Drop-weight impact damage infliction for a surface or component under test

A method for inflicting structural impact damage to an article, the method comprising:

• initializing an impact damage infliction test system to obtain a target dent depth in a surface of the article, wherein the test system comprises:
• means for impacting an impact tip with a specified maximum energy;
• and
• means for limiting travel of the impact tip, wherein the means for limiting is adjustable to define a variable maximum penetration depth of the impact tip relative to the surface of the article, and wherein the initializing results in a first maximum penetration depth for the impact tip;
• operating the means for impacting to apply the specified maximum energy to the impact tip, using the first maximum penetration depth;
• measuring a resulting dent depth formed in the surface of the article in response to movement of the impact tip caused by operating the means for impacting;
• comparing the resulting dent depth against the target dent depth;
• adjusting the means for limiting when the resulting dent depth differs from the target dent depth by at least a specified tolerance value, wherein the adjusting changes the first maximum penetration depth to a second maximum penetration depth;
• and
• after adjusting the means for limiting, operating the means for impacting to apply the specified maximum energy to the impact tip, using the second maximum penetration depth.