UNIVERSITI TENAGA NASIONAL

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

AUTHOR

: NAGA SHIVANATH RAU

SID

: ME095552

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT:IMPACT TEST

(Experiment 7)
COURSE

: MECHANICS AND MATERIALS LAB

COURSE CODE

: MEMB221

SECTION

:4A

GROUP

:6

ACADEMIC YEAR

: SEMESTER 2 2016/2017

INSTRUCTOR

: PUAN SHAHIDA BEGUM

OBJECTIVES:
1. To investigate the impact strength of High Density Polethylene and Low Density
Polyethylene.

DATA AND OBSERVATIONS:

Test Piece

Fracture Area, A
(m2)

Impact Energy
(kj)

HDPE

0.000077
2

0.00217

1010
10

LDPE

0.000078
9

0.0125

1010
10

KCU

E
0.00217 kJ

0.281 kJ m 2
A 0.0000772m 2

KCU

E
0.0125kJ

158.43 kJ m 2
2
A 0.0000789m

Impact strength of (HDPE),

Impact strength of (LDPE),

Dimension (mm)

Impact
Strength
(kJ/m2)
28.11
158.43

DISCUSSIONS:
1. Compare the results between HDPE and LPDE.
The data is obtained from the impact tester machine. The value of impact energy for
HDPE is lower compare with LDPE. Thus HDPE can only withstand small amount of
force before failure compare to LDPE.

2. HPDE and LPDE have different polymeric chains. Explain how it affects the impact
strength obtained.
HDPE does not have side branches while LDPE have side branches in some polymers.
The HDPE line up regularly to give a crystalline structure. This meant that the forces of
attraction between polymers are strong and makes the material stronger and has higher
melting point. On the other hand, LDPE structure is not crystalline. This makes the forces
of attraction between polymer molecules weakened and the materials is less strong. Thus
the impact strength of HDPE will be lower than LDPE. Impact strength of HDPE is lower
because of the forces of attraction between polymers in HDPE. So LDPE can absorb
higher force before failure than HDPE.
3. Other than impact strength, state other information can be gathered through Charpy
method?
The Charpy test is most commonly used to evaluate the relative toughness or impact
toughness of materials and as such is often used in quality control applications where it is
a fast and economical test. It is used more as a comparative test rather than a definitive
test.
4. Give one example of engineering application where impact is a real concern. Explain
your answer in details.
The impact is real concern in constructionfield . Impact can be produced from any kind of
natural elements. Examples of metal used in construction is filler metal. Filler metal
provides good impact resistance can used to help to reduce cracking. In low temperature,
it helps investigate the risk brittle fracture caused by loss of strength
- There might be an error while conducting the experiment possible error which might
affect the results. This error can be cause because of lack of experience in handling the
impact tester machine and also the test piece is not placed firmly on the supports and that
the indent is not exactly in the middle of the support.

CONCLUSIONS:
Finally, this experiment was successfully conducted and the entire objective was achieved. From
this experiment the impact strength of HDPE and LDPE were understood during lab period. It
can be concluded that the impact strength of LDPE is higher than HDPE.

REFERENCES:
1. http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2763
2. http://www.mce.caltech.edu/research
3. LAB MANUAL: Mechanics and Materials Lab Manual, Semester 1. 2016/2017,
MEMB 221