Dynamic compression testing by means of Charpy pendulum

Mathematical modelling and virtual testing of components and structures represent a useful and economic tool for design and safety assessment. The basic mechanical properties which can be found in material standards are not relevant in cases where the real service conditions differ from those applied during standardised testing. Thus e.g. mechanical behaviour at higher strain rates can be interesting for the car components when the simulation of crash situations is used during structure development. The dynamic compression tests are usually performed by means of drop towers, by means of high speed hydraulic testing machines or Hopkinson bar method. At the Mechanical Testing Laboratory of the SKODA Research Inst. in Pilsen, Czech Republic, an instrumentation of Charpy pendulum testing machine was realised in order that it was possible to perform dynamic compression tests [Mentl V., Dzugan J.: Impact compression and tensile testing by means of Charpy pendulum, Int. conf. SUSI 2008 (Structures under Shock and Impact), Algarve, Portugal, 5/2008.], and the compatibility of obtained results in comparison with traditional impact compression tests was verified within the round–robin carried out by TC5 ESIS Sub-Committee on “Mechanical Testing at Intermediate Strain Rates” [Dzugan J., Mentl V.: Compression Round Robin Test Results, ESIS TC5 Meeting, CORUS UK, 2007]. A new striking tup and load measurement system were designed and calibrated. At the same time, a new software was developed which makes it possible to evaluate the test force-deformation record. The goal of this study was 1. to check the possibility of compression testing of high strength materials by means of Charpy pendulum, and 2. to study the strain rate influence on basic mechanical properties