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The History and Importance of Impact Testing

Published

Author(s)

Thomas A. Siewert, M P. Manahan, Christopher N. McCowan, J M. Holt, F J. Marsh

Abstract

Charpy impact testing is a low-cost and reliable test method which is commonly required by the construction codes for fracture-critical structures such as bridges and pressure vessels. yet, it took from about 1900 to 1960 for impact-test technology and procedures to reach levels of accuracy and reproducibility such that the procedures could be broadly applied as standard test methods. This paper rcounts the early history of the impact test and reports some of the improvements in the procedures (standard specimen shape, introduction of a notch, correlation to structural performance in service, and introduction of shrouds) that led to this broad acceptance.
Citation
American Society for Testing and Materials

Keywords

absorbed energy, charpy impact testing, history, impact testing, pendulum impact

Citation

Siewert, T. , Manahan, M. , McCowan, C. , Holt, J. and Marsh, F. (2002), The History and Importance of Impact Testing, American Society for Testing and Materials, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=851287 (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created May 1, 2002, Updated February 17, 2017