Measurement of the dynamic fracture toughness with notched PMMA specimen under impact loading

• Published in: Polymer testing Vol. 28; no. 7; pp. 780 - 783
• Main Authors: Sahraoui, S., El Mahi, A., Castagnède, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kindlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Brittle fracture; Dynamic effects; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Impact; Mechanical properties; Mechanics; Mechanics of materials; Physical properties; Physics; PMMA; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Properties and testing; Technology of polymers; Testing and control; Toughness; Impact; Toughness; Dynamic effects; PMMA; Brittle fracture; Notched test piece; Impact strength; Methyl methacrylate polymer; Mechanical properties; Measurement method; Experimental study; Fracture toughness; brittle fracture; dynamic effects; toughness; impact
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2009.06.005

In the present study three-point-bend impact experiments were conducted using an instrumented Charpy pendulum with a laser displacement measurement to better understand the correlation between impact velocity and the dynamic effects observed on the load-time curves. The experiments were performed at impact velocities ranging from 1 to 4 m/s. The aim of this work is to measure the dynamic fracture toughness at high impact velocities where the classical method is limited by the inertial effects. The direct measurements of the specimen deflection are successfully used for the toughness evaluation. The results obtained with this method, which are compared to other studies, indicate that this approach seems promising for brittle materials such as PMMA.