SEDL / STP / STP1046V2-EB / STP49469S

Effect of Specimen Size on the Upper Shelf Energy of Ferritic Steels

Kumar, Arvind S.
University of Missouri—Rolla, Rolla, MO

Garner, Frank A.
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA

Hamilton, M. L.
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA

Pages: 9    Published: Jan 1990

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Abstract

A methodology is proposed that can be used to predict the upper shelf energy (USE) of ferritic steels based on subsize specimen data. The proposed methodology utilizes the partitioning of the USE into energies required for crack initiation and crack propagation. Notched-only Charpy specimens are used in conjunction with precracked specimens to separate the two components. An unirradiated ferritic steel, HT-9, was used to demonstrate the validity of the methodology. Unlike previous correlations that were limited in their applicability to either highly ductile or brittle material, the proposed methodology is expected to be applicable over a wide range of ductility and to be particularly useful for materials that harden significantly during irradiation.