Charpy Test Machine

3D Model

The Charpy impact test, is a standardized high strain-rate test which determines the amount of energy absorbed by a material during fracture. This absorbed energy is a measure of a given material’s notch toughness and acts as a tool to study temperature-dependent ductile-brittle transition. It is widely applied in industry, since it is easy to prepare and conduct and results can be obtained quickly and cheaply. The test was developed around 1900 by S. B. Russell and G. Charpy. The test became known as the Charpy test in the early 1900s due to the technical contributions and standardization efforts by Georges Charpy. The test was pivotal in understanding the fracture problems of ships during WWII. Today it is utilized in many industries for testing materials, for example the construction of pressure vessels and bridges to determine how storms will affect the materials used.