported at its ends such that the pendulum
strikes on the side opposite the notch.

The machine specifications are as below.

1) Weight of the hammer is 9.375 Kg for 15 Kgf-m energy and 18.75 Kg for 30 Kgf-
m energy.

2) Striking velocity of the hammer = 5.0 m/s to 5.5 m/s.

3) Angle of hammer striking edge = 30° + 1°

4) Radius of curvature of striking edge = 2 + 0.5 mm.

5) Free distance between abutments = 40 mm

6) Swing of hammer both ways = 0° - 160°

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PROCEDURE

1) Draw a neat sketch of the apparatus and specimens.

2) Measure the lateral dimensions at full section and at the notch.

3) Study the machine and observe the dial marked in degrees and Kgf-m.

4) Align the specimen on the anvils such that the pendulum strikes exactly on the
back of the notch.

5) Raise the pendulum to the upper position and let it fall to rupture the
specimen.

6) Note the angle of rise of the pendulum and the energy lost by the pendulum
to rupture the specimen.

7) Note the fractured surface, its inclination with respect to the axis of the piece,
its texture and its relation with respect to the notch.

OBSERVATIONS AND COMPUTATION TABLE

Type of notch _____________________________________

Dimensions of test pieces _____________________________________
Room Temperature _____________________________________
Striking velocity _____________________________________
Initial energy of hammer _____________________________________

Test Material Area of X- Energy Impact Nature of

Section absorbed Strength fracture
Cm2 Kgf-m Kgm/Cm2

SAMPLE CALCULATION

PRECAUTIONS

1) The pendulum should be supported so that it falls in a vertical plane without

any possibility of lateral play.

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2) The bearing should be frictionless.

3) The release mechanism should not influence the free fall of the
pendulum.

4) The anvils should be heavy enough in relation to the energy of the blow so that
an undue amount of energy is not lost by deformation or vibration.

5) Specimen should be supported accurately such that the hammer gives the
blow just at the mid-point of the specimen.

6) The machine should be handled with utmost care.

QUESTIONNAIRE

1) What is the necessity of a notch in the Charpy Impact test?

2) What is the approximate velocity of striking in the Charpy Impact test?
How do you obtain it?
3) Define ‘toughness’ and ‘Brittleness’.
4) What are the various losses of energy in the Charpy Impact test?
5) What is centre of percussion? What is its application here?
6) What is the application of this test in practice?
7) How does temperature influence impact strength?