Size Effects on Fracture in Uncontained Plasticity Conditions in 304(L) Stainless Steel

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Wasylyk ◽  
Andrew H. Sherry
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Plastic Zone ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Plastic Zone Size ◽  
Compact Tension ◽  
Specimen Size ◽  
Image Correlation ◽  
Local Approach ◽  
Integrity Assessment

In the structural integrity assessment of structures containing defects, ductile tearing and plastic collapse are treated as competing failure mechanisms. The validity of fracture toughness measurements in test specimens is limited by the development of plasticity ahead of the crack tip. Compact Tension (CT) specimens are commonly used to characterise the ductile fracture toughness. Three sizes of CT specimens (thickness 25, 15 and 10mm) were tested using the unloading compliance technique and the J-Resistance curve characterised. Concurrently, the development of the plastic zone was monitored on the surface of specimens using digital image correlation. This enabled the plastic zone size to be correlated with the evolution of crack growth. It was found that in all specimens no crack growth occurred prior to plastic yielding of the un-cracked ligament on the specimen surface. Furthermore, a reduction in initiation and tearing toughness was observed with reduction in specimen size. The Rice and Tracey local approach was developed to predict the specimen size effect.

Evolution of Plasticity in Relation to Ductile Tearing in 304(L) Stainless Steel

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Wasylyk ◽  
Andrew H. Sherry
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Plastic Zone ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Plastic Zone Size ◽  
Compact Tension ◽  
Image Correlation ◽  
Ductile Tearing ◽  
Integrity Assessment ◽  
Unloading Compliance

In the structural integrity assessment of structures containing defects, ductile tearing and plastic collapse are treated as competing failure mechanisms. The validity of fracture toughness measurements in test specimens is limited by the development of plasticity ahead of the crack tip. Compact Tension (CT) specimens are commonly used to characterise the ductile fracture toughness. Two sizes of CT specimens (thickness 25 and 15mm) were tested using the unloading compliance technique and the J-Resistance curve characterised. Concurrently, the development of the plastic zone was monitored on the surface of specimens using digital image correlation. This enabled the plastic zone size to be correlated with the evolution of crack growth. It was found that in both specimens no crack growth had occurred prior to plastic yielding of the un-cracked ligament on the specimen surface.

Constraint Effect On Fracture Behavior of Underclad Crack in Reactor Pressure Vessel

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Shimodaira ◽  
Tohru Tobita ◽  
Hisashi Takamizawa ◽  
Jinya Katsuyama ◽  
Satoshi Hanawa
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Surface Crack ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Compact Tension ◽  
Reactor Pressure Vessel ◽  
Local Approach ◽  
Integrity Assessment ◽  
Plastic Constraint ◽  
Reactor Pressure

Abstract According to JEAC4206-2016, in the structural integrity assessment of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV), the fracture toughness (KJc) should be higher than the stress intensity factor at the crack tip of a postulated underclad crack (UCC) near the inner surface of the RPV during a pressurized thermal shock event. Previous analytical studies show that the plastic constraint for UCC is lower than that for surface crack. Consequently, the apparent KJc for UCC is expected to be higher than that for surface crack. In this study, we performed three-point bending fracture toughness tests and finite element analyses (FEAs) for RPV steel containing a UCC or a surface crack to quantitatively investigate the effect of cladding on the plastic constraint and subsequent KJc evaluation. From the tests, we found that the apparent KJc for the UCC was considerably higher than that for the surface crack. Such a high KJc could be explained by the lower plastic constraint parameters, such as T-stress and Q-parameter, of the UCC compared with those for the surface crack. Additionally, local approach analysis showed that the KJc for the UCC was significantly higher than the master curve estimated from the fracture toughness tests using compact tension specimens.

scholarly journals Constraint Assessment for Cruciform Specimens With a Semi-Elliptical Crack

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yupeng Cao ◽  
Guian Qian ◽  
Yinbiao He ◽  
Yuh J. Chao
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Material Property ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Biaxial Loading ◽  
Compact Tension ◽  
Biaxial Stress ◽  
Integrity Assessment ◽  
Shallow Crack ◽  
Crack Tip Constraint

A real crack to be assessed in a RPV is generally a shallow crack subjected to biaxial far-field stresses. However, the fracture toughness Kc or Jc, which is an important material property for the structural integrity assessment of RPV containing cracks, are usually tested on deep cracked compact tension [C(T)] or single-edged bending [SE(B)] specimens under uniaxial loading. The fracture toughness data do not reflect the realistic biaxial loading state that the cracks are subjected to. Cruciform bending [CR(B)] specimen is therefore developed to simulate the biaxial stress state. In this paper, a series of finite element (FE) simulations of the CR(B) specimens containing different semi-elliptical cracks are conducted. Stress-strain curves of materials of different yield strength and hardening behavior reflecting the variation in the mechanical properties of RPV steels due to aging or temperature change are implemented into the finite element models. The J-A2 theory is applied to analyze the crack tip constraint. The results show that the biaxial effect is material property dependent and affected by load levels.

scholarly journals Constraint Assessment for Specimens Tested Under Uniaxial and Biaxial Loading Conditions

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yupeng Cao ◽  
Guian Qian ◽  
Yinbiao He ◽  
Markus Niffenegger ◽  
Yuh J. Chao
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Material Property ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Biaxial Loading ◽  
Compact Tension ◽  
Pressure Vessels ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Biaxial Stress ◽  
Operating Life ◽  
Integrity Assessment

In structural integrity analysis of reactor pressure vessels (RPVs), a postulated shallow crack is subjected to biaxial far-field stresses. However, the fracture toughness Kc or Jc, which is an important material property for the structural integrity assessment of RPVs, is usually obtained from testing deeply cracked compact tension (C(T)) or single-edged bending (SE(B)) specimens under uniaxial loading. Thus, the fracture toughness data do not reflect the biaxial loading state that cracks in a RPV are subjected to. Cruciform bending specimen was therefore developed to simulate the biaxial stress state. In this paper, a series of finite element (FE) simulations of the cruciform specimens containing different crack geometries and of different material properties are conducted. The crack tip stress fields are analyzed, and the constraint is investigated using the J–A2 theory. The results show that the biaxial effect is material property dependent which could be useful for the optimization of the test method and the better design of cruciform specimens. The trends about the biaxial loading effect revealed in this study would also be helpful in estimating the safe operating life of RPVs.

The Fracture Toughness of Hardened Tool Steels

1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Watt ◽  
Pamela Nadin ◽  
S. B. Biner
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Slow Crack Growth ◽  
Crack Opening ◽  
Compact Tension ◽  
Testing Procedure ◽  
Tool Steels ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Tempering Temperature ◽  
Toughness Testing

This report details the development of a three-stage fracture toughness testing procedure used to study the effect of tempering temperature on toughness in 01 tool steel. Modified compact tension specimens were used in which the fatigue precracking stage in the ASTM E-399 Procedure was replaced by stable precracking, followed by a slow crack growth. The specimen geometry has been designed to provide a region where slow crack growth can be achieved in brittle materials. Three parameters, load, crack opening displacement, and time have been monitored during the testing procedure and a combination of heat tinting and a compliance equation have been used to identify the position of the crack front. Significant KIC results have been obtained using a modified ASTM fracture toughness equation. An inverse relationship between KIC and hardness has been measured.

scholarly journals Inclusion of Warm Pre-Stress Concept in French RPV Structural Integrity Assessment

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Moinereau ◽  
Malik Ait-Bachir ◽  
Stéphane Chapuliot ◽  
Stéphane Marie ◽  
Clémentine Jacquemoud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brittle Fracture ◽  
Fracture Resistance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Stress Effect ◽  
Local Approach ◽  
Experimental Database ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Integrity Assessment ◽  
Brittle Fracture Resistance

Evaluation of the fracture resistance of nuclear reactor pressure vessel (RPV) regarding the risk of brittle fracture is a key point in the structural integrity assessment of the component (RPV). Such approach is codified in French RSE-M code, based on a very conservative methodology. With respect to long term operation, an improvement of the present methodology is necessary and in progress to reduce this conservatism. One possible significant improvement is the inclusion of the warm pre-stress (WPS) concept in the assessment. After a short description of the WPS concept, the process engaged in France to allow inclusion of WPS in the integrity assessment is presented. In a first step, experimental and numerical studies have been conducted in France by EDF, CEA and AREVA (also including international collaborations and projects) to demonstrate and validate the beneficial effect of WPS on the brittle fracture resistance of RPV steels. A large panel of experimental results and data is now available obtained on small, medium and large scale specimens on representative RPV steels (including highly irradiated RPV materials). These data have been included in a specific WPS experimental database. Main experiments have been interpreted by refined computations, based on elastic plastic analyses and local approach to cleavage fracture. In a second step, a new criterion (ACE criterion) has been proposed by French organizations (AREVA, CEA and EDF) for an easy simplified evaluation of warm pre-stress effect on the brittle fracture resistance of RPV steels. Accuracy and conservatism of the criterion is verified by comparison to experimental data results and numerical analyses. Finally, implementation of the WPS effect in the French RSE-M code (for in service assessment) is in progress, based on the ACE criterion. The present paper summarizes all these steps leading to codification of WPS in RSE-M code.

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