Impact test

Impact tests are performed in order to determine the toughness, i.e. the deformation capacity of a metallic material under impact loading (energy absorption) at a specified test temperature. At the Belgian Welding Institute, impact tests can be performed from -196°C up to room temperature. This test is used for quality tests of base and welded materials, it allows the assessment of the fracture behaviour under specified load conditions.

A notched bending test specimen is broken by an impact with a hammer swing at a specified temperature. The notch in the test specimen conveys by narrowing the deformation area and by the formation of a multi-axial stress state, the tendency of brittle fracture. The fast loading of the test piece increases the tendency of brittle fracture. After testing, the absorped energy (J) is obtained.

For welded joints, the notch is machined at a specific predetermined distance from the fusion line (e.g. WMC, FL+1,...) in order to characterize the thoughness properties of the weld material and heat-affected zone (HAZ).

Applications
  • Material characterization and verification
  • Determination of ductile-brittle behavior as function of test temperature (Transition curve)
  • Welding procedure qualification (e.g. according to EN ISO 15614)
Test standards
  • EN ISO 148-1: Impact test of metallic materials
  • EN ISO 9016: Impact test of welded joints

If testing has to be performed according to any other test standard (e.g. ASME, AWS, ASTM,...) listed above, please do not hesitate to contact us!