Experiment V

The Charpy Impact Test

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this experiment are (a) to investigate and determine the ductile to brittle
transition temperature for annealed low carbon steel, and (b) to become acquainted with the
notched bar impact test (Charpy test).
THEORY
Materials that fracture with little or no plastic deformation are said to be brittle. One set of
materials that have a microscopic structure known as body-centered cubic (BCC) become brittle
at low temperatures or at extremely high rates of strain. Many metals with a microscopic
structure known as face-centered cubic (FCC), on the other hand, remain ductile even at very
low temperatures. Still, there is another group of metals and alloys with a microstructure known
as hexagonal closed-packed (HCP). When in the form of single crystals and under favorable
orientation for basal slip, metals/alloys with HCP structure are ductile, but may be brittle in
polycrystalline form.
In most BCC metals, the stress that is required to cause plastic flow increases rapidly with
decreasing temperature. The decreased thermal energy at low temperatures makes it difficult for
the thermally activated dislocation processes to operate. The stress needed to propagate a crack
does not increase as rapidly with decreasing temperature and so brittle failure by crack
propagation becomes the favored process at low temperatures.
Also, at very high rates of strain, even at ambient temperatures, the activated dislocation
processes have insufficient time to operate, and, therefore, the tendency for brittle failure
increases with increasing rates of strain.

Figure VII-1 Standard Specimen for Charpy Impact Test

V-1

Thus a material may be ductile in a slow tension test, but brittle in an impact test where the rates
of strain are faster by orders of magnitude. The introduction of a notch in the specimen that will
be impact tested, as shown in Fig. V-1, increases the tendency for brittle failure, due to the stress
concentration at the notch. Brittle behavior in some BCC metals may also arise as a consequence
of a change in slip character rather than a change in yield stress.

PROCEDURE
WARNING: Use extreme caution when performing this experiment. Be sure no one is in the
front or in the back of the pendulum when it is in the raised position. Also, liquid nitrogen is at
T = -320F, so handle the specimens with asbestos gloves, and be careful. Wear safety glasses
throughout this experiment.
1.

Twelve specimens made of two types (compositions) of steel will be tested during this
experiment. Place one steel specimen of each type (composition) in liquid nitrogen, dry ice,
wet ice, an oven at 120F and boiling water; retain 1 of each for room temperature testing.
For safety reasons, the impact tester is set at Izod test standards. For this set up the hammer
of the impact tester is raised to the maximum height which is lower than that of the standard
Charpy test.

2.

Raise the hammer of the impact tester to its maximum height. Set the pointer at the
maximum capacity (usually 240 ft-lb on the Izod scale). Release the hammer first to record
any zero error in the machine. To avoid accidents, always make sure that the hammer can
swing to the other side without hindrance to its full height.

3.

When the sample has been at room temperature for at least hour, place the Charpy
specimen in position as shown in Figure V-2. Raise and release the hammer and record the
energy consumed in breaking the specimen, as indicated by the pointer. Examine and record
the appearance of the fracture.

Figure V-2 Position of Charpy Specimen in the Testing Machine

V-2

REPORT REQUIREMENTS
1. Report the data as follows:
Specimen: (identification)
Temp.
(F)

Charpy Impact
(ft.-lb)

Appearance of
Fracture Surface

2.

Plot impact strength vs. temperature for each group of samples.

3.

From the curves, estimate the transition temperature of each heat-treated group and compare
with the published data.

4.

Discuss the fracture surface appearance as related to test temperature, heat treatment and
impact strength.

5.

The following items should be discussed pertaining to the results:

a. effects of temperature on fracture
b. types of fracture that may occur in a metallic material

REFERENCES
[1] Cottrell, A.H., The Mechanical Properties of Matter. John Wiley and Sons.
[2] Wertzberg, R. W., Deformation and Fracture, Mechanics of Engineering Materials, John
Wiley and Sons.
[3] Reed-Hill, R.E., Physical Metallurgy Principles, Van Nostrand.
[4] Stadelmaier, H. H., and W. W. Austin, Materials Science Research, Vol. I, Plenum Press.
[5] Van Vlack, L. H., Materials for Engineering, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass.

V-3