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Title: Dynamic finite element modeling of the effects of size on the upper shelf energy of ferritic steels

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/270443· OSTI ID:270443

Both the fusion and light water reactor program require the use of the subsize specimens to obtain sufficient irradiation data on neutron-induced embrittlement of ferritic steels. While the development of fusion-relevant size effects correlations can proceed analytically, it is more cost-effective at this time to use data currently being obtained on embrittlement of pressure vessel steels to test and expand the correlations developed earlier using fusion relevant steels. Dynamic finite elements modeling of the fracture behavior of fatigue-precracked Charpy Specimens was performed to determine the effect of single variable changes in ligament size, width, span, and thickness on the upper shelf energy. A method based on tensile fracture strain was used for modeling crack initiation and propagation. It was found that the upper shelf energy of precracked specimens (USE{sub p}) is proportional to b{sup n}, where b is ligament size and n varies from about 1.6 for subsize to 1.9 for full size specimens. The USE{sub p} was found to be proportional to width according to W{sup 25}. The dependence on thickness was found to be linear for all cases studied. Some of the data from the FEM analysis were compared with experimental data and were found to be in reasonable agreement.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI ID:
270443
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER-0313/19; ORNL/M-5023; ON: DE96010874; TRN: 96:016890
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Apr 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Fusion materials semiannual progress report for the period ending December 31, 1995; PB: 336 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English