Charpy impact test

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Materials failure modes

Buckling · Corrosion · Creep · Fatigue ·

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Impact · Mechanical overload ·

Stress corrosion cracking · Thermal

shock ·Wear · Yielding

The Charpy impact test, also known as the Charpy v-notch test, is a standardized high strain-rate test which
determines the amount ofenergy absorbed by a material during fracture. This absorbed energy is a measure of
a given material's toughness and acts as a tool to study temperature-dependent brittle-ductile transition. It is
widely applied in industry, since it is easy to prepare and conduct and results can be obtained quickly and
cheaply. A major disadvantage is that all results are only comparative.[1]

The test was developed in 1905 by French scientist Georges Charpy. It was pivotal in understanding the
fracture problems of ships during WWII. Today it is used in many industries for testing materials used in the
construction of pressure vessels and bridges and to determine how storms will affect materials used in them. [2]

Contents
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 1 Definition

 2 Quantitative results

 3 Qualitative results

 4 Sample sizes

 5 See also

 6 Notes
 7 External links

Definition

A vintage impact test machine.

The apparatus consists of a pendulum axe swinging at a notched sample of material. The energy transferred to
the material can be inferred by comparing the difference in the height of the hammer before and after a big
fracture.

The notch in the sample affects the results of the impact test,[3] thus it is necessary for the notch to be of
regular dimensions and geometry. The size of the sample can also affect results, since the dimensions
determine whether or not the material is in plane strain. This difference can greatly affect conclusions made. [4]

The "Standard methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of Metallic Materials" can be found in ASTM E23 [5],
ISO 148-1[6] or EN 10045-1[7], where all the aspects of the test and equipment used are described in detail.

Quantitative results

The quantitative result of the impact tests the energy needed to fracture a material and can be used to measure
the toughness of the material and the yield strength. Also, the strain rate may be studied and analyzed for its
effect on fracture.

The ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) may be derived from the temperature where the energy
needed to fracture the material drastically changes. However, in practice there is no sharp transition and it is
difficult to obtain a precise transition temperature. An exact DBTT may be empirically derived in many ways: a
specific absorbed energy, change in aspect of fracture (such as 50% of the area is cleavage), etc. [1]
Qualitative results

The qualitative results of the impact test can be used to determine the ductility of a material.[8] If the material
breaks on a flat plane, the fracture was brittle, and if the material breaks with jagged edges or shear lips, then
the fracture was ductile. Usually a material does not break in just one way or the other, and thus comparing the
jagged to flat surface areas of the fracture will give an estimate of the percentage of ductile and brittle
fracture.[1]

Sample sizes

According to ASTM A370,[9] the standard specimen size for Charpy impact testing is 10mm×10mm×55mm.
Subsize specimen sizes are: 10mm×7.5mm×55mm, 10mm×6.7mm×55mm, 10mm×5mm×55mm,
10mm×3.3mm×55mm, 10mm×2.5mm×55mm. Details of specimens as per ASTM A370 (Standard Test Method
and Definitions for Mechanical Testing of Steel Products).

According to EN 10045-1,[7] standard specimen sizes are 10mmx10mmx55mm. Subsize specimens are:
10mmx7.5mmx55mm and 10mmx5mmx55mm.

At WMT&R Izod and Charpy impact testing are

performedon instrumented machines capable of measuring less
than 1ft.lb. to 300ft. lbs. at temperatures ranging from -320°F to
over 2000°F. 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 testing subsize specimens down
to 1/4 size. IZOD testing can be done up to 240ft.lbs. on standard
single notch and type-X3 specimens.

The Charpy Impact Test was

invented by Georges Augustin
Albert Charpy (1865-1945). The
Charpy 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 Test is commonly used on metals, but

is also applied to composites, ceramics and polymers. With the
Charpy test one most commonly evaluates the relative toughness of
a material, as such, it is used as a quick and economical quality
control device.

The standard Charpy Test specimen consist of a bar

of metal, or other material, 55x10x10mm having a notch machined
across one of the larger dimensions.
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.

The Charpy 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.

Important factors that involve the

toughness of a material include: low
temperatures, high strain rates (by impact or pressurization), and
stress concentrators such as notches cracks and voids.

By applying the Charpy Test to identical

specimens at different temperatures, and then plotting
the impact energy as a function of temperature, the ductile-brittle
transition becomes apparent. This is essential information to obtain
when determining the minimum service temperature for a material.
Charpy Test - Determination of Impact Energy Using
the Charpy Test
Topics Covered
Impact Tests
What is Impact Energy
The Charpy Test
Charpy Test Specimens
What Does the Charpy Test Involve?
Determination of Charpy Impact Energy
Factors Affecting Charpy Impact Energy
Yield Strength and Ductility
Notches
Temperature and Strain Rate
Fracture Mechanism
Ductile to Brittle Transition

Impact Tests

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. The most common methods of measuring impact energy are the:

• Charpy Test

• Izod Test

What is Impact Energy

Impact energy is a measure of the work done to fracture a test specimen.

When the striker impacts the specimen, the specimen will absorb energy until it yields. At this point, the specimen will begin to undergo
plastic deformation at the notch. The test specimen continues to absorb energy and work hardens at the plastic zone at the notch. When
the specimen can absorb no more energy, fracture occurs.

The Charpy Test

While most commonly used on metals, it is also used on polymers, ceramics and composites. The Charpy test is most commonly used to
evaluate the relative toughness or impact toughness of materials and as such is often used in quality control applications where it is a fast
and economical test. It is used more as a comparative test rather than a definitive test.

Charpy Test Specimens

Charpy test specimens normally measure 55x10x10mm and have a notch machined across one of the larger faces. The notches may be:

• V-notch – A V-shaped notch, 2mm deep, with 45° angle and 0.25mm radius along the base

• U-notch or keyhole notch – A 5mm deep notch with 1mm radius at the base of the notch.

What Does the Charpy Test Involve?

The Charpy test involves striking a suitable test piece with a striker, mounted at the end of a pendulum. The test piece is fixed in place at
both ends and the striker impacts the test piece immediately behind a a machined notch.
 Figure 1. Schematic of the Charpy impact test.

Determination of Charpy Impact Energy

At the point of impact, the striker has a known amount of kinetic energy. The impact energy is calculated based on the height to which
the striker would have risen, if no test specimen was in place, and this compared to the height to which the striker actually rises.

Tough materials absorb a lot of energy, whilst brittle materials tend to absorb very little energy prior to fracture.

Factors Affecting Charpy Impact Energy

Factors that affect the Charpy impact energy of a specimen will include:

• Yield strength and ductility

• Notches

• Temperature and strain rate

• Fracture mechanism

Yield Strength and Ductility

For a given material the impact energy will be seen to decrease if the yield strength is increased, i.e. if the material undergoes some
process that makes it more brittle and less able to undergo plastic deformation. Such processes may include cold working or precipitation
hardening.

Notches

The notch serves as a stress concentration zone and some materials are more sensitive towards notches than others. The notch depth and
tip radius are therefore very important.

Temperature and Strain Rate

Most of the impact energy is absorbed by means of plastic deformation during the yielding of the specimen. Therefore, factors that affect
the yield behaviour and hence ductility of the material such as temperature and strain rate will affect the impact energy.

This type of behaviour is more prominent in materials with a body centred cubic structure, where lowering the temperature reduces
ductility more markedly than face centred cubic materials.

Fracture Mechanism
Metals tend to fail by one of two mechanisms, microvoid coalescence or cleavage.

Cleavage can occur in body centred cubic materials, where cleavage takes place along the {001} crystal plane. Microvoid coalescence is
the more common fracture mechanism where voids form as strain increases, and these voids eventually join together and failure occurs.
Of the two fracture mechanisms cleavage involved far less plastic deformation ad hence absorbs far less fracture energy.

Ductile to Brittle Transition

Some materials such as carbon steels undergo what is known as a ‘ductile to brittle transition’. This behaviour is obvious when impact
energy is plotted as a function of temperature. The resultant curve will show a rapid dropping off of impact energy as the temperature
decreases. If the impact energy drops off very sharply, a transition temperature can be determined. This is often a good indicator of the
minimum recommended service temperature for a material.

Impact testing: The purpose

of impact testing is to
measure an object's ability to
resist high-rate loading. It is
usually thought of in terms of
two objects striking each
other at high relative speeds.
A part, or material's ability to
resist impact often is one of
the determining factors in the service life of a part, or in
the suitability of a designated material for a particular
application. Impact resistance can be one of the most
difficult properties to quantify. The ability to quantify this
property is a great advantage in product liability and
safety.
Impact Testing most commonly consists
of Charpy andIZOD Speci
men configurations. The
Charpy tests are conducted
on instrumented machines
capable of measuring less
than 1ft.lb. to 300ft. lbs. at temperatures ranging from -
320° F to over 2000°F. 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 testing subsize specimens down to 1/4
size. IZOD testing can be done up to 240ft.lbs. on
standard single notch and type-X3 specimens.
WMT&R also offers a line of Instrumented
Impact Testdesigned to simulate real life rapid Energy
absorption conditions caused by: falling objects, blows,
collisions, drops, etc.
Drop Weight Testing is preformed to ASTM
E208. This test is conducted to determine the nil ductility
transition temperature (NDT) of materials. Tests can also
be conducted to your temperature requirements from
elevated temperature down to -320°F.
Dynamic Tear Testing has a wide range of
Research and Development applications. Used to
study the effects of metallurgical variables like heat
treatment, composition, and processing methods on the
dynamic tear fracture resistance of
material. Manufacturing processes, such as welding, can
be effectively evaluated for their effect on dynamic tear
fracture resistance. Additional uses for this test include
evaluating the appropriateness of selecting a material for
an application where a baseline correlation between
Dynamic Tear energy and actual performance has been
developed.