Evaluation of the fracture toughness of hot-rolled low-alloy Ti-V plate steel

The effects of varying finish rolling temperature (FRT) and cooling rate on the mechanical properties of hot rolled plates of an experimental low-alloy Ti-V steel were studied. Fracture toughness was evaluated for various types of specimens at slow and high deformation rates. However, the transition temperatures determined by the various tests do not always correlate. Therefore, it is recommended that fracture toughness be evaluated by both static and dynamic testing. Following a low cooling rate, the best plate properties are obtained at the lowest FRT in the austenite-ferrite range, although occurrence of delaminations at this temperature may be detrimental for specific applications. Higher cooling rates produce higher strength but lower toughness than lower cooling rates in plates with the same FRT.