“Heaven’s Light is our Guide”

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET)

Course No.: GCE3132

Course title: Materials Characterization Sessional
Experiment No. : 03
Experiment Name: Impact Testing.
Submitted to:
Mst. Sharmin Mostari
Assistant professor
Department of Glass & Ceramic Engineering
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
Submitted by:
Name: Tasnuva Humaira
Roll: 1706002
Dept. : Glass and Ceramic Engineering.
Submission Date: 31/1/2021
Introduction:
Impact tests are used in studying the toughness of material. A material's toughness is a factor of its ability
to absorb energy during plastic deformation. Brittle materials have low toughness as a result of the small
amount of plastic deformation that they can endure. The impact value of a material can also change with
temperature. Generally, at lower temperatures, the impact energy of a material is decreased. The size of
the specimen may also affect the value of the Izod impact test because it may allow a different number of
imperfections in the material, which can act as stress risers and lower the impact energy.
Sample preparation:
Impact testing most commonly consists of Charpy and IZOD Specimen configurations. The Charpy
Impact Tests are conducted on instrumented machines capable of measuring less than 1 foot-pound to 300
foot-pounds at temperatures ranging from -320°F to over 2000°F. Impact test specimen types include
notch configurations such as V-Notch, U-Notch, Key-Hole Notch, as well as Un-notched and ISO (DIN)
V-Notch, with capabilities of impact testing sub size specimens down to ¼ size. IZOD Impact Testing can
be done up to 240 foot-pounds on standard single notch and type-X3 specimens.

Fig1: Different notch for test specimen.

Working procedure:
The common two types of impact test are DROP WEIGHT test and PENDULUM TYPE test.
Drop weight test:
Drop-Weight testing is preformed to ASTM E208. This test is conducted to determine the nil ductility
transition temperature (NDT) of materials. Impact testing can also be conducted to your temperature
requirements from elevated temperature down to -320°F. The ASTM E208 Drop-Weight Test is used
primarily to determine the Nil-ductility transition temperature or NDT of ferritic steels of 5/8 in thickness
and over. This particular drop weight test was initially developed by the Navel Research Laboratory in
1952 and published as Department of the Navy document NAVSHIPS-250-634-3. Current specifications
are available from ASTM at: ASTM E208-06 Standard Test Method for Conducting Drop-Weight Test to
Determine Nil-Ductility Transition Temperature of Ferritic Steels.
 - The drop-weight test consists of beam specimens prepared according to ASTM E208
specifications to initiate a material crack in a selected area of their tensile surfaces at the start of
the test.
- During the test a series of specimens is subjected to a single impact load at a progression of
selected temperatures to determine the maximum temperature at which a specimen breaks.
- The impact load is delivered by a guided, free-falling weight with an energy of 250 to 1200 ft-lb
(340 to 1630 J) according to the yield strength of the steel to be tested.
- A stop is employed to prevent deflection of more than a few tenths of an inch.
- After the specimen is prepared properly for the crack initiation, and conditioned to the proper
temperature, the test begins.
- The initial test is conducted at a temperature estimated to be near the NDT temperature. The
remaining specimens are then tested at a progression of temperature intervals to determine the
break and no-break performance temperatures within 10°F or (5°C).
Falling weight impact has several key advantages over other methods.
1.It is applicable for molded samples, molded parts etc.
2.It is unidirectional with no preferential direction of failure. Failures originate at the weakest point in the
sample and propagate from there
3.Samples don't have to shatter to be considered failures. Failure can be defined by deformation, crack
initiation, or complete fracture, depending on the requirements.
These factors make falling weight testing a better simulation of functional impact exposures, and
therefore closer to real-life conditions. However, there are drawbacks to instrumented falling weight and
Gardener or Gardner weight drop testing.
Charpy and Izod testing/ Pendulum type test procedure:
1. The swinging pendulum weight is raised to standard height depending upon the type of specimen to be
tested.
2. With reference to the vise holding the specimen, the higher the pendulum, the more Potential energy it
has got.
3. As the pendulum is released, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy until it strikes the
specimen.
4. The Charpy specimen is hit behind the V notch while the izod specimen, placed with the V notch
facing the pendulum, will be hit above the V notch.
5. A portion of the energy possessed by the pendulum is used to rupture the specimen and the pendulum
rises on the other side of the machine to a height lower than its initial height on the opposite side of the
impact testing machine.
6. The energy consumed in breaking the specimen is the weight of the pendulum times the difference in
two heights of pendulum on either side of the machine. This energy in foot-pounds or metre-kg is the
notched impact strength and can be read from the dial of the impact testing machine.
8. Fig.2 give dimensions of standard Charpy and Izod test specimens.
Standard Charpy and Izod test specimen dimensions by ASTM:
The standard specimen for ASTM is 64 x 12.7 x 3.2 mm (2½ x ½ x 1/8 inch). The most common
specimen thickness is 3.2 mm (0.125 inch), but the preferred thickness is 6.4 mm (0.25 inch) because it is
not as likely to bend or crush. The depth under the notch of the specimen is 10.2 mm (0.4 inches).
The standard specimen for ISO is a Type 1A multipurpose specimen with the end tabs cut off. The
resulting test sample measures 80 x 10 x 4 mm. The depth under the notch of the specimen is 8mm.

Fig2: Standard Charpy and Izod test specimen dimensions by ASTM

Sample preparation (ASTM size and shape) for ceramic, metal and composites:
For composites:
Composite materials (3) are often used in environments in which they will suffer from impact damage.
For example, damage can occur from a hammer being dropped on a composite pipe or from a bullet
striking composite armor. Impact testing fits into two main categories:
1. low velocity impact, and
2. high velocity impact.
The specimen that fits into the Charpy impact tester is rectangular with a V notch cut in one side. The
notch allows for a predetermined crack initiation location. Many composite Charpy impact tests are
performed without the notch cut into the specimen. A typical Charpy impact specimen is shown in the
following figure. For a typical fibre reinforced polymer Charpy specimen, L = 126 ± 1 mm, D = 12.7 ±
0.15 mm, and 3.00 mm < w < 12.7 mm.

Fig 3: Charpy impact testing specimen.

The specimens used for drop weight testing are flat panel composite specimens. The lay-up and
material used is dependent on the desired results of the testing. The flat panel specimen preparation is
similar to that of the panels used in the Charpy impact test. Following the creation of the panel, specimens
are cut to the desired size. This flat specimen is then inserted into the test machine and clamped along its
edges. The clamps can be placed in a circumferential configuration or in a rectangular configuration,
based on the design and test specifications (a common standard is ASTM D 5628). Once the test
specimen is clamped down, the mass is raised to the desired height, and the mass is locked into place.
For Metal:
The sample preparation will be the same as before as shown in Fig 2. For Charpy and Izod test. For drop
weight test, The ASTM E208 Drop-Weight Test is used primarily to determine the Nil-ductility transition
temperature or NDT of ferritic steels of 5/8 in thickness and over.
For Ceramic:
The standard test specimen for drop weight test is shown in fig 4.

Actually, we can use all types of specimen notch for ceramic, metal and composites as required.
Standard Sample:
By ASTM
- ASTM E23
- ASTM E208
- ASTM E604
- ASTM E436

ASTM E21: Standard Test Methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of Metallic Materials
The essential features of an impact test are: a suitable specimen (specimens of several different
types are recognized), a set of anvils, and specimen supports on which the test specimen is
placed to receive the blow of the moving mass, a moving mass that has sufficient energy to break
the specimen placed in its path, and a device for measuring the energy absorbed by the broken
specimen.

ASTEM E208: Standard Test Method for Conducting Drop-Weight Test to Determine Nil-Ductility
Transition Temperature of Ferritic Steels.

The following test was described at Drop Weight Test.

ASTM E604: Standard Test Method for Dynamic Tear Testing of Metallic Materials
The DT energy value is a measure of resistance to rapid progressive fracturing. In a number of
applications, the enhanced resistance that may develop during about one plate thickness of crack
extension from a sharp notch is of major interest. In the test method, a sufficiently long fracture path is
provided so that the results serve as a measure of this property.

ASTM E436: Standard Test Method for Drop-Weight Tear Tests of Ferritic Steels.
This test method can be used to determine the appearance of propagating fractures in plain carbon or low-
alloy pipe steels (yield strengths less than 825 MPa) over the temperature range where the fracture mode
changes from brittle (cleavage or flat) to ductile (shear or oblique).

Which types of impact testing is suitable for ceramic tiles?

The better way of impact testing not only ceramic but also all types of materials is drop weight testing. As
it’s the most handful and cheep method for testing tiles. For pendulum test it needs more apparatus to
complete the test and the test is a little bit difficult too. The most difficult part is making the samples. We
need to prepare the sample as the ASTM dimension.

For the sample preparation, square shaped small size of tiles can be taken in drop weight test. We can
also take other regular shapes.
Otherwise, if Charpy and Izod test is taken for testing tiles, same sampling can be taken of ASTM. As
shown before.

Reference:
1. https://www.testresources.net/applications/test-types/impact-test/
2. Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Advanced Ceramics at Ambient Temperature 1
Zainab Raheem, Baghdad University College of Science
3. © Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
4. A text book of Material science and Metallurgy by P.O Khanna.