Charpy impact test method for metallic materials is specified by European EN 10045 standard. This specification defines terms, dimension and tolerances of test pieces, type of the notch (U or V), test force, verification of impact testing machines etc.
The test consists of breaking by one blow from a swinging pendulum, under conditions defined by standard, a test piece notched in the middle and supported at each end. The energy absorbed is determined in joules. This absorbed energy is a measure of the impact strength of the material.
For certain particular metallic materials and applications, Charpy impact test may be the subject of specific standards and particular requirements. The test consists of breaking by one blow from a swinging pendulum, under conditions defined by standard, a test piece notched in the middle and supported at each end. The energy absorbed is determined in joules. This absorbed energy is a measure of the impact strength of the material.
The designations applicable to this standard are as indicated in the Table 1 and on the Figure1.
Table 1. Characteristics of test piece and testing machine
Reference (Figure 1) | Designation | Unit |
1 | Length of test piece | mm |
2 | Height of test piece | mm |
3 | Width of test piece | mm |
4 | Height below notch | mm |
5 | Angle of notch | Degree |
6 | Radius of curvature of base of notch | mm |
7 | Distance between anvils | mm |
8 | Radius of anvils | mm |
9 | Angle of taper of each anvil | Degree |
10 | Angle of taper of striker | Degree |
11 | Radius of curvature of striker | mm |
12 | Width of striker | mm |
- | Energy absorbed by breakage KU or KV | Joule |
The tolerances of the specified dimensions of the test piece are given by standard as well. For the standard test piece, machining tolerance in length is 0.6 mm for both type of tests, and tolerances in height are 0.11 mm for U and 0.06 mm for V notch test piece. Tolerances for angle between plane of symmetry of the notch and longitudinal axis of test piece as well as for angle between adjacent longitudinal faces of test piece are ± 2° only.
Comparison of results is only of significance when made between test pieces of the same form and dimensions. Machining shall be carried out in such a way that any alternation of the test piece, for example due to cold working or heating, is minimized. The notch shall be carefully prepared so that no grooves, parallel to the base of the notch, are visible to the naked eye. The test piece may be marked on any face not in contact with the supports or anvils and at a point at least 5 mm from the notch to avoid the effects of cold working due to marking.
Standard test condition shall correspond to nominal machine energy of 300±10J at the use of a test piece of standard dimensions. The reported absorbed energy under these conditions shall be designated by the following symbols:
For example KV 150 denotes available energy of 150 J, and KU 100 denotes available energy of 100 J. KU 100 = 65 J means that:
National standards corresponding to EN 10045-2 are DIN 51306 (1983), NFA 03-508 (1985), BS 131 Part 4 (1972) and international ISO 442 (1965).