Ductile to brittle fracture transition of a plain carbon steel and its thermal activation model

An investigation has been made on the ductile to brittle fracture transition of a C-Mn steel due to variation of loading rates at constant temperatures. The transition takes place with increasing loading rate, which is similar to that caused by decreasing temperature. An equation has been derived from the thermal activation analysis which correlates the fracture toughness with temperature and loading rate. A model of fracture transition has been proposed from the thermal activation movement of atoms.     

Monotonic vis-à-vis cyclic fracture behaviour of AISI 304LN stainless steel

This investigation is aimed to examine the monotonic and cyclic fracture behaviour of AISI 304LN stainless steel and its weldments, in order to assess their integrity under seismic loading conditions. The monotonic fracture resistance of the steel has been determined using standard J-integral technique; whereas the cyclic fracture resistance has been evaluated using periodic unloading to different extents fixed by pre-determined R-ratio. Comparison of the fracture toughness values of the steel estimated under monotonic and cyclic loading indicates that the latter could be as low as one-fifth of the former. The observed degradation in cyclic fracture resistance has been attributed to crack tip re-sharpening during cyclic loading.     

钢结构防动载断裂选材的定量判据

分析了目前钢结构防断选材中应用的脆性转变温度方法的局限性,扼要介绍了材料断裂韧度的温度效应和加载速率效应.在钢材断裂特性分析的基础上提出了平面应变型断裂临界温度的概念,构建了断裂特征分析图,从而为钢结构防动载断裂选材提出了一个新的定量的判据,并以船只设计选材为例,阐明了该判据的应用.     

Evaluation on Fracture Toughness at Dynamic Loading for Welded Joint Based on the Local Approach

The changes in mechanical properties and fracture toughness by dynamic loading were investigated with experiments. The parameter R, which can reflect the effect of the loading rate and the temperature rising during the high loading rate, could be employed to describe the constituent relation for the typical structure steel and its weld metal. The dynamic loading effect on the stress/strain fields and the temperature variation in the vicinity of the crack tip was analyzed by the finite element method, the dynamic fracture behavior was evaluated based on the local approach. It has been found that the Weibull stress is an effective fracture parameter, independent of the temperature and the loading rate.     

Influence of mixed mode I/III loading on fracture toughness of mild steel at various strain rates

Abstract

The effect of loading angle &phis; on the fracture toughness of mild steel at various strain rates has been studied. The fracture toughness was found to decrease with increasing loading angle (or increasing mode III component) at strain rates 10^-5 to 10⁰ s^-1 where ductile fracture was observed. Under impact conditions (strain rate 10² s^-1), fracture was by cleavage and the fracture toughness was found to increase with increasing loading angle. The results showed that the mixed mode fracture behaviour of mild steel changed from Class C in the strain rate range 10^-5 to 10⁰ s^-1 to a combination of Class A and B under impact conditions. In the strain rate range 10^-5 to 10^-2 s^-1, the fracture toughness behaviour with increasing strain rate was found to be similar for the three loading angles studied, namely &phis;= 0, &phis;= 30 and &phis;= 45°. At the strain rates 10^-2 to 10² s^-1, fracture toughness at &phis;= 0° decreased sharply, while for loading angles &phis;= 30° and &phis;= 45°, the fracture toughness increased with strain rate. The increase in mixed mode fracture toughness with strain rate in this strain rate regime has been attributed to the inertial effects which are known to reduce the T stress ahead of the crack.     

Influence of loading rate on fracture behaviour of extra deep drawn steel sheets

Fracture tests of extra deep drawn steel sheet were carried out at ambient temperature to investigate the effect of loading rate on fracture toughness. To determine fracture limits, fracture tests and finite‐element cohesive zone model simulation tool are used. Fracture tests are conducted at various loading rates (0.1–2.5 mm min^?1). An alternative constant traction separation law is used to account for maximum load and large load line displacements. Experimental findings, as well as cohesive zone model, show that the loading rate has no significant effect on fracture toughness till 0.4 mm min^?1; however, there is a sharp decrease in fracture toughness beyond 0.4 mm min^?1.     

Analysis of dynamic conditions during thermal transient events for the structural assessment of a nuclear vessel

The possibility of dynamic loading conditions in a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) has been investigated in this paper. For this purpose, finite element (FE) numerical simulations of several thermal transients were performed including a normal shut down and two accidental thermal shocks, namely a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) and an extreme postulated pressurised thermal shock (PTS). The aim of the present contribution is to evaluate the influence of the loading rate on the fracture properties of the vessel steel of the Santa María de Garoña Spanish nuclear power plant (NPP) in the ductile to brittle transition (DBT) region. To describe the fracture behaviour of the steel in the DBT region, the master curve (MC) reference temperature, T₀, was used. This temperature is normally used for quasi-static conditions; however, it has been recently extended to the determination of dynamic fracture toughness by means of a phenomenological model proposed by Wallin. The dynamic reference temperature, T_0,dyn, was obtained for the loading rates corresponding to the three studied situations numerically simulated and compared with the quasi-static reference temperature, T_0,sta. From these results, conclusions about the importance of loading rates in nuclear vessels were established.     

Impact fracture of a ferritic steel in the lower shelf regime

This paper reports the results of a systematic investigation on the fracture of Charpy-V notch A508 steel specimens, tested in the lower shelf regime. The fracture energy has been determined for quasi-static, standard Charpy and one-point-bend impact. The results show a general trend for the fracture energy to increase with the loading rate, at the lower temperature (–160 °C). At this temperature, the roughness of the fracture surface increases markedly with the loading rate. The fractographic analysis shows the presence of 3–4 cleavage initiation sites situated at 100–800 m from the crack front, irrespective of the loading rate. Numerous cleavage microcracks are observed underneath the main fracture plane. The statistical analysis shows that the length distribution of the microcracks is adequately described by Weibull statistics. It is also found that the number of microcracks increases with the loading rate. It is suggested that the larger number of microcracks is responsible for the observed increased roughness and energy dissipation.     

Toughness indices of steel fiber reinforced concrete under mode II loading

The toughness indices of fiber reinforced concrete under Mode II loading effects are rarely reported due to lack of information on standard testing procedures. However, the direct shear test with improvement over JSCE-SF6 method is generally accepted to study Mode II fracture parameters. In this paper, experimental investigations to determine the fracture properties and toughness indices of steel fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) under Mode II loading are reported. Straight steel fibers of length 25 mm with an aspect ratio of 44.6 were randomly distributed in concrete with varying fiber volume fractions of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%. A symmetrical Mode II loading set up was designed to achieve an ideal shear failure. It has been observed that the failure was due essentially to shear (Mode II) fracture without secondary flexural cracking. Plain concrete failed at a low equivalent shear strain of 0.5%, while the addition of steel fibers improved the shear strains up to as much as 8.0%. The shear strength and the shear toughness of concrete with the addition of steel fibers have been improved very significantly. As the volume fraction of fibers increases, the shear strength increases up to an optimum volume fraction, beyond which there has been no improvement on the shear strength. However, the toughness indices determined in Mode II loading (shear) have been observed to be about 15 times as high as that under Mode I loading (flexure).     

CYCLIC LOADING AND FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF STEELS

Abstract— The paper considers the effect of cyclic loading and loading rate upon fracture toughness characteristics of steels at room and low temperatures. It is shown that fracture toughness of a low-alloy ferrite-pearlite steel with 0·1% C (steel 1) and for 15G2AFDps steel of the same class (steel 2) are 2 to 2·5 times lower under cyclic loading (50 and 0·5 Hz) and dynamic loading (= 1·5 × 10⁶MPa √m s⁻¹) than under static loading (= 0·6 to 9 MPa √m s⁻¹). For quenched and low-tempered 45 steel at 293 K and for armco-iron at 77 K fracture toughness characteristics do not depend on the loading condition. Macro- and micro-fractographic investigations revealed a correlation between the plastic zone size and the length of brittle fracture areas which are formed in steels 1 and 2, and in armco-iron during unstable propagation of the fatigue crack. Dependence of the decrease of the critical stress intensity factor under cyclic loading on the number of load cycles are obtained for repeating ( R = 0) and alternating bending ( R =−1) of specimens with a crack. A model for the transition from stable to unstable crack propagation is proposed involving crack velocity in the zone ahead of the crack tip damaged by cyclic plastic deformation. A new approach is suggested to the classification of materials on the basis of the sensitivity of fracture toughness characteristics to cyclic conditions of loading.     

Q690D高强钢基于连续损伤模型的断裂破坏预测分析

高强钢材在实际钢结构中已经开始逐步得到应用,该文针对Q690D高强度结构钢材,进行了钢材圆棒试样在单调加载和超低周循环加载下的断裂破坏试验,研究了试样裂纹的起始位置,分析了加载制度对试样承载能力和变形能力的影响,并采用扫描电镜观察了试样断口的微观形貌,断口呈现韧窝形式的延性断裂特征。基于Q690D钢材缺口圆棒试样的单调拉伸试验结果,结合有限元分析,标定了钢材的连续损伤模型参数。最后,应用钢材的连续损伤模型,对圆棒试样和带初始间隙试样在不同加载制度下的断裂破坏进行预测分析,得到试样的裂纹起始位置、荷载-位移曲线、断裂位移和疲劳寿命均与试验结果吻合良好。     

Ductile fracture behaviour of primary heat transport piping material of nuclear reactors

Design of primary heat transport (PHT) piping of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR) has to ensure implementation of leak-before-break concepts. In order to be able to do so, the ductile fracture characteristics of PHT piping material have to be quantified. In this paper, the fracture resistance of SA333, Grade 6 steel — the material used for Indian PHWR — under monotonic and cyclic tearing loading has been documented. An attempt has also been made to understand the mechanism responsible for the high fracture toughness of the steel through determination of the effect of constraint on the fracture behaviour and fractographic observations. FromJ-R tests over a range of temperatures, it was observed that SA333 steel exhibits embrittlement tendencies in the service temperature regime. The fracture resistance of the steel is inferior in the longitudinal direction with respect to the pipe geometry as compared to that in the circumferential direction. Imposition of cyclic unloading during ductile fracture tests for simulation of response to seismic activities results in a dramatic decrease of fracture resistance. It appears, from the observations of effects of constraint on fracture toughness and fractographic examinations, that fracture resistance of the steel is derived partly from the inability of voids to initiate and grow due to a loss of constraint in the crack-tip stress field.     

Some studies on the impact behavior of banded microalloyed steel

Microalloyed steels are used in automobile industries, offshore platforms and in structural applications. It is essential to establish a relation between service consition such as temperature, loading rate and fracture behavior of the steel. Impact study on new material is very handy to understand the mechanicl properties in a rapid and inexpensive way. The present investigation aims to assess impact toughness (CVN), ductile brittle transition temperature (DBTT, 25J), and initiation dynamic fracture toughness (J_ld*) of the indigenously developed microallayed seel. The steel has shown banding with alternate layers of ferrite and pearlite. The banding concentration (ferrite bands per mm) has been altered by heat treatment. Presence of banding has given spikes and splits in impact fracture. Change in banding concentration has affected DBTT of the steel, upper shelf energy and the extent of splitting. A model of crack divider with respect to the present microstructure has been analyzed. Banding in divider orientation improves the impact as well as initiation dynamic fracture toughness of the steel. The effect of temperature on splitting is also discussed. Splits in fractured surface disappear with decreasing temperature and higher numbers of splits yield lower toughness. Further, initiation dynamic fracture toughness is calculated for all temperatures and correlated with impact toughness.     

CREEP-FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH AND FRACTOGRAPHY OF A TYPE 304 STAINLESS STEEL AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURE

Abstract— Creep-fatigue crack growth behaviour of a Type 304 stainless steel under four types of reversed loading patterns (P-P, P-C, C-P and C-C) was investigated and the results are discussed in the light of fracture mechanics and fractography. The crack growth rate for all of the four types of loading was successfully correlated in terms of the cyclic integral range λ J. It was unnecessary, for practical purpose, to divide Ay into a fatigue component, λ J _f, and a creep component, λ J _c, as has been done elsewhere. The transition of the correlating fracture mechanics parameter from fatigue to creep was not necessarily associated with the fracture morphology. This was related to the longer transition hold time in morphology in C-C type loading compared to C-P type loading, and was attributed to recovery of grain boundary sliding during the compression hold in the C-C type loading.     

温度与加载速率对X70级管线钢韧脆转化现象的影响

在不同温度下测试了X70级管线钢的动态断裂韧度。研究表明:加载速率对动态断裂韧度的影响与温度对其的影响同样重要;在恒温下,增大加载速率可以诱发韧脆断裂转变;当温度由298 K向193 K逐渐降低,或加载速率从0.01 mm/s向1 000 mm/s增大时,均将导致材料的韧脆断裂转变。     

Influence of loading rate on shear fracture toughness for failure mode transition

When subjected to shear loading of sufficiently high rate, many materials do not fail by cracks, propagating at an angle of 70° with respect to the ligament, but by adiabatic shear bands, which extend nearly straight in the direction of the ligament. Work is reported on investigations for determining the dependence of the impact shear fracture toughness as a function of loading rate, in particular in the regime of failure mode transition from cracks to adiabatic shear bands. For achieving high rate shear conditions of loading, edge cracked specimens are asymmetrically impacted at the cracked edge by a projectile accelerated by an air gun. The resulting mode-II stress intensity factors and the times of onset of failure are determined by a specially developed strain gauge measuring technique. Results on shear fracture toughnesses with increasing loading rate are reported for two structural materials, a 1% chromium steel and a high strength aluminum alloy. Whereas decreasing fracture toughnesses are observed with increasing loading rate when failure occurs by tensile cracks, the fracture toughness increases with loading rate when failure occurs by adiabatic shear bands.     

The effect of the grain size of the ferritic-pearlitic steel 45 on the parameters of its fracture under impact loading

The article investigates the influence of the grain size of the ferritic-pearlitic steel 45 with standard composition in the range 2–50 Μm on the parameters of the energy of crack nucleation and propagation in the process of impact loading in the temperature range from ?100 to +150?C. It is shown that reduction of the grain size from 50 to 2 Μm has no effect on the fracture energy and on the “true” specific values of impact toughness at temperatures inducing completely brittle or ductile fracture, and that it increases the fracture energy and KCV_tru solely in the region of temperatures of the viscobrittle transition. Dissipation of the fracture energy expanded on the nucleation of secondary cracks and microcracks has no significant effect on the KCV_tru of the steel in all the examined ranges of grain sizes and temperatures. The article notes the structural insensitivity of the process of crack and microcrack nucleation in steel 45 under dynamic loading.     

Intergranular fracture in 13 wt% chromium martensitic stainless steel

Fracture of 13 wt% chromium steel blades has been observed to occur in the intergranular mode in certain service failures. An attempt has been made in this study to identify the conditions in respect of material, loading and environment which may lead to intergranular fracture. Three different materials were subjected to varying heat treatments selected on the basis of fracture characteristics of as-received materials. It has been concluded that grain-boundary segregations of impurities and carbide precipitation, intergranular network of delta ferrite at prior austenitic grain boundaries, and a sufficient concentration of NaCl in conjunction with cyclic stress, promote intergranular fracture in a 13 wt% chromium steel.     

Dynamic crack initiation toughness of 4340 steel at constant loading rates

Determination of fracture toughness for metals under quasi-static loading conditions can follow well-established procedures and ASTM standards. The use of metallic materials in impact related applications requires the determination of dynamic crack initiation toughness for these materials. There are two main challenges in experiment design that must be overcome before valid dynamic data can be obtained. Dynamic equilibrium over the entire specimen needs to be approximately achieved to relate the crack tip loading state to the far-field loading conditions, and the loading rate at the crack tip should be maintained near constant during an experiment to delineate rate effects on the values of dynamic crack initiation toughness. A recently developed experimental technique for determining dynamic crack initiation toughness of brittle materials has been adapted to measure the dynamic crack initiation toughness of high-strength steel alloys. A Kolsky pressure bar is used to apply the dynamic loading. A pulse shaper is used to achieve constant loading rate at the crack tip and dynamic equilibrium across the specimen. A four-point bending configuration is used at the gage section of the setup. Results are presented which show a monotonically increasing rate dependence of crack initiation toughness for 4340 high-strength steel.     

Static and Dynamic Tearing of Thin Steel Sheets

This paper presents the energy analysis of static mode III fracture of thin steel sheets. For dynamic tearing studies we used the Charpy test apparatus. Static tearing tests performed on three types of steel sheets indicate that the linear relationship of Mai and Cotterell is valid for specimens with a leg width W up to 30 mm. In the given range, the specific work of fracture _e is determined according to the Mai–Cotterell model. The _e kinetics is studied as a function of the sheet thickness B, radius of curvature , and loading rate V. The modified model includes a linear dependence of versus W. Moreover, we show that variation of the loading rate V from 1 to 300 mm/min has no effect on the specific work of fracture _e. A slight decrease in the dynamic fracture toughness J_0,d has been found.