Materials Lab.

(0944374)
Lab. Report

Faculty of Engineering & Technology

The University of Jordan, Amman Jordan
Impact Test Report

: By Yousef Alsharif

Items Max. grade Evaluation Mark

Cover Page 5
Abstract 10
Data Observed 10
Sample of Calculations 10
Results & Discussion 20
Uncertainly Analysis 10
Practical Examples 5
Conclusions 10
Correct Language 10
Page Numbering 5
Figures and Tables 5
Total 100

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 Introduction :-
An external force applied to a structure is called an impact load if the time
of application is less than one third the lowest natural period of vibration
of the part or structure, otherwise it is called a static load.

Impact tests provide a means for testing materials under conditions of shock
loading at fixed temperatures. Thus, impact tests are useful in measuring the
toughness of metals. Toughness depends primarily on the strength and
ductility of a metal since toughness is the total strain energy per unit volume of
a metal.

Tests for strength and ductility do not take into consideration the rate at
which energy is absorbed which may influence the behavior of a metal. A
different measure of toughness may be obtained from impact loading than from
static loading and adds another measure of metal behavior.

Impact tests are not intended to simulate shock loading in service, but are
used to indicate differences in metals that are not indicated by other tests. The
tests are particularly sensitive to variations in the structure of the metal caused
by the following:-

1- Heat treatment.

2- Compositions that cause brittleness.

3- Sulfur and phosphorus content.

Although there is no direct correlation between impact tests and shock

loading in service, there tests are good for comparing materials and for
supplying additional information regarding failure of structural members during

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 earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and other disasters, but they do not give
quantitive data that can be used directly in design.

Impact test under varying temperatures is possible. A curve of impact energy

versus temperatures is shown in next figure. This curve shows that above a
certain temperatures range, the metal is ductile, below this temperature
range, the metal is brittle. A low transition temperature in this range may be
interpreted as being desirable, whereas a high transition temperatures may
indicate that the metal is subjected to brittle failure.

Types of impact tests:-

1- Izod test.

2- Charpy test.

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 Objectives :-
To test selected specimens under conditions of shock loading at fixed
temperature. Also to measure the energy absorbed in breaking a notched
specimen.

Apparatus :-
Impact test machine.

Test specimen:-
We used mild steel and brass specimens with U and V notch for each of
them.

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 Procedure :-
1) Izod Impact Test:

a. Fit the striker with the horizontal tip in the striking position.

b. With safety lever in Izod position, raise the pendulum to the 170-J
position.

c. Turn the maximum pointer, which is fitted to the chart glass, anti-
clockwise until it contacts the fixed pointer attached to the
pendulum. This is done by with the knurled knob in the center of
the chart glass.

d. Release the pendulum by the left hand lever. After the pendulum
has passed the test piece it will carry the maximum pointer round
the chart and leave it indicating the LOST ENERGY due to
friction and air resistance.

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 e. Repeat steps 1 to 3.

f. Insert the test piece with the notch facing the striker. Set for correct
height with the positioning gage.

g. Repeat step 4. The pointer will indicate the impact value (plus
losses) of the test piece on the 170-J chart.

h. Arrest the pendulum by catching the handle with the right hand.
Pull the pendulum back and raise the stop on the machine base
allowing the top to rest on the stop.

i. Release the broken test piece by moving the grip-locking lever to

the right.

2) Charpy Impact Test.

a. Fit the striker with the central vertical edge in the striking position,
and secure it with safety lever.

b. Locate the pointer, using the knurled knob, to indicate the full scale
reading.

c. Release the pendulum, the pointer will indicate the value of lost
energy.

d. Arrest the pendulum by using the brake.

e. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

f. Place the test piece horizontally across the block with the notch
opposing the striker locating in centrally with the setting page.

g. Repeat step three, the pointer will indicate the impact value (plus
losses) of the test piece.

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 Data Observed & Calculations :-

Izod Impact Test:-

1- After doing the first part of experiment we noticed that the lost energy
due to friction and air resistance is equal to 6 Joule.

2- The amount energy chose to act on the mild steel specimen is equal to
300 Joule and for brass specimen is equal to 170 Joule.

3- The impact machine gave us a reading equals to 54 Joule for mild

steel U notch specimen and 24 Joule for brass U notch specimen.

4- The impact machine gave us a reading equals to 38 Joule for mild

steel V notch specimen and 20 Joule for brass V notch specimen.

Charpy Impact Test:-

1- After doing the first part of experiment we noticed that the lost energy
due to friction and air resistance is equal to 34 Joule.

2- The amount energy chose to act on both specimens (mild steel and
brass) is equal to 358 Joule.

3- The impact machine gave us a reading equals to 75 Joule for mild

steel U notch specimen and 54 Joule for brass U notch specimen.

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 4- The impact machine gave us a reading equals to 72 Joule for mild
steel V notch specimen and 47 Joule for brass V notch specimen.

Results & Discussion :-

Izod Impact Test:-

We calculated the Impact Energy (energy needed to break the specimen) by

subtracting the energy lost due to friction and air resistance from the total
energy.

Material Type Notch Type Amount Of Impact energy

Energy Acted (total friction)
Mild steel U notch 300 Joule 54 6 = 48 Joule

V notch 38 6 = 32 Joule

Brass U notch 170 Joule 24 6 = 18 Joule

V notch 20 6 = 14 Joule

As we mentioned, in this test the specimen is cantilevered so that the notch

faces the hammer with the root of the notch in the same plane as the upper
face of the grips. The plane of symmetry of the notch shall be perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis of the test piece, i.e. the direction of the notch shall
be at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the test piece, and the plane of
symmetry of the notch shall be at right angles to the face in which it cut.

The Izod machine is a cantilever type with the knife edge of the hammer
striking the specimen at the horizontal at a point 22 mm above the plane of
gripping. A possible disadvantage of this method is that each individual
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 specimen must be clamped in the support, causing the testing time to be
increased, which may be important at elevated or sub-zero temperatures.

Charpy Impact Test:-

We calculated the Impact Energy (energy needed to break the specimen) by

subtracting the energy lost due to friction and air resistance from the total
energy.

Material Type Notch Type Amount Of Impact energy

Energy Acted (total friction)
Mild steel U notch 358 Joule 75 34 = 41 Joule

V notch 72 34 = 38 Joule

Brass U notch 358 Joule 54 34 = 20 Joule

V notch 47 34 = 13 Joule

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 In Charpy test, the specimen is supported horizontally on both ends as a
simple beam and the specimen fractures because of the simple beam flexure.

A pendulum-type machine, unlike the Izod machine, the specimen is simply

supported, not clamped and when testing is carried out at high or low
temperatures, the Charpy is advantageous. The specimen can be brought to
the required temperature, readily placed in position, and broken in a short
time.

From Izod and Charpy impact tests we concludes that the V notch
specimen need less energy to break than the U notch specimen, and this
conclusion does make sense since in real life you need much larger force
to break a U shape specimen than V shape specimen.

Sample of calculations :-
Impact energy = Total energy Energy lost due to friction and air resistance.

54 Joule 6 Joule = 48 Joule.

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 Conclusions :-
1- Suggest any method that may improve the experiment.

We can use more effective specimens so that the results may be more
realistic and close to theoretical values since our specimens were old and
crooked.

2- Comment on your results.

From our results we conclude that specimen with U notch is stronger

than specimen with V notch. Also we can say from impact values
(absorbed energy) that mild steel specimen is stronger than brass
specimen.

Uncertainty analysis :-
There are lots of errors that affect on our results and make our calculations
not accurate, we can classify them into two groups:-

1) Personal errors:- summarizes in wrong way in taking readings of total

energy absorbed since each digit represents 2 Joule and this may cause
problems to people who dont know how to take readings .

2) Systematic errors:- summarizes in inaccurate values of total energy

absorbed since it might be some extra losses in energy.

Also, to make sure of our results we must repeat this experiment on a set of
specimens that it must give me the same results or at least close to them.

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 Practical examples :-
Soon, Aston Martin Company for manufacturing cars tried to design the
most appropriate gasoline tank valve so that when the car made an accident,
the gasoline tank would not open and the gasoline will not leak.

They did the experiment using a pendulum that has a hammer in it and
they let the hammer hit the valve at different elevations. The most
appropriate design will be crushed at the highest elevation (most absorbed
energy) and will be the strongest design.

This picture is from Aston Martin Company in United Kingdom.

Thank you
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