Evaluation of dynamic fracture toughness KId by Hopkinson pressure bar loaded instrumented Charpy impact test

A novel method for measuring the dynamic fracture toughness, K_Id, using a Hopkinson pressure bar loaded instrumented Charpy impact test is presented in this paper. The stress intensity factor dynamic response curve (K_I(t)−t) for a fatigue-precracked Charpy specimen is evaluated by means of an approximate formula. The onset time of crack initiation is experimentally detected using the strain gauge method. The value of K_Id is determined from the critical dynamic stress intensity factor at crack initiation. A K_Id value for a high-strength steel is obtained using this method at a stress-intensity-factor rate () greater than 10⁶ MPa .     

Measurement of fracture initiation toughness and crack resistance in instrumented Charpy impact testing

A new method has been developed involving direct measurement of the load-line displacement during instrumented Charpy testing. The method uses a laser interferometer to measure displacement in addition to the load-line displacement derived from the load signal. Tests were conducted using fatigue precracked and V-notched test pieces in the temperature range +23°C to −80°C on a conventional ship grade steel, a pressure vessel steel and two welded joints. Good correlation was found between the J_0.2 initiation fracture toughness determined by the multi-specimen method and the J_i fracture toughness determined from single specimens using the new method to detect ductile fracture initiation.     

舰船结构钢的夏比冲击韧性与断口形貌

论述了从夏比冲击韧性分解出来的断裂扩展功与断口形貌的关系，指出冶金因素对夏比冲击韧性α＿ｋ值和扩展功的影响不完全是一致的，提出采用α＿ｋ，值和断口纤维率作为韧性指标的互补性，建议在我国的舰船结构钢韧性指标中增加断口纤维率的要求。     

Specimen loading determined by displacement measurement in instrumented Charpy impact test

An experimental method based on the specimen displacement measurement with a commercially available laser sensor is proposed in order to determine the actual specimen loading in instrumented impact test. The prediction resulting from this approach is compared with results deduced from dynamic analysis of impact tests with mass-spring model.     

A model for the dynamic fracture toughness of ductile structural steel

We assume in this paper that the dynamic fracture toughness K_Id of ductile structural steels is dependent on void nucleation and void growth. The void nucleation-induced dynamic fracture toughness K_Id·n and the void growth-induced dynamic fracture toughness K_Id·g were obtained by modifying the void nucleation-induced and void growth-induced static fracture toughness models, respectively, considering the effect of strain rate and local temperature. By the relationship between the void nucleation-induced dynamic fracture toughness K_Id·n and the void growth-induced dynamic fracture toughness K_Id·g((K_Id)²=(K_Id·n)²+(K_Id·g)²) dynamic fracture toughness K_Id could be quantitatively evaluated. With this model the dynamic fracture toughness of two structural steels (X65 and SA440) was assessed, and the causes for the differences between the static and dynamic fracture toughness were also discussed.     

Statistical scatter in the fracture toughness and Charpy impact energy of pearlitic steel

The effect of microstructure on the fracture characteristics of high carbon hypo eutectoid steel was studied under conditions of quasistatic and dynamic loading. Experimentally determined sets of fracture toughness and Charpy impact energy values were statistically treated. A relationship was found between fracture toughness and Charpy impact energy. In the very brittle domain, the fracture toughness increases slightly with increasing Charpy impact energy. In the domain where the fracture toughness is higher, the rise in fracture toughness with increasing Charpy impact energy is more pronounced. Detailed SEM examination of fractured compact tension (CT) and Charpy V-notch (CVN) specimens showed that the fracture at ambient temperature occurred almost exclusively by cleavage. There were no visible differences in the morphology of cleavage facets on the fracture surfaces of Charpy and CT specimens. Mechanisms of cleavage initiation were revealed by the fractographical investigation of fracture surfaces. Whereas the fracture surfaces of broken CT specimens exhibit a number of cleavage origins, the fracture surfaces of CVN specimens usually show only one.     

Analysis of impact properties of A533 steel for nuclear reactor pressure vessel by instrumented Charpy test

Instrumented Charpy impact test can become more useful by connecting the digital memory and microcomputer, where yield load (P_y), maximum load (P_m), premaximum load energy (E_i) and post-maximum load one (E_p) are automatically and rapidly analyzed. In such analysis, cyclic oscillations in a load signal are corrected and smoothened by using a method of moving averages (the nonrecursive low pass digital filter). Dynamic J_1c value (J_1d) of A533 steel can be measured in a fatigue precracked type Charpy specimen, provided that a true deflection of specimen and a true crack initiation point in the load-deflection curve are known. For this purpose, elastic compliance values of the testing machine and the specimen are measured dynamically by the elastic low blow test to correct the apparent deflection. Crack initiation point, on the other hand, is detected by the plastic low blow test. It is shown that the crack initiation in the fatigue pre-cracked specimen of this material occurs prior to the maximum load, and that the relation between crack initiation energy (E_Δα) and pre-maximum load energy (E_i) is $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{\Delta \alpha }}\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{? 0.8}$.     

Estimation of fracture toughness of steel using chevron notched round bar specimens

A generalized methodology has been outlined in this paper for estimating the minimum normalized stress intensity factor (Y*_min) of chevron notched round bar specimens, subjected to three‐point bend loading. Using such specimens, a series of fracture toughness tests have been carried out for the first time on two steels. The major inferences drawn from this investigation are: (i) reproducible fracture toughness values can be achieved using chevron notched rod specimens of identical configuration and (ii) the estimated magnitudes of fracture toughness obtained by using chevron notched rod specimens are in good agreement with those achieved by using chevron notched rectangular bar specimens of the same material.     

Damping of dynamic effects with elastomers in instrumented impact testing

The efficiency of four silicon elastomers as damping materials was studied in high rate (2.9 m/s) instrumented impact testing. The measurements were done on injection molded PP specimens. Dynamic effects could be efficiently reduced by all four silicon rubbers. Mechanical damping leads to smooth force versus deflection correlations, which considerably facilitates the determination of valid fracture mechanics characteristics. Damping does not influence the maximum force measured during fracture, K _Ic is independent of rubber type and thickness. Since the damper consumes considerable energy, G _Ic is significantly modified by damping, the effect depends both on the viscoelastic properties and the thickness of the damper. The approach proposed earlier for the correction of energy could be applied in all cases where a load versus deflection trace void of oscillations was registered. Similarly to K _Ic, corrected G _Ic values proved to be completely independent of the conditions of damping, i.e. the type and thickness of the damper. The parameters of the non-linear constitutive equation which was used to describe the deformation behavior of the damper could not be related to properties determined by simple measurements (hardness, modulus, rebound elasticity, etc.).     

A numerical investigation of ductile fracture initiation in a high-strength low-alloy steel

In this work, static and drop-weight impact experiments, which have been conducted using three-point bend fracture specimens of a high-strength low-alloy steel, are analysed by performing finite-element simulations. The Gurson constitutive model that accounts for the ductile failure mechanisms of microvoid nucleation, growth and coalescence is employed within the framework of a finite deformation plasticity theory. Two populations of second-phase particles are considered, including large inclusions which initiate voids at an early stage and small particles which require large strains to nucleate voids. The most important objective of the work is to assess quantitatively the effects of material inertia, strain rate sensitivity and local adiabatic temperature rise (due to conversion of plastic work into heat) on dynamic ductile crack initiation. This is accomplished by comparing the evolution histories of void volume fraction near the notch tip in the static analysis with the dynamic analyses. The results indicate that increased strain hardening caused by strain rate sensitivity, which becomes important under dynamic loading, plays a benign role in considerably slowing down the void growth rate near the notch tip. This is partially opposed by thermal softening caused by adiabatic heating near the notch tip.     

Method of constraint loss correction of CTOD fracture toughness for fracture assessment of steel components

This paper presents a procedure for transferring the CTOD fracture toughness obtained from laboratory specimens to an equivalent CTOD for structural components, taking constraint loss into account. The Weibull stress criterion is applied to correct the CTOD for constraint loss, which leads to an equivalent CTOD ratio, β, defined as β = δ/δ_WP, where δ and δ_WP are CTODs of the standard fracture toughness specimen and the structural component, respectively, at the same level of the Weibull stress. The CTOD ratio β is intended to apply to the fracture assessment of ferritic steel components to stress levels beyond small-scale yielding. Nomographs are given to determine the β-value as a function of the crack type and size in the component, the yield-to-tensile ratio of the material and the Weibull shape parameter m. Examples of the fracture assessment using β are shown within the context of a failure assessment diagram (FAD). An excessive conservatism observed in the conventional procedure is reduced reasonably by applying the equivalent CTOD ratio, β.     

Calibration of Weibull stress parameters using fracture toughness data

The Weibull stress model for cleavage fracture of ferritic steels requires calibration of two micromechanics parameters . Notched tensile bars, often used for such calibrations at lower-shelf temperatures, do not fracture in the transition region without extensive plasticity and prior ductile tearing. However, deep-notch bend and compact tension specimens tested in the transition region can provide toughness values under essentially small-scale yielding (SSY) conditions to support Weibull stress calibrations. We show analytically, and demonstrate numerically, that a nonuniqueness arises in the calibrated values, i.e., many pairs of provide equally good correlation of critical Weibull stress values with the distribution of measured (SSY) fracture toughness values. This work proposes a new calibration scheme to find which uses toughness values measured under both low and high constraint conditions at the crack front. The new procedure reveals a strong sensitivity to m and provides the necessary micromechanical values to conduct defect assessments of flawed structural components operating at or near the calibration temperature in the transition region. Results of a parameter study illustrate the expected values of m for a typical range of material flow properties and toughness levels. A specific calibration is carried out for a mild structural steel (ASTM A36). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of fracture toughness and impact toughness of laser rapid manufactured Inconel-625 structures and their co-relation

The present study involves evaluation of fracture toughness and Charpy impact toughness of Inconel 625 structures fabricated by laser based additive manufacturing. The results of crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) fracture toughness are close to those reported for the Inconel 625 weld metal. The nature of the load–time traces of instrumented Charpy impact tests revealed that the alloy Inconel 625 in laser fabricated condition was associated with fully ductile behavior with Charpy V-Notch impact energy in the range of 48–54 J. Stress relieving heat treatment at 950 °C for 1 h has resulted in marginal improvement in the impact toughness by about 10%, whereas no clear evidence of such improvement is seen in the CTOD fracture toughness. Fractographic examination of the Charpy specimens and the results of the instrumented impact tests imply that the mechanism of crack growth was propagation controlled under dynamic loading conditions. Dynamic fracture parameters were estimated from the instrumented impact test data and compared with the experimentally evaluated fracture toughness results.     

Quasi-static and dynamic fracture initiation toughness of Ti/TiB layered functionally graded material under thermo-mechanical loading

Quasi-static and dynamic fracture initiation toughness of Ti/TiB layered functionally graded material (FGM) is investigated using a three point bend specimen. The modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus in conjunction with induction coil heating system is used during elevated temperature dynamic loading experiments. A simple and accurate technique has been developed to identify the time corresponding to the load at which the fracture initiates. A series of experiments are conducted at different temperatures ranging from room temperature to 800 °C, and the effect of temperature and loading rate on the fracture initiation toughness is investigated. The material fracture toughness is found to be sensitive to temperature and the fracture initiation toughness increases as the temperature increases. Furthermore, the fracture initiation toughness is strain rate sensitive and is higher for dynamic loading as compared to quasi-static loading.     

Experimental and numerical study on dynamic fracture behaviour of AISI 1045 steel for compressor crankshaft

Dynamic fracture behaviour of AISI 1045 steel for compressor crankshaft was studied by experimental and numerical methods. True stress–strain relations of the material under different strain rates were measured, and dynamic constitutive model with consideration to strain‐hardening and strain‐rate hardening was proposed. Dynamic fracture tests loaded by Hopkinson pressure bar were carried out, and fracture toughness was determined using a finite element method with the combination of ABAQUS and Zencrack software. Loading states of the specimen and determination methods of the dynamic fracture toughness were discussed. By comparing the fracture behaviours under quasi‐static and dynamic conditions, it was found that the fracture modes exhibited a transition from ductile to brittle fracture with the increasing loading rate, and the dynamic fracture toughness value was less than the quasi‐static one.     

Characterization of the dynamic failure behaviour of a glass-fiber/vinyl-ester at different temperatures by means of instrumented Charpy impact testing

Instrumented Charpy impact testing is used to investigate the strength and failure properties of a glass-fiber/vinyl-ester composite. The test technique, originally developed for testing of steel specimens, is presented in its basic aspects; reported are the conventional procedures for determining load, displacement and energy absorption that a specimen experiences, over the entire phase of loading and subsequent failure of the specimen. Techniques are described for generating data of sufficient accuracy when applying the test to composites. In particular, the necessity of utilizing measurement chains of sufficiently high frequency response and striker tups of sufficiently high sensitivity is emphasized. Tests are performed with glass-fiber/vinyl-ester specimens, provided with notches oriented in two different directions with respect to the plies of woven glass fiber rovings. Two different types of failure result: fiber breakage ahead of the notch due to tensile stresses, and delaminations of the interface planes between the plies of woven glass fiber rovings due to shear stresses. Specifically, energies absorbed by the specimen over the entire failure process and values of maximum load occurring during the impact process are measured over a large range of temperatures. The data are correlated with the observed failure phenomena. The high level of information obtained in characterizing the failure behaviour by means of a test which requires limited technical effort proves the instrumented Charpy impact test to be a simple but effective tool for quantifying the quality of a composite in practical applications, as e.g. in surveillance programs for controlling processes such as manufacturing or aging of the material.