Impact Testing

Impact testing is a process used to measure a material's ability to withstand high-force or shock loads. This type of testing is crucial in various industries like engineering, manufacturing, and construction to ensure that materials and components can endure sudden impacts or stress without failing.

One of the most common impact tests is the Charpy Impact Test, where a notched specimen is struck by a pendulum hammer to measure the energy absorbed during fracture. The result gives insight into a material’s toughness, which is its ability to absorb energy and deform without breaking. The Charpy test can be conducted at various temperatures to simulate different environmental conditions, providing critical information about the material's behaviour under extreme circumstances.

Another key test is the Izod Impact Test, which is similar but measures the material's resistance to a swinging pendulum in a vertical position, offering a different type of analysis. These tests are valuable in determining the suitability of materials for specific applications, especially when they will be subjected to dynamic loads, such as in automotive, aerospace, and structural engineering projects.

In addition to the standard Charpy and Izod tests, there are various other methods to assess a material’s performance under impact, including drop-weight tests, tensile impact tests, and ballistic tests for high-velocity impact situations. Understanding a material’s impact resistance is vital for predicting its behaviour in real-world applications, helping engineers and designers to choose the right materials for safety-critical structures and components.

The results of impact tests also contribute to quality control processes and regulatory compliance, ensuring that the materials meet the necessary standards for durability and safety.

Key products where impact testing may be required could include:

• Safety Barriers
• Armco Barriers
• Impact Attenuation Products
• Vehicle Safety Equipment
• Car Park Safety Barriers
• Parking Bollards

Specialist Technical Services (U.K) Limited offer all the above services and have a wide range of equipment to cover any testing requirements, within our Testing Laboratory we offer impact testing up to 40,000 joules, via a bespoke pendulum frame.

For further information or a quotation on Impact Testing please Contact Us.