SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1990
STP18996S

Effect of Biaxial Loading on A533B in Ductile-Brittle Transition

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A series of large-scale wide plate tests have been carried out on the nuclear reactor pressure vessel steel A533B to investigate the effect of biaxial loading on fracture performance at temperatures towards the lower shelf of the ductile-brittle transition. These tests have been conducted using a purpose built test rig in which a cruciform specimen is loaded so that a central region (approximately 500 mm2) experienced uniform (equibiaxial) stressing. These tests are compared to the behavior of wide plates under uniaxial loading. Small-scale three-point-bend tests have also been performed to aid the interpretation of the large-scale test results. This paper describes the experimental method and draws the following conclusions from the test results: 1. Failure conditions toward the lower shelf of toughness for equibiaxial and uniaxial loadings may be safely predicted from full thickness three-point-bend specimens. 2. The stress intensity factor (Kc) at failure would appear to be lower under equibiaxial than under uniaxial conditions. In addition, much greater plasticity (as measured by CTOD and stretch zone width) occurs in the uniaxial case. 3. Under equibiaxial conditions, preloading at + 70°C to loads at K levels which could cause final fracture at -130°C would appear to have no significant effect on the fracture performance at the low temperature.

Author Information

Garwood, SJ
The Welding Institute, Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Davey, TG
The Welding Institute, Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Wong, YC
Central Electricity Generating Board, Gloucester, United Kingdom
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Details
Developed by Committee: E08
Pages: 195–214
DOI: 10.1520/STP18996S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5134-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1299-5