Kerbschlagtests
Kerbschlagtests are a family of notched impact tests used to assess the notch toughness and impact resistance of materials, particularly metals. In the test, a small, notched specimen is clamped in a support and struck on a prepared edge by a swinging pendulum. The energy absorbed by the specimen until fracture is derived from the loss of the pendulum’s kinetic energy and is reported as impact energy, typically in joules. A higher value indicates greater toughness at the test temperature.
The term Kerbschlag translates from German as “notch impact.” The tests are the German counterpart to the
Specimens are notched bars, usually of a standardized cross-section, with a V-shaped or occasionally U-shaped notch,
Procedure: The pendulum is released from a fixed height to strike the specimen; the machine measures the
Use and interpretation: Kerbschlag tests provide a measure of material toughness and notch sensitivity, informing material
Standards: The method is standardized by various bodies (for example ISO, EN, and ASTM), with regional variants