Drop Weight Testers for Pellini Tests

The drop weight test as described by W.S. Pellini (Pellini test) is used to investigate the brittle fracture tendency of steels for comparative evaluation of the crack arrest behavior to ASTM E208 and SEP 1325. The test is performed using a drop weight tester.

During the Pellini test, weights fall onto a rectangular flexure specimen supported at both ends, causing a brittle fracture on the tensile side of the specimen within a given total deflection. This brittle fracture is initiated by a notched welding bead laid on this side and known as the crack starter.

In this Pellini test it is determined whether the brittle fracture caused by the artificial crack-starter spreads as far as one of the two side faces of the specimen, or is arrested before. If the fracture extends to one of the two side faces, the specimen is considered broken.

For the Pellini tests, ZwickRoell offers drop weight testers in two sizes:

• 550 joule Pellini drop weight tester and 1,650 joule Pellini drop weight tester.
• The maximum drop height is 1 meter or 1.3 meters.
• In accordance with standards for the Pellini test (ASTM E208 and SEP 1325), the predefined drop-energies are easily obtained with the use of weights. Drop energy is calculated automatically.