Experiment 5 (A) : Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance Test

AE314 and AE 727
Aircraft Structures Lab

Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay
Lab Manual – Autumn 2009
EXPERIMENT 5(A): IZOD PENDULUM IMPACT RESISTANCE TEST
Title:
Determination of the impact strength of the fiber reinforced composite specimens using Izod impact
test.
Objectives:
1. To understand the construction and working of the cantilever beam (Izod type) impact
machine.
2. To determine the impact resistance of given specimens.
Equipments used:
1. Cantilever beam (Izod type) impact machine

2. Vernier Caliper
3. Scale
Test Specimens:
E-glass woven fiber reinforced composite of fibre volume fraction, Vf =

Brief Introduction:
Cantilever beam (Izod type) impact machine:

The machine is as shown in the figure below
Izod Impact Test Page 1

AE314 and AE 727
The machine consists of a massive base on which a vise is mounted for holding the
specimen. A pendulum type hammer is connected to the base through a rigid frame and
bearings. The machine has a pendulum holding and releasing mechanism and a pointer and
dial mechanism for indicating the excess energy remaining in the pendulum after breaking
the specimen. The hammer at the end of the pendulum moves from the topmost position to
the bottommost position. If the specimen is placed at the bottom then all the kinetic energy
associated with the hammer is dissipated into the specimen. But not all energy of hammer is
consumed to break the specimen. So, the hammer swings on the other side to certain height to
convert the remaining kinetic energy into potential energy.
Impact tests provide information about the resistance of a material to sudden fracture
where a sharp stress riser or a flaw is present. Various standard impact tests are widely
employed in which notched specimens are broken by a swinging pendulum. The most
common tests of this category are the Charpy V-Notch Test and the Izod Test. Another test
method, although not a standard test method, is the Tension Impact Test. Izod Test is
described in the ASTM D 256 – 97: Standard Test Methods for Determining the Izod
Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics.
These types of impact tests have given way to testing methods that make use of
fracture mechanics. Fracture mechanics methods allow more sophisticated analysis of
materials containing cracks and sharp notches. However, the advantages of fracture
mechanics are achieved at the sacrifice of simplicity and economy. Impact tests such as the
Charpy, Izod, and tension impact have thus remained popular despite their shortcomings, as
they serve a useful purpose in quickly comparing materials and obtaining general information
on the material behavior.
Impact strength is the amount of energy consumed in breaking a test specimen,

divided by the cross-sectional area of the specimen, when the specimen is broken by the
stroke with the pendulum-type hammer having specific energy (25 J). This test can be used as
a quick and easy quality control check to determine if a material meets specific impact
strength requirements or not and to compare materials for general toughness. As composite
materials contain some air voids and gaps in micro scale, notches are not required to give
local stress concentration.

AE314 and AE 727
Procedure:
Setting the Pointer:

Before you start a test, check the "zero" of the pointer. The impact tester is calibrated for
friction and wind loss therefore, it should read zero after a free swing. The following
procedure should be used to check the zero:
1. Raise the safety latch and place the operating lever in the latch position. Lift the
pendulum counterclockwise till the latch clicks and places it in upper release position.
2. Set the pointer to the maximum value of the range for your test. Ranges and pendulum
positions as illustrated on the dial.
3. Make sure that no person is standing in the path of the pendulum. Safety is most
important! Move the control lever to the release position. When the pendulum has
started to swing back, push the control lever to the brake position.
4. If the pointer reads zero, you are ready for your test. If not, loosen the screw that
holds the pusher arm, turn the arm to produce a zero reading and tighten the screw.
5. Repeat until the free swing reads zero.
Performing the test:

1. Block the pendulum away from the anvil. Place the Izod specimen across the anvil
with the centerline of the specimen coinciding with the centerline of the anvil. A
gauge is used to make proper alignment.
2. Raise the pendulum and set the pointer and pusher arm as you would to zero the
machine.
3. Release the pendulum and allow it to swing through the specimen and apply the brake
as previously described.
4. The maximum pointer reading indicates the amount of energy used to break the
sample.
5. The following should be reported in the lab report according to the ASTM D 256-97:
a. The type of specimen
b. The capacity of pendulum in Joules
c. Number of specimens tested (N)
d. Type of fracture
e. Impact resistance of a single specimen in J/m2
f. Average impact resistance of N specimens in J/m2

AE314 and AE 727
Observations:
Report the observations in the following format

Capacity of Pendulum =
Specimen Width Thickness Impact Strength

Energy (J) Type of Fracture
Name (mm) (mm) (J/mm2)
The common report for each experiment is expected to be of about 3-4 pages that
describes the aim, schematic representation of the set-up, observations, calculations, results,
uncertainties, discussion of the experiment and results in terms of your own interpretation,
special observations / remarks if any and conclusions.
Exercise:
1. Why do we need to do an Impact test?
2. Can we find fracture toughness using stress-strain curve?
3. Note your observation about the scale of impact testing machine.
4. Name some applications of impact test.
Suggested Reference:
[1] ASTM D 256 – 97: Standard Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact
Resistance of Plastics.

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AE314 and AE 727

Aircraft Structures Lab

1. Cantilever beam (Izod type) impact machine

E-glass woven fiber reinforced composite of fibre volume fraction, Vf =

Cantilever beam (Izod type) impact machine:

Izod Impact Test Page 1

Impact strength is the amount of energy consumed in breaking a test specimen,

Izod Impact Test Page 2

Setting the Pointer:

Performing the test:

Izod Impact Test Page 3

Report the observations in the following format

Specimen Width Thickness Impact Strength

Izod Impact Test Page 4

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