Abstract

This report shows the details of an experiment aimed at observing and

determining the effects of the sudden appliication of load or force on standard
samples of different materials. The apparatus used works just like a pendulum.
The aim was to determine how tough or brittle a material was. And this was
realissed by calculting the amount of energy (potential energy) the material was
able to absorb before fracture. Basically higher absorbed energy depicts
toughness while materials that absorb little are brittle.

Introduction

For any Material to be chosen for use, maybe in construction or any other
activity, it must first be tested to be sure it can adequately serve the intended
purpose in order to avoid failure. And Charpy impact testing is one of such tests
used in studying behaviour of materials. It basically focuses on examining the
behaviour and fracture/failing pattern of the material when it is subjected to
sudden load impact. In other words it helps to determine the materials failure
resistance to a suddenly applied force. It can also be seen as a standardized
high-strain rate test from which the amount of energy absorbed by the tested
material can be determined. And this provides a measure of the materials
toughness. Brittle materials would fracture with little absorbed energy while
tough materials would fracture with large absorbed energy. This means that the
lower the energy absorbed, the more brittle the sample. And sample of the
material used is usually in form of a standard bar with a notch.

Procedure

The apparatuis used in carrying out this experiment consists of a heavy

pendulum axe and a graduated scale for taking readings. The axe is used in
swinging at the notched smaple bar.

Firstly, the hammer was hung at a point while the notched sample was placed in
slot provided for it. It had to be placed in such a way that the pendulum head
strikes the notched portion. This is done in order to concentrate the stress
produced at impact.

The initial height of the pendulum was recordwed as h before it is released and
allowed to swing. The pendulum strikes the sample at a height of h=0 and
continues to a final height h’. The value of h’ was gotten from the graduated
scale at the top of the pendulum. And from these values, the potential energy
before and after impact can then be determined. And the difference represents
the amount of energy absorbed by the sample.

Conclusion

The aim of this experiment was to determine which sample material where tough
and wghich were brittle. And as seen from the results of this experiment, the aim
of the experiment has been achieved to reasonable extent. Brittle materials were
those that absorbed lower energy while the tough ones absorbed more energy.
Also the experimental setup was was quite effective in achieving its aims.

Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charpy_impact_test

http://books.google.com.my/books?
id=Pqcesk8iZzMC&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=charpy+impact+test&source=bl&o
ts=AKWU34Uhdw&sig=0R7tdQsI8OoQJ9UYSVnniRkZPSc&hl=en&ei=ce4TS7lLyp6
RBd_n1aIH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=13&ved=0CDQQ6AEwDA
#v=onepage&q=&f=false