Standard Test Method for Impact Resistance of Flat, Rigid Plastic Specimen by Means of a Striker Impacted by a Falling Weight (Gardner Impact)

5.1 Plastics are viscoelastic and it is possible that they are sensitive to changes in velocity of weights falling on their surfaces. However, the velocity of a free-falling object is a function of the square root of the drop height. A change of a factor of two in the drop height will cause a change of only 1.4 in velocity. Hagan, et al (2) found that the mean-failure energy of sheeting was constant at drop heights between 0.30 and 1.4 m. Different materials respond differently to changes in the velocity of impact.

5.2 The test conditions used in Geometry GA are the same as those used in Geometry FA of Test Method D5628 (see Table 1).

5.3 The test conditions of Geometry GB are equivalent to the geometry used for the Gardner Variable Height Impact Test (3).

5.4 The test conditions of Geometry GC cause a punch-shear type of failure because the support-plate hole is close to the diameter of the striker.

5.5 The test conditions of Geometry GD are the same as those in Test Method D3763.

5.6 The test conditions of Geometry GE are the same as those in Test Method D4226, impactor head configuration H.25.

5.7 Because of the nature of impact testing, the selection of a test method and striker must be somewhat arbitrary. Consider the end use environment and requirements when choosing from the available striker geometries. The selection of any one of the striker geometries is permitted.