Engineering Assessment of Constraint Effects on Cleavage Fracture

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Sherry ◽  
Dennis Hooton ◽  
David Lidbury
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Cleavage Fracture ◽  
Stress Triaxiality ◽  
Crack Size ◽  
Structural Defects ◽  
Loading Mode ◽  
Safety Margins ◽  
Low Constraint ◽  
Specific Material ◽  
Constraint Effects

It is well known that material fracture toughness is influenced by factors including loading mode and crack size that influence the level of stress triaxiality ahead of the crack tip. This so-called “constraint effect” has been demonstrated both experimentally and analytically, with low constraint (low stress triaxiality) conditions leading to enhanced fracture toughness. Two-parameter fracture mechanics has been developed to provide a framework within which to assess the influence of constraint on safety margins for shallow structural defects. However, this requires the availability of a significant amount of plant-specific material with which to measure the materials’ constraint sensitivity experimentally. This paper presents a case study where constraint effects on cleavage fracture toughness of a shallow-cracked biaxially loaded bend specimen are assessed through a combination of modelling and miniaturised testing. The assessment is performed using the Failure Assessment Diagram approach of R6. It is concluded that the approach provides a practical engineering method for assessing the likely magnitude of constraint effects for low constraint configurations.

A Monte Carlo Implementation of the James-Ford-Jivkov Micro-Structurally Informed Local Approach Applied to Predict Fracture Toughness Including Low Constraint Conditions

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ford ◽  
Peter James
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Transition Region ◽  
Crack Size ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Local Approach ◽  
Rpv Steel ◽  
Low Constraint ◽  
Constraint Effects ◽  
Monte Carlo Implementation

The need to predict changes in fracture toughness for materials where the tensile properties change through life, such as with irradiation, whilst accounting for geometric constraint effects, such as crack size, are clearly important. Currently one of the most likely approaches by which to develop such ability are through application of local approach models. These approaches appear to be sufficient in predicting lower shelf toughness under high constraint conditions, but may fail when attempting to predict toughness in the transition region or for low constraint geometries when using the same parameters, making predictions impossible. Cleavage toughness predictions in the transition regime that are then extended to low constraint conditions are here made with a stochastic, Monte Carlo implementation of the recently proposed James-Ford-Jivkov model. This implementation is based around the creation of individual initiators following the experimentally observed distribution for specific RPV steel, and determining if these initiators form voids or cause cleavage failure using the model’s improved criterion for particle failure. The model has shown to predict experimentally measured locations of cleavage initiators. Further, initial results from the Monte Carlo implementation of the model predicts the fracture toughness in a large part of the transition region, demonstrates an ability to predict the constraint shift and shows a level of scatter similar to that observed experimentally. All results presented, for a given material, are obtained without changes in the model parameters. This suggests that the model can be used predicatively for assessing toughness changes due to constraint- and temperature-driven plasticity changes.

A Weibull Stress Approach Incorporating the Coupling Effect of Constraint and Plastic Strain in Cleavage Fracture Toughness Predictions

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Ruggieri ◽  
Robert H. Dodds
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Plastic Strain ◽  
Cleavage Fracture ◽  
Coupling Effect ◽  
Crack Size ◽  
Parameter Analysis ◽  
Pressure Vessel Steel ◽  
Fracture Parameter ◽  
Vessel Steel ◽  
Weibull Stress

This work describes a micromechanics methodology based upon a local failure criterion incorporating the strong effects of plastic strain on cleavage fracture coupled with statistics of microcracks. A central objective is to gain some understanding on the role of plastic strain on cleavage fracture by means of a probabilistic fracture parameter and how it contributes to the cleavage failure probability. A parameter analysis is conducted to assess the general effects of plastic strain on fracture toughness correlations for conventional SE(B) specimens with varying crack size over specimen width ratios. Another objetive is to evaluate the effectiveness of the modified Weibull stress (σ̃w) model to correct effects of constraint loss in PCVN specimens which serve to determine the indexing temperature, T0, based on the Master Curve methodology. Fracture toughness testing conducted on an A285 Grade C pressure vessel steel provides the cleavage fracture resistance (Jc) data needed to estimate T0. Very detailed non-linear finite element analyses for 3-D models of plane-sided SE(B) and PCVN specimens provide the evolution of near-tip stress field with increased macroscopic load (in terms of the J-integral) to define the relationship between σ̃w and J. For the tested material, the Weibull stress methodology yields estimates for the reference temperature, T0, from small fracture specimens which are in good agreement with the corresponding estimates derived from testing of much larger crack configurations.

scholarly journals Use of local approaches to calculate changes in cleavage fracture toughness due to pre-straining and constraint effects

2019 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 102380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey P. Jivkov ◽  
Diego Sarzosa Burgos ◽  
Claudio Ruggieri ◽  
Jack Beswick ◽  
Rafael Savioli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Cleavage Fracture ◽  
Constraint Effects

The Weibull Stress Model for Predicting Cleavage Fracture in the Ductile-to-Brittle Transition Region

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaosheng Gao ◽  
Jason P. Petti ◽  
Robert H. Dodds
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Transition Region ◽  
Cleavage Fracture ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Ferritic Steels ◽  
Stress Model ◽  
Brittle Transition ◽  
Ductile To Brittle Transition ◽  
Constraint Effects ◽  
Weibull Stress

Transgranular cleavage fracture in the ductile-to-brittle transition region of ferritic steels often leads to spectacular and catastrophic failures of engineering structures. Due to the strongly stochastic effects of metallurgical scale inhomogenieties together with the nonlinear mechanical response from plastic deformation, the measured fracture toughness data exhibit a large degree of scatter and a strong dependence on constraint. This has stimulated an increasing amount of research over the past two decades, among which the Weibull stress model originally proposed by the Beremin group has gained much popularity. This model is based on weakest link statistics and provides a framework to quantify the relationship between macro and microscale driving forces for cleavage fracture. It has been successfully applied to predict constraint effects on cleavage fracture and on the scatter of macroscopic fracture toughness values. This paper provides a brief review of the research conducted by the authors in recent years to extend the engineering applicability of the Weibull stress model to predict cleavage fracture in ferritic steels. These recent efforts have introduced a threshold value in the Weibull stress model, introduced more robust calibration methods for determination of model parameters, predicted experimentally observed constraint effects, demonstrated temperature and loading rate effects on the model parameters, and expanded the original Beremin model to include the effects of microcrack nucleation.

scholarly journals A Local Approach to Assess Effects of Specimen Geometry on Cleavage Fracture Toughness in Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego F. B. Sarzosa ◽  
Rafael Savioli ◽  
Claudio Ruggieri ◽  
Andrey Jivkov ◽  
Jack Beswick
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Cleavage Fracture ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Crack Size ◽  
Size Ratio ◽  
Additional Contribution ◽  
Pressure Vessel Steel ◽  
Vessel Steel ◽  
Shallow Crack

This work presents recent improvements in the micromechanical failure criterion based on the Weibull stress (σw) concept for prediction of cleavage fracture in ferritic steels. The model is applied in SE(B) specimens extracted from an ASTM A533 pressure vessel steel having different levels of stress triaxiality at the crack tip. Nonlinear 3D finite element models with dimensions matching the tested specimens were built to provide the necessary crack tip stresses at the fracture process zone for calculation of the σw-J evolution from wich the variation of characteristic toughness values (J0) between different cracked geometries can be estimated. Application of this methodology for the material used at this study is able to predict J0 for SE(B) specimens with very shallow crack size ratio a/W = 0.05, short crack a/W = 0.2 and deep crack a/W = 0.4. The reported fracture toughness values for specimens having very shallow crack size ratio is an additional contribution of this study.

The Significance of Crack Depth (a) and Crack Depth-to-Width Ratio (a/W) With Respect to the Behavior of Very Large Specimens

1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Smith ◽  
S. T. Rolfe
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Cleavage Fracture ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Crack Depth ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Safety And Reliability ◽  
Low Constraint ◽  
Reactor Pressure

Previous studies have shown that there is an increase in cleavage fracture toughness of laboratory specimens with shallow flaws compared with those laboratory specimens having deep flaws. Typical crack depths in real structures generally are very small relative to the member width. Therefore, the crack depth to structural member width (a/W) ratios are very small (less than 0.1). Accordingly, the effect of this observation on the behavior of larger structures that actually represent typical engineering applications could be significant. Using experimental and analytical results from previous studies on A533-B steel specimens, the effect of the shallow flaw behavior with respect to very large specimens was examined. Using the Dodds and Anderson constraint correction, predictions of the cleavage fracture toughness of large-scale wide-plate tests and full thickness clad beams from an actual reactor pressure vessel were shown to compare favorably with actual test results. The results of these studies suggest the possibility of predicting the increase in fracture toughness for low constraint structural geometries using high-constraint laboratory test specimen results. The ability to take advantage of this increase in toughness in analysis of actual structures could be very useful in estimating the actual safety and reliability of existing structures with service cracks.

Fracture Toughness Testing of a Low Alloy Structural Steel Using Non-Standard Bend Specimens and an Exploratory Application to Determine the Reference Temperature, T0

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitor Scarabeli Barbosa ◽  
Claudio Ruggieri
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Structural Steel ◽  
Cleavage Fracture ◽  
Test Procedure ◽  
Reference Temperature ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Fracture Toughness Test ◽  
Fracture Toughness Testing ◽  
Loading Mode ◽  
Toughness Testing

This work addresses an experimental investigation on the cleavage fracture behavior of an ASTM A572 high strength, low alloy structural steel using standard and non-standard SE(B) specimens, including a non-standard PCVN configuration. One purpose of this study is to develop a fracture toughness test procedure applicable to bend geometries with varying specimen span over width ratio (a/W) and loaded under 3-point and 4-point flexural configuration. We provide a new set of plastic η-factors applicable to these non-standard bend geometries which serve to estimate the experimentally measured toughness values in terms of load-displacement records. Another purpose is to investigate the effects of geometry and loading mode in fracture tests using non-standard bend specimens. Fracture toughness testing conducted on various bend specimen geometries extracted from an A572 Grade 50 steel plate provides the cleavage fracture resistance data in terms of the J-integral at cleavage instability, Jc. The experimental results show a potential effect of specimen geometry and loading mode on Jc-values which can help mitigating the effects of constraint loss often observed in smaller fracture specimens. An exploratory application to determine the reference temperature, T0, derived from the Master Curve methodology also provides additional support for using non-standard bend specimens in routine fracture applications.

Cleavage Fracture Evaluation Using Local Approach for SA508 Carbon Steel at -60°C

2006 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
pp. 193-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon Suk Chang ◽  
T.R. Lee ◽  
Jae Boong Choi ◽  
Young Jin Kim ◽  
Bong Sang Lee
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Carbon Steel ◽  
Cleavage Fracture ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Local Approach ◽  
Integrity Assessment ◽  
Damage Models ◽  
Safety Margins

The scatter of measured fracture toughness data and transferability problems for specimens with different crack configurations and loading conditions are major obstacles for integrity assessment of ferritic steels in ductile-brittle transition region. To address these issues, recently, concerns for local approach adopting micro-mechanical damage models are being increased again in connection with a progress of computational technology. In this paper, cleavage fracture evaluation based on Weibull statistics was carried out for SA508 carbon steel. A series of three dimensional finite element analyses as well as corresponding fracture toughness tests were performed for 1T-CT and PCVN specimens at -60°C. Also, failure probability analyses for different configurations and sensitivity analyses for Weibull parameters were conducted. Thereby, promising results have been derived through comparison between measured and estimated fracture toughness data, which can be utilized to make the basis for demonstrating real safety margins of components containing defect.

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