SEDL / STP / STP856-EB / STP34536S

The Unloading Compliance Method for Crack Length Measurement Using Compact Tension and Precracked Charpy Specimens

Neale, BK
Research officers, Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories, Berkeley, GloucestershireGL

Priest, RH
Research officers, Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories, Berkeley, GloucestershireGL

Pages: 19    Published: Jan 1985

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Abstract

The unloading compliance method has been used to measure crack lengths during the fracture toughness testing of an A508 Class II (Unified Numbering System [UNS] K12766) steel. It is shown that accurate crack length predictions (within ±4%) can be achieved by accounting for the extraneous compliance inherent in the testing fixture. Both precracked Charpy and 25-mm compact tension specimens have been tested over the temperature range − 150 to 300°C. From a comparison of the data, an assessment of the capability of precracked Charpy specimens to measure the fracture toughness of pressurized water reactor (PWR) steels is made.