with regard to components it is necessary to test specimens of materials in order to determine acceptability for objective component performance . previously such testing generally involved fixing and clamping of the test specimen which produced artificial stressing conditions . by providing a specimen component typically in the form of an elongate member which is suspended between mounting ends a combination is provided which has inertia . in such circumstances when a projectile impacts upon the elongate member that elongate member flexes and deforms and this deformation can be monitored for testing purposes . the projectile is arranged to have a relatively facile compliant nature upon impact with the component such that there is no local stressing of the component whilst suspending the mounting ends substantially avoids clamp resilience distorting objective or realistic stressing conditions .