IMPACT TEST

Lab Report # 05

Submitted by:
Salman Tariq (170301006)
Abdur Rahman Khan (170301014)
Faizan Khan (170301026)

Submitted to: Engr. Talha Farooq

NOVEMBER 15, 2019

INSTITUTE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY, ISLAMABAD
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
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Table of Contents

Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 2
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 3
1.1. Charpy Impact Test ..................................................................................................... 3
1.2. Izod Impact Test ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.3. Standard Specimen for Charpy and Izod Test ............................................................. 4
2. Apparatus ........................................................................................................................... 4
3. Experimental Procedure ..................................................................................................... 5
4. Results & Discussions........................................................................................................ 5
4.1 Specimen Size Effect .................................................................................................. 6
4.2. Effect of extra layers in composites ................................................................................ 7
5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 7
6. References .......................................................................................................................... 7

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Abstract
In this report, a brief description of Impact test of Aluminium sample is given. The sample was
tested and the toughness value of the specimen (i.e. Aluminium) was observed. The specimen
showed ductile fracture behaviour. However, the toughness of Aluminium sample was
observed to have quite a significant value.

Objectives
 To understand the fracture behaviour of a material due to impact.
 To measure the energy absorbed till fracture (toughness) by a notched specimen.
 To determine whether the material can be used in a given application where impact
strength of specific value is required.

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1. Introduction
Impact tests determine impact toughness, a material property, most commonly by measuring
the work required to fracture a test specimen under impact. Impact tests are useful in the
analysis and prediction of the behaviors of different materials under impact stresses or dynamic
loading. The Charpy impact test measures the energy absorbed by a standard notched specimen
while breaking under an impact load. The Charpy impact test continues to be used as an
economical quality control method to determine the notch sensitivity and impact toughness of
engineering materials. The Charpy impact test is a high strain rate test that measures the work
required to rupture a specimen in flexure.
The impact value can be used as a rule of thumb for determining the load bearing capacity of
a material against momentary stress from impact strength and fracture energy. The higher the
impact value of a material is, the higher the toughness or tenacity of the material is.
Impact test can also be used to determine whether a material undergoes ductile to brittle
transition or not. For this purpose, a material is first tested at room temperature and then it is
tested at sub-zero temperature. If both tests show a large difference in toughness values, then
it can be determined that the material may have undergone ductile to brittle transition.

1.1.Charpy Impact Test

The Charpy Impact Test is commonly used on metals, but is also applied to composites,
ceramics and polymers. With the Charpy impact test, one most commonly evaluates the relative
toughness of a material, and as such, it is used as a quick and economical quality control device.
The Charpy Impact Test consist of striking a suitable specimen with a hammer on a pendulum
arm while the specimen is held securely at each end. The hammer strikes opposite the notch.
The energy absorbed by the specimen is determined by precisely measuring the decrease in
motion of the pendulum arm.

Figure 1-Specimen Orientation for Charpy Test

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1.2. Standard Specimen for Charpy Test:

The standard Charpy Impact Test specimen consist of a bar of metal, or other material.
According to ASTM E23, the standard specimen size for Charpy impact testing is 10 mm ×
10mm × 55mm, having a notch machined across one of the larger dimensions. There are two
types of notches, parameters of whose are entirely different.
 V-notch: 2mm deep, with 45° angle and 0.25mm radius along the base.
 U-notch and keyhole notch: 5mm deep notch with 1mm radius at base of notch.

Figure 2-Mild Steel specimen for Testing with standard parameters

2. Apparatus
 Charpy Impact testing machine
 Aluminium

Figure 3- Charpy Impact Testing Machine, taken at Inspection & Testing lab, IST

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3. Experimental Procedure
1. The hammer was taken to the maximum height for impact.
2. The scale was brought to zero to measure the air resistance.
3. The hammer was released at first without placing the sample in order to measure the
air resistance.
4. The value of air resistance obtained was then to be subtracted from the value obtained
from the sample.
5. Then the Aluminum notched specimen was placed on the supports with notch on the
opposite side of the hammer.
6. By using the remote, the hammer was released, and it fractured the specimen with an
impact of the blow.
7. The value of toughness of the specimen on the red scale (scale for small hammer) was
noted down.
8. Two other specimens of Aluminum waere followed by same procedure as given above.

4. Results & Discussions

Below given are the experimented values of Toughness of Aluminum 6061, Mild steel and
some other samples.

Specimen Length of sample Width * Thickness Experimental value

(mm) (mm) (Joules)
56 10 * 10
Aluminum 27.9

55.27 10 * 10
ASTM 1020 steel 6.2

Composite (CFR 10.1

Epoxy)

Kevlar 65.55 12.09 * 6.05 7

Composite sample 2 73.99 9.5 * 7.6 6.9

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Composite sample 3 63.37 10.5 * 8.6 8.5

Table 1- Experimental values of Toughness of some Engineering Materials

Unfortunately, we were unable to find standard Charpy values for our specimens. We
did find standard Izod values for our metals; however, these values were not for a range of
temperatures, and, thus, could not be accurately converted to either verify or contradict our test
results. While we could not compare our results, we do know that error may have occurred in
many different places.
Mechanically, the specimens may not have been precisely centered due to human error.
There are also general sources, such as friction within the pivot bearing, frictional resistance of
the pointer, and the kinetic energy transmitted to the specimen. Also, any variations or
impurities in the samples themselves could affect the results and prevent them from matching
published values.

Figure 2- Fracture surface of Aluminum 6061 after impact test

4.1 Specimen Size Effect

One should expect the impact properties determined by sub size specimens to be
different from those determined by full-size ones. This is a consequence of the difference in
specimen size which will, under loading, produce different stresses and strains ahead of the

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notch, and so the transition in fracture mode will occur at different temperatures. In addition
the energy absorbed will obviously vary with specimen size.
But if we consider only the relationship between length and impact values, there is
none. The difference or variation seen in the values can be because of the defects or errors
(human or systematic).
4.2. Effect of extra layers in composites
Chart 2 shows the variation of impact energy
with layers in Charpy impact test. Chart. 2
depicts that the impact energy of the specimen
increases with increase in layers. Increase in
layers leads to increase in the stiffness of the
specimen. As the pendulum strikes the specimen
stiff specimen didn’t bend or fracture while less
stiff specimen bent easily and fracture. Therefore
stiffer specimen absorbed more energy and less
stiff specimen absorbed less energy.

Chart 1-Variation of impact energy with layers in Charpy

5. Conclusion
Aluminium 6061 sample was first impact tested and then other samples of the different
materials and composites were tested. In conclusion, our results were consistent with
reasonably expected behaviour for steel and other material specimens. However, as a large
range of results would lie within the expected ranges of different types of materials, considering
that composition, heat-treating (for metals), and many other factors result in a wide variety of
possible results. Whether or not we accurately determined the Charpy values for our specimens,
it stands that we could not determine an absolute impact resistance of a specimen via our tests,
which provide only comparative results and not clear, universal values.

6. References

[1] Siddiqui, Faruq. “Mechanics of Solids: Impact Test.” Swarthmore College, 2008.
Elgun, Serdar. "Impact Test." [Online] Available:
http://info.lu.farmingdale.edu/depts/met/met206/impact.html [Accessed: 18-Nov-
2018].
[2] “Charpy Test - Determination of Impact Energy Using the Charpy Test.” [Online].
Available: https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2763. [Accessed: 18-Nov-2018].
[3] Nunes, Rafael Menezes; Arai, Tohru; Baker, Gordon M., Heat Treating- ASM
handbook, vol. 4. New York: ASM International, 1991.

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[4] “ASM Material Data Sheet.” [Online]. Available:

http://asm.matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=ma2024t4. [Accessed: 18-
Nov-2018].

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