Reversing the Chell Model to Predict Using Monte Carlo Simulations the Original Fracture Toughness of Ferritic Steels

Author(s):  
Derreck Van Gelderen ◽  
Julian Booker

Warm pre-stress (WPS) is the process of subjecting a pre-cracked component to a load cycle at a temperature higher than subsequent operating temperatures. This process is widely acknowledged as being able to enhance the load to fracture, especially in ferritic steels which exhibit lower shelf cleavage fracture. Various models exist to predict this type of enhancement, with the Chell model being one of the most widely used within industry. Previous research conducted by Van Gelderen et al. have reformulated the Chell model to create a method of undertaking Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) to study the effect of WPS on brittle fracture. Following on from this research, the Chell model could effectively be reversed providing a means of predicting the underlying fracture toughness from experimental WPS data. It also offers the possibility of assessing whether or not a specific specimen has indeed seen an enhancement, solely based on its experimental apparent toughness post WPS. The reverse Chell model was applied to different experimental data and provided reasonable estimates of the original fracture toughness. In the same way that the traditional Chell model offers conservative estimates, the reverse Chell model also provides “reverse conservative” estimates of the original fracture toughness. It was also used to provide confidence that a typical fatigue pre-cracking procedure performed according to ASTM standard E399 would not be sufficient to induce a WPS benefit on the specimens. This type of check can be of particularly interest when manufacturing small scale specimens (small scale Single Edge Notch Bend (SENB) or miniature sized Compact Tension C(T) specimens); a practice often favoured by industry to maximise the number of tests possible.

Author(s):  
Derreck van Gelderen ◽  
Dana Lauerova ◽  
Miroslav Posta ◽  
Vladislav Pistora ◽  
Julian Booker ◽  
...  

Warm prestressing is widely acknowledged as being able to enhance material toughness, especially in steels that exhibit lower shelf cleavage fracture. The enhancement in toughness has a significant impact on the integrity of pressure vessels, particularly during severe loading conditions, such as pressurised thermal shock. In this paper, we undertake detailed statistical analyses of experimental data provided via a comprehensive programme of fracture tests at UJV (Ústav jaderného výzkumu Řež a.s.). A warm prestressing model, developed by Chell, is used to predict the change in toughness probabilistically, using Monte-Carlo methods to predict the distribution in toughness following different warm prestressing cycles. The results obtained from this model are also compared to predictions made by the Wallin approach. Experimental data was generated, at UJV for WWER 440 RPV steel, using small single-edge-notched bend SEN(B) specimens (or pre-cracked Charpy) across a range of different fracture temperatures, warm pre-stress temperatures, and levels of preload, in both as-received and irradiated conditions. In this paper, experimental data obtained only from tests on unirradiated specimens were statistically treated. A three parameter Weibull distribution was used to map the scatter observed in the virgin toughness. The statistical significance of increase in apparent fracture toughness due to warm prestressing was evaluated using the Mann-Whitney test. It was further shown by Monte-Carlo simulations that the Chell and Wallin models provide slightly conservative predictions of the resulting fracture toughness. Both, the experimentally measured and predicted values of the resulting fracture toughness, depend on the specific tests conditions, especially on the level of preload.


Author(s):  
Henryk G. Pisarski ◽  
Colin M. Wignall

The relationship between fracture toughness estimated using standard single edge notch bend (SENB), single edge notch tension (SENT) test specimens and fracture toughness associated with a circumferential flaw in a pipe girth weld is explored in terms of constraint using the Q parameter. It is shown that in the elastic-plastic regime, use of standard deeply notched SENB specimens provides a conservative assessment of fracture toughness, for both weld metal and HAZ, because of the high constraint associated with this specimen geometry. Use of specimen geometries and loading modes associated with lower constraint (e.g. SENT and shallowed notched SENB specimens), allow for improved estimates of fracture toughness to be made that are appropriate for the assessment of circumferential flaws in pipe girth welds. Recommendations are given on the specimen designs and notch orientations to be employed when evaluating weld metal and HAZ fracture toughness.


1977 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
M P Harper ◽  
E G Ellison

The applicability of the C∗ parameter for the prediction of creep crack propagation rates is considered. A new method for estimating C∗ is presented, the results from which show good agreement with those from an existing technique. Experimental results from creep crack growth tests, conducted on a 1 Cr Mo V steel using both compact tension and single edge notch bend specimens, indicate that good correlation with C∗ is obtained once the effects of stress redistribution become negligible. Finally, comparisons are drawn between C∗ and other possible correlating parameters, and the limitations of each approach are discussed.


Author(s):  
Anthony J. Horn ◽  
Peter J. Budden

Structural integrity assessment codes such as R6 and BS7910 provide guidance on the assessment of flaws that are assumed to be infinitely sharp. In many cases, such as fatigue cracks, this assumption is appropriate, however it can be pessimistic for flaws that do not have sharp tips such as lack of fusion, porosity or mechanical damage. Several methods have been proposed in the literature to quantify the additional margins that may be present for non-sharp defects compared to the margins that would be calculated if the defect were assumed to be a sharp crack. A common feature of these methods is the need to understand how the effective toughness, characterised using the J-integral for a notch, varies with notch acuity. No comprehensive guidance currently exists for obtaining J experimentally from specimens containing notches, hence the typical approach is to use equations intended for pre-cracked specimens to calculate J for notched specimens. This paper presents a comprehensive set of test guidance for calculating J from Single Edge Notch Bend (SENB) fracture toughness specimens containing notches instead of fatigue pre-cracks. This has been achieved using 3D Finite Element Analyses to quantify the accuracy of formulae intended for pre-cracked specimens in fracture toughness testing standards ASTM E1820, BS7448-1 and ESIS P2-92 when applied to specimens containing notches. The paper quantifies the accuracy of these equations for notched SENB specimens and identifies the conditions under which the equations can lead to inaccurate measurement of J for notched specimens.


Author(s):  
Ba˚rd Nyhus ◽  
Mario Loria Polanco ◽  
Oddvin O̸rjasæther

During installation operations offshore pipes are often strained beyond yielding. Due to the high loading condition and the high costs of these operations it is important with accurate defect assessment analysis to avoid delays caused by unnecessary repairs or failure because of flaws that should have been detected and repaired. There is therefore a need for an accurate assessment procedure that can be a tool for defect assessment analysis for this application. It is commonly accepted that the fracture toughness is dependent on the geometry constraint at the crack tip. The traditional single edge notch bend (SENB) specimens have a high geometry constraint, and give lower bound fracture toughness for all geometries. For reeling operations these fracture toughness values are often too low to be used in defect assessment of reeling operations. The same is the assumption of plastic collapse when the net section stress is equal to the average between the yield strength and tensile strength. In this paper, the single edge notch tension specimen (SENT) is presented as an alternative fracture mechanics specimen. This specimen has a geometry constraint that is much closer to flaws in pipes than SENB specimens, which will give more realistic fracture properties of the pipe. In the procedure for defect assessments we present, both the fracture toughness and plastic collapse properties are taken from testing of SENT specimens. FE simulations and full scale testing verify the procedure.


Author(s):  
Geena K. Rait ◽  
Catrin M. Davies ◽  
Stephen J. Garwood

Current requirements for assessing the fracture toughness of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) ferritic steels are potentially overly conservative due to the employment of high constraint geometries such as compact tension (C(T)) or single edge notch bend, SEN(B), specimens for material testing. These high constraint conditions are not representative of the actual conditions experienced by the RPV in service. If this conservatism could be reduced, more appropriate predictions for RPV lifetime extension could become a possibility. In this study, a known low constraint geometry, single edge notch tension, SEN(T), has been tested alongside the higher constraint SEN(B) specimen in order to compare measured T0 and fracture toughness values for both cases. Finite element analyses have also been conducted for both geometries in order to measure T-stress and calculate Q values thereby allowing quantification of the level of constraint for both geometries. Eight SEN(B) and eight SEN(T) specimens were tested with dimensions 24 × 254 × 96 mm and 20 × 20 × 200 mm, respectively. Testing was conducted at sub-zero temperatures, as close to the T0 as possible, in accordance with the guidelines presented in ASTM E1921-17a. Contrary to expected behaviour the SEN(T) specimen indicated a higher (less negative) T0 then the SEN(B) specimen. The reason for these results are explored in this paper.


2016 ◽  
Vol 869 ◽  
pp. 46-51
Author(s):  
Daniel Alessander Nono ◽  
Eron Fernandes da Silva ◽  
Maria do Carmo de Andrade Nono ◽  
Francisco Piorino Neto ◽  
Sergio Luiz Mineiro

The fracture toughness is one of the requirements for mechanical properties of materials for use in satellites. The ceramic TZP zirconia (tetragonal zirconia polycrystals) have been investigated for applications in ballistic armor. Due to the chemical inertness and fracture toughness, this material has the potential to act as a screen against impacts of micrometeorites and space debris. The ceramic composites of alumina-zirconia 3Y-TZP (tetragonal zirconia polycrystals doped with 3 mol% ytria ) are the materials with the best benefit / cost for this application. This paper presents and discusses the results obtained from the use of two techniques for determining fracture toughness. The composite alumina - 18.5% of 3Y-TZP zirconia nanoparticles obtained from deflocculated powders have been tested for Vickers and the SEVNB penetration method (Single-Edge-Notch Beam V) to obtain the fracture toughness values (KIC). The KIC values obtained were analyzed due to the lower dispersion of experimental values. The SEVNB method showed better reliability in determining the toughness values in the studied ceramics.


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