Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Calculating the tearing resistance of ductile steels: Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6238978
This work was motivated by the results of fracture mechanics analysis for the low upper shelf (A-11) reactor vessel issue. The analysis indicated a need for J-resistance curve that includes crack extensions from about 0.5 to 1.0 inch. Specimens from reactor vessel surveillance capsules will not provide the needed crack extension. Therefore, there is a need for a reliable method that can be used to extrapolate small specimen J-resistance curve for evaluation of large components. This report focuses on the development of accurate J solution, assesses the impact of approximations on the current method, and proposes a criterion for extrapolating the J-resistance curve. This report presents new J-integral solutions for the compact tension (C(T)) and three-point bend bar (SE(B)) specimens. The solutions cover a wide range of crack lengths, allowing analysis for crack lengths greater than 20 percent of the specimen width. These solutions are useful for generating accurate J-resistance curves. Solutions for both the J/sub d/ and J/sub M/ are derived. The digitized form of the J/sub d/ and J/sub M/ solutions suitable for implementing into a computer code are presented in an Appendix. 20 refs., 19 figs., 7 tabs.
Research Organization:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); NOVETECH Corp., Rockville, MD (USA)
OSTI ID:
6238978
Report Number(s):
EPRI-NP-6310
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English