Introduction of a new dynamic fracture toughness evaluation system

Instrumented Charpy impact test has been widely used as a simple method for semi-empirically evaluating material impact toughness. The authors have developed a new instrumented Charpy impact testing system, which is called CAI (Computer Aided instrumented Charpy Impact testing) system. Using the CAI system, dynamic fracture toughness parameters such as K_d, J_d, T_mat, and various absorbed energies can be obtained from the load-deflection curve of a single precracked specimen for both ductile and brittle materials. It has been already put into practical use in Japan. This paper introduces the details of the toughness evaluation procedures in the CAI system.