Home >> Products >> Plastic Pipe Industry Testing >> Falling weight impact test

Falling weight impact test

Pipe Falling Hammer impact testing machine is a specialized device used to determine the resistance of plastic pipes, sheets, and products to external impact. lt is suitable for testing materials such as PVC-U water supply pipes, sewage pipes, low-pressure water supply pipes, low-pressure water delivery pipes, core-layer foam pipes, double-walled corrugated pipes, PE pipes, PP pipes, and rigid plastic sheets. This equipment meets the standard of ISO 3127, ASTM D2444, DIN-EN 744, BS-EN 1411 for quality inspection and scientific research and analysis in fields such as building materials, chemicals, and petroleum. The testing machine employs an electromagnetic braking design to prevent secondary impacts and is equipped with automatic lifting, height numeric display, and a V-shaped sample clamping device.

Our Most Popular Falling hammer impact testing machine

Feature:

  • EN 50086-2-4

Key parameter:

  • Falling ball weight: 3000g, 5000g
  • Falling Height: 1000mm
  • Impact energy: 3 ~ 40J
Details

Falling Hammer Impact Tester/ Drop weight impact test

Model: XJL-300, ISO 3127, ASTM D2444, UL 651, DIN-EN 744, BS-EN 1411

Feature:

  • ISO 3127, ASTM D2444, UL 651, DIN-EN 744, BS-EN 1411
  • Heavy duty frame falling dart impact

Key parameter:

  • Falling weight: 16kg;
  • Falling Height: 2m ~ 3m
Details

Drop Dart (Free-falling Dart) Impact Tester

Model: XJB-30E, ASTM D1709, ISO 7765-1. ISO 6603-1

Feature:

  • ISO 7765-1, ASTM D1709, ISO 6603-1, ASTM D5628
  • Heavy duty frame falling dart impact

Key parameter:

  • Falling weight: 2000g;
  • Falling Height: 1500mm
Details

Feature:

  • impact test of coating of lacquer film

Key parameter:

  • Falling weight: 2000 g;
  • Falling Height: 1200mm
Details

Feature:

  • impact strength of mobile

Key parameter:

  • Weight: 100g ~ 500g
  • Maximum height: 1000mm
Details

Feature:

  • IEC EN 61386-1 clause 10.3 impact test.
  • impact strength of electrical conduit

Key parameter:

  • Maximum energy: 6J
  • Maximum height: 300mm
Details

What is Falling weight impact testing machine?

A Falling Weight Impact Testing Machine (FWITM), also known as drop weight impact tester or drop tower impact machine, is a specialized instrument for evaluating material/ component resistance to sudden, high-speed impact loading by dropping a defined weight from a controlled height onto a specimen. It simulates real-world impact scenarios (e.g., drops, collisions) to assess failure modes (cracking, deformation, penetration) and energy absorption capacity.


The fundamental equation governing impact energy is: E = mgh (Energy = mass × gravity × height)


Test TypeDescriptionTypical Applications
Free-Fall ImpactWeight strikes unsupported/ simply supported specimenPlastics, composites, thin sheets
Puncture ImpactHemispherical/ conical tup penetrates clamped specimenFilms, packaging, laminates (ASTM D3763, ISO 6603-2)
Gardner ImpactHemispherical punch driven by falling weightCoatings, thin plastics (ASTM D5420)
Drop Weight Tear Test (DWTT)     Heavy weight impacts notched steel platePipeline steels, pressure vessels (ASTM E436, API RP 5L3)
Component LevelFull-scale product impact simulationAutomotive parts, electronic enclosures, medical devices


Critical Test Parameters

To ensure reliable results, control these variables:

Impact Energy (mgh): Primary test variable, set by weight mass and drop height

Impact Velocity: Determined by drop height (v = √(2gh))

Striker Geometry: Hemispherical, conical, or custom (per standard)

Specimen Support: Clamped, simply supported, or free-standing (depends on test type)

Environmental Conditions: Temperature (-70°C to 150°C), humidity, pre-conditioning

Data Sampling Rate: Minimum 100 kHz for capturing dynamic fracture events

Applications Across Industries

FWITM is critical for safety and performance validation in:

Materials Science – Characterize ductile-to-brittle transition (especially for steels) and impact toughness

Automotive/Aerospace – Test bumpers, battery housings, interior components, and composite structures

Pipelines & Pressure Vessels – Evaluate fracture resistance of high-strength steels (X80/X100) under extreme conditions

Packaging & Logistics – Verify product protection during shipping (drop testing)

Construction Materials – Assess impact resistance of concrete, insulation (EPS/XPS), and glass panels

Medical Devices – Test implantable components and surgical instruments for impact durability

Consumer Electronics – Validate product robustness against accidental drops

FWITM vs. Pendulum Impact Testing (Charpy/Izod)

ParameterFalling Weight Impact TestingCharpy/Izod Pendulum Testing
Energy RangeWide (1 J to 100 kJ+); scalable for large componentsLimited (up to ~5 kJ); optimized for small specimens
Specimen SizeAccommodates full-scale components and large platesRequires standardized small specimens (10×10×55 mm typical)
Impact VelocityHigher (2–10 m/s+); better simulates real-world crashesLower (1–5 m/s); standardized for material comparison
Data OutputForce-displacement curves, peak load, energy absorptionTotal energy absorbed; limited dynamic response data
Failure AnalysisBetter for studying progressive damage and large deformationsFocuses on brittle fracture initiation and transition temperatures
Cost & ComplexityHigher initial cost; more complex setupLower cost; simpler operation and maintenance
Best ForProduct-level validation, large structures, high-energy impactsMaterial screening, quality control, basic research



Corresponding standards

ISO 3127 Plastics Pipe falling weight impact test

ISO 3127 Thermoplastics pipes -- Determination of resistance to external blows -- Round-the-clock method
ISO 3127 specifies a method for the determination of the resistance to external blows of thermoplastics pipes of circular cross-section; it is called the round-the-clock method. 

It is applicable to isolated batches of pipe tested at 0 °C (information is also given for sampling from the continuous production of pipe).

Test pieces are subjected to blows from a falling striker, of specified mass and shape, dropped from a known height onto specified positions around the circumference of the test piece. The true impact rate of the batch, or production run from an extruder, is estimated.
Commonly the impact height 2000mm, impact hammer 6.3kg, 9.1kg, 13.6kg.


ASTM D2444 Pipe falling weight impact test standard

ASTM D2444 test method covers the determination of the impact resistance of thermoplastic pipe and fittings under specified conditions of impact by means of a tup (falling weight). This method is applicable to isolated batches of pipe tested at 0 °C (information is also given for sampling from the continuous production of pipe).

EN 744 for falling weight impact testing of thermoplastics pipes

EN 744 specifying the round-the-clock falling-weight impact method to evaluate the resistance to external blows of circular cross-section thermoplastics pipes. It's a standardized procedure to determine the ability of thermoplastic pipes to withstand external impacts without failing.


ISO 7765-1 Impact resistance by the free-falling dart method

ISO 7765-1:1988 Plastics film and sheeting — Determination of impact resistance by the free-falling dart method 

Part 1: Staircase methods


ISO 7765-1 and ASTM D1709 specifies methods for the determination of the energy, that causes plastics films and sheet less than 1 mm in thickness to fail under specified conditions of impact of a free falling dart from a specified height, that would result in failure of 50 % of the specimens tested. Two methods are described. Method A employs a dart with 38 mm diameter hemispherical head, dropped from a height of 0,66 m, and method B employs a dart with a 50 mm diameter hemispherical head dropped from a height of 1,50 m. The measurement technique is the staircase method.

Drop Dart Impact Resistance of Plastic Film ASTM D1709, ISO 7765

ASTM D3029 Impact Resistance of Flat Rigid Plastic By Falling Tup Weight

ASTMD3029 is designed to determine the relative ranking of rigid plastic materials based on the energy required to crack or break them under specified impact conditions.

ASTM D5420 Gardner falling weight impact test for flat rigid plastic

ASTMD5420 measures the relative ranking of materials based on the energy required to crack or break a plastic sheet when struck by a falling weight (the "Gardner Impact" method).



ASTM D5628 Falling Tup Impact Resistance Test of Rigid Plastics

ASTMD5628 specifies a falling‑dart/tup method to measure the threshold impact‑failure energy for flat rigid plastics. It uses the Bruceton Staircase (Up‑and‑Down) Method to determine the energy causing 50% of specimens to fail (mean‑failure energy, MFE).

EN 1411 Staircase method impact resistance test of thermoplastics pipes using a drop-weight

EN 1411 specifies a standardized laboratory procedure to evaluate the impact toughness of thermoplastic pipes. Unlike pass/fail tests, this method statistically determines the H₅₀ value—the estimated height of fall that causes a 50% failure rate in a batch of pipes.


ISO 6603-1 Rigid plastics falling dart puncture-impact test

ISO 6603-1 specifies falling-dart methods to measure the puncture‑impact performance of rigid plastics using only the 50% impact‑failure energy (E₅₀) threshold, without recording force–time or force–deflection curves.

ISO 11173 Plastic pipe falling weight impact test

ISO 11173 specifies the staircase falling-weight impact method to evaluate the external impact resistance of circular thermoplastic pipes, mainly for batch qualification at 0 °C (–20 °C recommended for sub-zero testing).

ASTM D1709 Falling Dart Impact Resistance of Plastic Film

ASTM D1709: Standard Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film by the Free-Falling Dart Method


ASTM D1709 test methods cover the determination of the energy that causes plastic film to fail under specified conditions of impact of a free-falling dart. This energy is expressed in terms of the weight (mass) of the missile falling from a specified height which would result in 50 % failure of specimens tested.

Require More Customized Solutions?

We offer customization to meet your specific needs. Our expert team will collaborate with you to develop the perfect product for you
Customize Now

Beijing United Test Co., Ltd.