Designation: G 14 – 88 (Reapproved 1996)e1

Standard Test Method for

Impact Resistance of Pipeline Coatings (Falling Weight
Test)1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G 14; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

e1 NOTE—Keywords were added editorially in June 1996.

1. Scope 4. Significance and Use

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the energy 4.1 The ability of a pipe coating to resist mechanical
required to rupture coatings applied to pipe under specified damage during shipping, handling, and installation will depend
conditions of impact from a falling weight. upon its impact resistance. This test method provides a
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the systematic means for screening coating materials with regard
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the to this property.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 5. Apparatus
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 5.1 This test method can be successfully used with impact
1.3 The values stated in SI units to three significant deci- apparatus conforming to the following specifications:
mals are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in 5.1.1 Tup—The tup shall be made up from a tup body and
parentheses are for information only. a tup nose having a combined, fixed weight of 1.361 kg (3.00
lb) and shall be used over a drop range of 0.61 to 1.22 m (2 to
2. Referenced Documents 4 ft). With most coatings, a 1.361-kg (3.00-lb) tup dropped
2.1 ASTM Standards: through a distance of 914 mm (3 ft) yields suitable results. The
G 12 Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of Film tup nose shall have a 15.875-mm (5⁄8-in.) hemispherical head.
Thickness of Pipeline Coatings on Steel2 NOTE 1—Frequent replacement of the tup nose can be avoided if it is
G 62 Test Methods for Holiday Detection in Pipeline Coat- cut from steel capable of being hardened to a hardness of Rockwell C/45
ings2 while retaining an impact toughness of at least 15 ft·lb (20.34 J). Ball
2.2 SAE Standard: bearings conforming to SAE Grade 52100 have also been found suitable
Grade 52100 Steel3 for this purpose.
5.1.2 Drop Tube—A tube 1.52 m (5 ft) long shall be used to
3. Summary of Test Method
contain the tup and guide it during free fall. The drop tube shall
3.1 This test method uses a falling fixed weight having a be constructed of steel, aluminum, or any other suitably rigid
specified diameter impact surface, tup, which is restrained material and internally sized to provide a minimum of friction
vertically and dropped from varying heights to produce impact to the falling tup. A scale shall be attached for measuring the
energies over the required range. Electrical inspection is used height of drop to the nearest 2.54 mm (0.10 in.).
to detect resultant breaks in the coating. Impact resistance is 5.1.3 Specimen Holder—The base plate of the apparatus
determined as the amount of energy required to cause penetra- shall include a device for positioning and holding the pipe
tion of the coating film. specimen on line with the axis of the vertical drop tube.
NOTE 2—An arrangement using a V-notch vise made of metal with
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-1 on Paint spring clamp is recommended for this purpose. Glancing blows, caused by
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of an out-of-plumb condition between drop tube and pipe sample, will cause
Subcommittee D01.48 on Durability of Pipeline Coatings and Linings. erratic test results.
Current edition approved May 27, 1988. Published July 1988. Originally
published as G 14 – 69 T. Last previous edition G 14 – 83. 5.1.4 Apparatus Support—Both the apparatus and sample
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.02. shall be firmly supported and secured to a rigid base to
3
Available from Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive, optimize energy transfer from the tup to the specimen.
Warrendale, PA 15096.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 G 14 – 88 (1996)e1
5.2 A design for the test apparatus appears in Figs. X1.1- 9.3 Use a suitable detector, as specified in Test Method G 6,
X1.3 of Appendix X1. to determine penetration or lack thereof of the coating after
5.3 Thickness Gage—Measurements of coating thickness each individual impact.
will be required for this test, and shall be done in accordance 9.4 If the coating film is penetrated on the initial drop, make
with Method G 12. the next test at the next lower height increment. If the first
5.4 Holiday Detector—A suitable detector as specified in specimen does not fail, make the second test at the next higher
Test Methods G 62 shall be used to locate breaks in the coating increment.
film. 9.5 In a similar manner, determine the height of fall by the
performance of the coating on each preceding drop. Maintain a
6. Test Specimen constant height increment between readings. Continue to apply
6.1 The test specimen shall be a 406.4 mm (16 in.) long this “up-and-down” method4 until 20 successive impact read-
piece of Schedule 40, 60.325 mm (2.375 in.) outside diameter ings have been made.
coated pipe prepared with its surface preparation and coating
procedures equivalent to that of production coated pipe. 10. Calculation
6.2 Seven specimens shall be required for the test. 10.1 Calculate the mean value of impact strength, m, in
g/cm (or in./lb) as follows:
7. Conditioning
7.1 The specimen shall be exposed to a room temperature of
F A 1
m 5 h0 1 d N 6 2S DG 3W (1)

21 to 25°C (70 to 77°F) for a period of 24 h before beginning where:

the test. h0 = minimum height at which the less frequent event
occurs, cm (or in.),
8. Preliminary Measurements d = increment in height of drop, cm (or in.),
8.1 Measure the applied coating thickness of each specimen A = sum of the frequency of occurrence at each height
in accordance with Test Method G 12. increment times the number of increments above the
8.2 Place test specimen in sample holder and lightly place h0 value for each observation in the N total,
tup on surface of the coating. Adjust either the drop tube or the N = total number of the less frequent event (coating
attached scale so that the wing bolt (lifting pin) is at the zero failures or nonfailures), and
mark of the scale. W = tup weight, g (or lb).
8.3 Make a preliminary set of impact readings to determine NOTE 4—The minus sign is used when the calculation of the mean is
the approximate starting point for the test. This shall be done based on the total number of coating failures and the plus sign when it is
by striking the first specimen from a height sufficient to cause based on the nonfailures.
failure of the coating film. Consider any penetration a failure if 10.2 Calculate the sample standard deviation, s, in gram-
it is detectable with a suitable Holiday Detector as specified in centimetres (or inch-pounds) as follows:

S D
Test Methods G 62.
8.3.1 Reduce the height by 50 % and make a second ~NB 2 A 2!
S 5 1.620 dW 1C (2)
exploratory drop at a fresh area on the pipe surface. Continue N2
testing in this manner, with the corresponding reduction in where:
height between drops, until the coating fails to break. C = 0.737 when d is in cm, or 0.029 when d is in in., d, N,
NOTE 3—Choose test locations at the specimen surface in a random A, and W are as defined in 10.1, and
manner and keep at least a 76.2-mm (3-in.) distance between adjacent B = sum of the frequency of occurrence at each height
points of impact and within 38 mm (11⁄2 in.) from the ends. Choosing test increment times the square of the number of incre-
points in any regular pattern will bias the experiment and introduce error ments above the h0 value for each observation in the N
into the test results. total.
8.3.2 Repeat the test at the height immediately preceding NOTE 5—Adequate definition of coating impact strength will result
the occurrence of the nonfailure to determine if an approximate only if the height increment, d, has been properly chosen. When testing
level for the mean impact strength has been bracketed. Two polymeric films in the range from 0.254 to 1.016 mm (0.010 to 0.040 in.),
successive reversals of coating performance between failure height increments of from 5.1 to 12.7 mm (0.2 to 0.5 in.) have been found
and nonfailure will give sufficient indication that the point has suitable with the 1.361-kg (3.0-lb) tup. Larger increments may be
been reached. necessary for thicker materials. If after making the calculations of 10.1
and 10.2, the ratio of the height increment to the standard deviation (d/s)
is less than 0.20, the test should be repeated using a larger value for the
9. Procedure increment d. This procedure will result in an improved estimate of the
9.1 Perform the test at a room temperature of 21 to 25°C (70 coating impact strength.
to 77°F).
9.2 Begin testing from the approximate height determined
in 8.2 and corresponding to the point at which the first 4
This system of testing, nomenclature, and calculation is described by Dixon, W.
nonfailure was registered. Maintain a fixed increment between J. and Mood, A. M., “A Method for Obtaining and Analyzing Sensitivity Data,”
adjacent testing heights. Journal Am. Statistical Assn., JSTNA, Vol 43, March, 1948, p. 109.

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 G 14 – 88 (1996)e1
10.3 An illustration of the use of these equations appears in 11.1.1.4 Minimum, maximum, and average coating thick-
Appendix X2. ness,
11.1.1.5 Date of test, and
11. Report
11.1.1.6 Other information that may be pertinent,
11.1 The report shall include the following: 11.1.2 Average impact strength in g/cm (or in./lb),
11.1.1 Complete identification of the specimen including:
11.1.3 Sample standard deviation in g/cm (or in./lb).
11.1.1.1 Name and code number of the coating,
11.1.1.2 Size of pipe,
11.1.1.3 Source, production date, and production-run num- 12. Keywords
ber, 12.1 falling weight test; impact resistance; pipeline coatings

APPENDIXES

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. SUGGESTED DESIGN FOR TEST APPARATUS

X1.1 A design for the impact test apparatus is shown in

Figs. X1.1-X1.3.

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 G 14 – 88 (1996)e1

FIG. X1.1 Test Apparatus Assembly

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 G 14 – 88 (1996)e1

FIG. X1.2 Detailed Design of Test Apparatus

FIG. X1.3 Detailed Design of Test Apparatus

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 G 14 – 88 (1996)e1

X2. SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

X2.1 Test results for 20 drops with a 1.361-kg (3-lb) tup are
given in Table X2.1.

TABLE X2.1 Test Results

Height Height
Test Test
of Drop, Failed of Drop, Failed
No. No.
in. in.
1 14.1 yes 11 13.5 no
2 13.8 no 12 13.8 no
3 14.1 no 13 14.1 yes
4 14.4 yes 14 13.8 yes
5 14.1 yes 15 13.5 no
6 13.8 no 16 13.8 yes
7 14.1 no 17 13.5 yes
8 14.4 yes 18 13.2 no
9 14.1 yes 19 13.5 no
10 13.8 yes 20 13.8 yes
Height increment = 0.3 in.
Failures = 11
Nonfailures = 9
Nonfailures at 13.2 in. (h0) = 1; at 13.5 in. = 3; at 13.8 in. = 3; at 14.1 in. = 2
A = (0 3 1) + (1 3 3) + (2 3 3) + (3 3 2) = 15
B = ((0)2 3 1) + ((1)2 3 3) + ((2)2 3 3) + ((3)2 3 2) = 33

F S 15 1
DG
m 5 13.2 1 0.3 9 1 2 3.0 5 41.55 in.· lb
mean impact resistance = 41.55 in.·lb

S 5 1.620 3 0.29 3 3.0 S

9 3 33 2 ~15!2
~9!2
D 5 1.338 in.·lbs.
Sample standard deviation = 1.383 in.·lb

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