Instrumented Impact Tests: Effects of Machine Variables and Specimen Position
Lucon E, McCowan CN, Santoyo RL
(Received 25 August 2008; accepted 10 October 2008)

Abstract

An investigation has been conducted on the influence of impact machine variables and specimen positioning on characteristic forces and absorbed energies from instrumented Charpy tests. Brittle and ductile fracture behavior has been investigated by testing NIST reference samples of low-, high-, and super-high-energy levels. Test machine variables included tightness of foundation, anvil and striker bolts, and the position of the center of percussion with respect to the center of strike. For specimen positioning, we tested samples that had been moved away or sideways with respect to the anvils. In order to assess the influence of the various factors, we compared mean values in the reference (“unaltered”) and “altered” conditions; for machine variables, t-test analyses were also performed in order to evaluate the statistical significance of the observed differences. Our results indicate that the only circumstance which resulted in variations larger than 5 % for both brittle and ductile specimens is when the sample is not in contact with the anvils. This should be taken into account in future revisions of instrumented Charpy test standards.

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Author Lucon E, McCowan CN, Santoyo RL Title Instrumented Impact Tests: Effects of Machine Variables and Specimen Position Symposium , Committee: on