Observation of Acrylic Block Fracture during Impact Compression Using the Hopkinson Bar Method

User Benefits

- The HPV -X3 offers three times the resolution of conventional models, enabling observation of specimen fracture at much higher resolution. - With a maximum frame rate of 20 Mfps, the HPV-X3 is well-suited for observing high-speed phenomena such as an impact test.

Introduction

Understanding materials properties is critical to product design. In particular, for applications such as transportation equipment, where materials may be subjected to impact loads, it is essential to evaluate not only static properties but also impact properties. When subjected to impact, materials may exhibit stress and strain characteristics different from those under static loading, making it essential to quantify these characteristics through impact testing. The Hopkinson bar method is a well-established technique for impact compression testing. Proposed by B. Hopkinson, this method enables detailed analysis of a material’s impact response and evaluation of its fracture properties by subjecting the specimen to a sudden force using a bar-launching device. This paper presents an example of an impact compression test on an acrylic specimen with a central circular hole, recorded with an HPV-X3 high-speed video camera using the Hopkinson bar method.

March 3, 2026 GMT