Experiment No.

4
IMPACT TEST

I. OBJECTIVES:
1. To understand the principles and methods of Impact Testing.
2. To determine the energy absorbed and impact toughness of selected material using Charpy
impact tester.
II. MATERIALS:
Low carbon steel 12.7 mm Ø
Cast iron 12.7 mm Ø
Copper 12.7 mm Ø

III. PROCEDURE:
1. Partially elevate the hammer of the tester to provide space for the placement of the
specimen.
2. Place the specimen carefully.
3. Elevate the hammer to desired lifting angle.
4. Set the indicating needle to zero.
5. While observing safety precaution, release the hammer by tapping the hammer lock lever.
6. Read the hammer swing up angle.
7. Determine the energy absorbed by the specimen and impact toughness of the specimen
using the formula:

a. E = WR (cos β - cos α)
E: Energy absorbed by the material (Joule)
W: Weight of hammer
E R: Length of hammer arm
b. IT = α: Hammer lift angle
β: Hammer swing-up angle
MCA
IT: Impact Toughness (J/cm2)
MCA: Materials cross-sectional area
IV. RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Charpy impact testing is used to determine material toughness and, more crucially, to
determine a material's capacity to absorb energy and bend plastically without fracture.
Toughness is a quality that describes a material's ability to withstand fracture when subjected to
impact. This is the amount of energy absorbed during the fracture.

Table 1.

Hammer Cross- Energy Impact Hammer Length of

Lift Hammer
Specimen Swing-up sectional Absorbe Toughness
angle Arm (R)
Angle (β) Area MCA d (E) (IT) (α)

Low
12.7 mm 138. 614 10.914
Carbon 85°
Ø J J/cm2 140° 0.6345m
Steel

12.7 mm 110.294 140° 0.6345m

Cast Iron 95 °
8.685 J/cm 2

Ø J

12.7 mm 248.909 19.599 140° 0.6345m

Copper 40 °

Ø J J/cm2

For Low Carbon Steel:

E = WR (cos β - cos α)

E = (256.05 N)(0.6345)(cos(85) - cos (140))

E = 138.614 J

For Cast Iron:

E = WR (cos β - cos α)

E = (256.05 N)(0.6345)(cos(95) - cos (140))

E = 110.294 J

For Copper:

E = WR (cos β - cos α)

E = (256.05 N)(0.6345)(cos(40) - cos (140))

E = 248.909 J

Impact test arrangements such as those from Charpy and IZOD are usually used. Testing
is done at a temperature ranging from -320°F to roughly 2000°F with equipment that can
measure forces from 1 to 300 foot-pounds. Different specimen configurations are available to
be used for impact testing, such as V-Notch, U-Notch, Keyhole Notch, and Un-Notched
specimens. The laboratory is also capable of testing subsize specimens of up to 14 inches in
diameter. Impact Testing carried out using IZOD can be performed up to 240 foot pounds on
typical single notch and type-X3 specimens. 
An experiment indicates that the hammer's swing-up angle is in opposition to the
material's ability to absorb energy. It has been established that, in this case, the lower the angle
of the hammer with respect to the material, the more energy will be delivered by the hammer
and the more durable the material will be. This led to copper emerging as the most robust. It
was able to withstand hammer blows with significantly greater force than steel. In terms of
impact toughness, cast iron has the lowest toughness based on the experiment, while the
carbon steel is on the second spot for its toughness for the three materials we have.