The Inner Flange Impact Test simulates pot hole damage or that of hitting road debris. This test has been in use in Europe for years and has recently been specified in Ford’s ES 9U5A-1007-AA.
A wheel with tire is attached to an apparatus that allows freedom of movement in the radial direction. Directly above the wheel a pointed striker is attached to a sled carrying a pre determined amount of weight. The weight sled and striker are released from a certain height and will fall on the rear half of the wheel causing the majority of the impact to hit the rear flange.
