FINITE ELEMENT AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF CRACK GROWTH IN CLADDED SEN(B) SPECIMENS

Abstract— The transferability of fracture results between homogeneous and cladded specimens was studied in single edge-notched bend specimens. The test material was of A533-B steel with a clad layer deposited by a commercial strip welding process. The fracture resistance properties were developed independently for cladding and base material using homogeneous specimens of each material. The experimental data from tests on cladded specimens were analysed with the finite element method. The 3D J -values were compared with values evaluated using the measured crack extension in the cladded specimen and the J _R-data of the respective material provided from homogeneous specimens. A reasonably good agreement was obtained in this comparison for a limited amount of crack growth.