Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007

Brittle fracture and impact tests

Brittle fracture and impact tests
Subjects of interest
Objective
The brittle-fracture problem
Notch-bar impact tests
Ductile to metal transition temperature curve
Metallurgical factors affecting transition temperature.
Drop-weight test and other large scale tests
Embrittlement in metals
Chapter 12
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Objectives
Objectives
This chapter provides an understanding of
characteristics and causes of brittle fracture and
factors affecting brittle fracture will be indicated.
The awareness of brittle fracture under service
conditions will be made by the use of ductile to brittle
transition temperature curve.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
The brittle
The brittle
-
-
fracture problems
fracture problems
Failure of Liberty Ships during services in
World War II.
Three basic factors contribute
to a brittle cleavage fracture.
1) Triaxial state of stress
2) Low temperature
3) High strain rate
Impact test
To determine the susceptibility
of materials to brittle behaviour.
The cause of failure was due to crack
initiated from defects in the welded area
and subjected to subzero temperature.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2006
Notch bar impact test
Notch bar impact test
Notched bar test specimens are used in different sizes and
designs.
The Charpy impact specimen is the most widely used.
The parameter (energy absorption) obtained are not readily
expressed in terms of stress level, so it is difficult for design.
Can use the test result to indicate how brittle the materials are.
Method of loading in Charpy V notch
and Izod tests.
The specimen is
hit by a pendulum
until fracture.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
The Charpy impact test
The Charpy impact test
The Charpy test measures the total energy absorbed
during specimen fracture.
The standard Charpy specimen is hit by a
pendulum at the opposite side of the notch
and the energy required to break open is
measured.
Standard specimen size is 10x10x55 mm
3
with a V notch of 2 mm deep, 45
o
angle and
0.25 mm root radius.
Charpy impact test diagram
Charpy V Notch Geometry
2 mm
45
o
Notch root radius of 0.25 mm
Absorbed energy Impact toughness
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Ductile to brittle transition
Ductile to brittle transition
temperature curve
temperature curve
DBTT curve
The absorbed energy (Joule) is plotted against
testing temperature, giving a ductile to brittle transition
temperature curve (DBTT curve).
The curve represents a change in fracture behaviour
from ductile at high temperature to brittle at lower
temperature.
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2006
Upper shelf
Lower shelf
Transition mixed mode
Upper shelf
Lower shelf
Transition
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Fracture surfaces of tested specimens
Fracture surfaces of tested specimens
Upper shelf
Lower shelf
Transition
mixed mode
Mixed mode of brittle and ductile
failures
Microvoid coalescence in ductile
failure
Brittle fracture
Shear lip
Cleavage facets
Cleavage facets
Ductile tearing
Microvoids
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Transition temperature
Transition temperature
Various criteria of transition temperature
obtained from Charpy test
Different criteria are used to determine
the transition temperature, depending
on the purpose of the application.
Note: FTP is fracture transition plastic
1) T
1
transition temp is the
Temp at which fracture is
100% ductile (fibrous).
2) T
2
transition temp is the
Temp at which fracture is
50% cleavage and 50%
ductile.
3) T
3
transition temp is the
Temp at the average energy
absorption of upper and
lower shelves.
4) T
4
transition temp is the
Temp defined at C
v
= 20J.
5) T
5
transition temp is the
Temp at which fracture is
100% cleavage.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Metallurgical factors affecting
Metallurgical factors affecting
DBTT curves
DBTT curves
Crystal structure
Interstitial atom
Grain size
Heat treatment
Specimen orientation
Specimen thickness
The shape and position of the DBTT curve is important
because it determines the transition temperature, which
indicates where it is safe to use for the required application.
There are several factors affecting the DBTT curve.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Effect of crystal structure
Effect of crystal structure
Relationship between energy absorption
and test temperature
Only BCC structure materials experience ductile to brittle transition
temperature. be careful to select the service temperature.
This is due to limited active slip systems operating at low
temperature. very low plastic deformation.
Increasing temperature allows
more slip systems to operate
more plastic deformation.
FCC and HCP metals do not
experience ductile to brittle
transition, therefore they give the
same energy absorption at any
temperatures.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Effect of interstitial atom
Effect of interstitial atom
Effects of carbon content on DBTT
curves for steel
Carbon and manganese contents have been observed to
change the DBTT curve.
Carbon
content
Smoother curve
Higher Transition temp
Ex: in steel
Mn: C ratio should be at least
3:1 to satisfy notch toughness.
P, Si, Mo, O raise the transition
temperature while Ni is beneficial
to notch toughness.
Become ductile at
higher temperature
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Effect of grain size
Effect of grain size
Grain size has a strong effect on transition temperature.
Grain size Transition temperature
A
b
s
o
r
b
e
d

e
n
e
r
g
y
,

J
Temperature
Small grain size
Large grain size
T
3
T
3
Reducing grain size shifts the DBTT curve to the left has a
wider range of service temperatures.
Heat treatments that provide grain refinement such as air
cooling, recrystallisation during hot working help to lower
transition temperature.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Effect of heat treatment
Effect of heat treatment
DBTT curves of different alloy steel, having tempered
martensitic structure
Tempered martensitic
structure steel produces the
best combination of strength
and impact toughness.
Tempering temperature
Energy absorption
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Effect of specimen orientation
Effect of specimen orientation
Effect of specimen orientation on DBTT curve
For impact test, anisotropic properties are also observed in
rolled or forged products, giving different energy absorption
according to specimen orientations.
Longitudinal (B) shows the
best energy absorption because
the crack propagation is across
the fibre alignment.
Transverse (C) gives the worst
energy absorption because the
crack propagates parallel to the
rolling direction.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Effect of specimen thickness
Effect of specimen thickness
Larger specimen size (in-service components) provides higher
constraint more brittle.
If large size specimens are
used, the transition
temperature will increase.
Effect of section thickness on
transition temperature
Large scale tests
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Drop
Drop
-
-
weight test and other
weight test and other
large scale tests
large scale tests
1) Explosion-crack starter test
2) Drop-weight test (DWT)
3) Dynamic-tear test (DT)
4) Robertson crack-arrest test
Several techniques have been developed to test
specimens with different sizes to suit the applications.
The specimen thickness is at least 25 mm.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Explosion crack starter test
Explosion crack starter test
The plate was placed over a circular die and dynamically
loaded with an explosive charge.
The brittle weld bead introduces a small natural crack in
the test plate.
The test is carried out over a temperature range, giving
different fracture appearance.
NDT nil ductility temperature
FTE Fracture transition elastic
FTP Fracture transition plastic
Fracture appearance vs temperature
Plate dimensions : 350x350x25 mm
3
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Drop weight test Drop weight test
Dynamic tear test
Robertson crack-
arrest test.
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Embrittlement in metals
Embrittlement in metals
Delayed fracture curve
Temper embrittlement
Hydrogen embrittlement
Stress corrosion cracking
Liquid metal embrittlement
Neutron embrittlement
Tapany Udomphol
Suranaree University of Technology May-Aug 2007
Reference
Reference
Dieter, G.E., Mechanical metallurgy, 1988, SI metric edition,
McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-100406-8.
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