International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping 76 (1999) 663–670

Effects of loading rate and temperature on J–R fracture resistance of an

SA516-Gr.70 steel for nuclear piping
J.H. Yoon*, B.S. Lee, Y.J. Oh, J.H. Hong
Reactor Materials Department, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 150 Dukjin-Dong, Yusong, Taejon 305-353, South Korea
Received 26 December 1998; accepted 12 February 1999

Abstract
The effects of loading rate and temperature on the fracture resistance of an ASME SA516-Gr.70 steel for nuclear piping were investigated
through J–R tests conducted in the wide ranges of temperatures, including reactor operating temperature, and loading rates, including quasi-
dynamic rate. Tensile properties were also investigated in the temperature range of 100–3168C over a range of strain rates. The test results
indicated that the SA516-Gr.70 steel was very susceptible to dynamic strain aging (DSA). The fracture resistance showed a minimum in the
temperature range between 200 and 4008C, depending on loading rate. The temperature for minimum was moved to higher temperature as the
loading rates were increased. The minimum was discussed in the viewpoints of DSA that is manifested by elevated temperature tensile tests.
The crack tip strain rates of fracture specimens were also correlated with the strain rates of tensile tests to interpret the DSA effect. q 1999
Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: J–R fracture resistance; Loading rate; Dynamic strain aging (DSA); SA516-Gr.70 steel

1. Introduction
SA516-Gr.70 steel has been widely used in nuclear piping
systems. Although this type of material is known to have
relatively good fracture characteristics, the recent leak-
before-break (LBB) design concept requires additional
material parameters for detailed elastic–plastic fracture
mechanics analysis. The J–R fracture resistance of the
material under the reactor operating condition is one of
the most important parameters in applying the LBB design
concept to reactor coolant system piping [1,2]. For the
design of nuclear piping system, an adequate safety margin
should be demonstrated through fast loading tests regarding
seismic loading condition [2]. However, the systematic
evaluation for fracture resistance of SA516-Gr.70 steel at
various loading rates and temperatures are rare, while a
large database has been built mainly by the International
piping integrity research group (IPIRG) program for another
piping material, i.e. SA106 steel. In general, material prop-
erties of ferritic steels like SA516-Gr.70 change with the test
temperature and loading rate. This is regarded as dynamic
* Corresponding author. Tel.: 1 82-42-868-8554; fax: 1 82-42-868-
8346.
E-mail address: jhyoon4@nanum.kaeri.re.kr (J.H. Yoon)
0308-0161/99/$ - see front matter q 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0308-016 1(99)00033-2
strain aging (DSA) effect. It is well known that the DSA
phenomenon occurs under certain test temperature and
strain rate combined condition and is mostly revealed by
serrated flows in uniaxial stress–strain curves [3–6].
Under these specific conditions, the increase of strength
and decrease of ductility are easily detected. The fracture
resistance can also be significantly deteriorated by DSA
[7,8]. The previous researches about DSA in SA516-Gr.70
steel were concentrated in the serrated flow phenomenon in
tensile test. Although some researchers like Miglin et al. [7]
and Marengo et al. [9] reported the DSA effect on J–R
fracture resistance, their investigations were limited to J–R
tests under static loading condition.
The main purpose of the present study is to characterize
the effect of the loading rate on J–R fracture resistance of
SA516-Gr.70 steel in the reactor operating temperature
region. The other purpose is to identify the DSA effect as
a cause of deterioration of J–R fracture resistance. The latter
could be achieved by deriving an approximate equation for
the effective strain rate at the crack tip area of the fracture
mechanics specimen. To achieve these purposes, J–R frac-
ture resistance tests were conducted at various temperatures
and loading rates between quasi-static and seismic loading
rates. Uniaxial tensile tests were also carried out under
various temperature and strain rate conditions.
664 J.H. Yoon et al. / International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping 76 (1999) 663–670

2500

S A 5 1 6 -G r.7 0 s te e l (a )
2000 L o a d in g ra te : 0 .3 m m /m in
o o
100 C 177 C

J -In te g ra l, (k J /m )
2
o o
288 C 316 C
1500

1000

500

Fig. 1. Microstructure of test material (SA516-Gr. 70 steel). 0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

C ra c k E x te n s io n , ∆ a (m m )
2. Experimental
2500
2.1. Material and specimens
S A 5 1 6 -G r.7 0 s te e l (b )
2000 L o a d in g ra te : 1 0 m m /m in
The material used in the present study is a commercial o o
100 C 177 C
ASME SA516-Gr.70 steel plate for the elbow of PWR

J -In te g ra l, (k J /m )
2
o o
288 C 316 C
reactor coolant system piping. The plate of 86 mm thick- 1500
ness was normalized for 10 h at 910–9308C and post
weld heat treated for 30 h at 607–6358C after hot-rolling. 1000
The material had a typical ferrite–pearlite microstructure
after heat treatments as shown in Fig. 1. The chemical
500
composition and mechanical properties are summarized in
Table 1.
0
The specimens for J–R fracture tests were machined 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
as the standard 1T-C(T) (compact tension) specimens with
C ra c k E x te n s io n , ∆ a (m m )
L-T orientation that is of concern in the LBB analysis.
The configurations of the specimen conformed to recom-
2500
mendations of ASTM E 1820-96 [10]. The specimens
were side-grooved to a depth of 10% of the specimen S A 5 1 6 -G r.7 0 s te e l (c )
2000 L o a d in g ra te : 1 0 0 0 m m /m in
thickness on both sides after fatigue pre-cracking. The o o o
100 C 177 C 288 C
uniaxial tensile specimens were machined to a reduced
J -In te g ra l, (k J /m )
2

o o o
316 C 400 C 500 C
size. The gage length and diameter of the specimen were 1500
16.5 and 4 mm, respectively. All the specimens were
taken from the quarter thickness location of the plate in 1000
transverse direction to reduce the effect of the material
inhomogeneity.
500

2.2. Test methods

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Direct current potential drop (DCPD) method, that is
C ra c k E x te n s io n , ∆ a (m m )
applicable to the fast loading test, was used for calculating
crack length in the J–R fracture tests. The test temperatures Fig. 2. Variations of J–R curve with temperature at loading rates of (a) 0.3;
varied in the range between room temperature and 5008C in (b) 10; and (c) 1000 mm min 21.
the loading rate range of 0.3–1000 mm min 21. In J–R tests

Table 1
Chemical composition of SA516-Gr.70 steel studied

C Si Mn P S Cu N Ni Cr Mo Al V Nb

Wt.% 0.222 0.310 1.140 0.005 0.002 0.102 0.009 0.207 0.149 0.043 0.020 , 0.005 , 0.05
Spec. 0.28 max 0.13–0.45 0.79–1.30 0.035 max 0.04 max – – – – – – – –
 J.H. Yoon et al. / International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping 76 (1999) 663–670 665

1500

SA 516-G r.70
o
316 C
loading rate :
0.3 m m /m in
1000 10 m m /m in

J-Integral, (kJ/m )
2
100 m m /m in
1000 m m /m in

500

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
C rack Extension, ∆a (m m )

Fig. 3. Variations of J–R curve with loading rates at 3168C.

using the DCPD method, the magneto-elastic effect in
ferro-magnetic materials can interfere in calculating the
crack length from the DCPD signal in the case of
dynamic loading [11–14]. Therefore, the input current
was increased up to 100 A to minimize the magneto-elastic
effect. The tests were conducted on a servo-hydraulic
Material Test Systems (MTS) machine, and specimen
temperature was controlled within ^ 18C in environmental
chamber. The test frame was electrically insulated from
the external environment. The details were reported else-
where [15].
Tensile tests were performed at various temperatures
(100–3168C) and strain rates (2.5 × 10 25 –1.33 × 10 0s 21).
An analog X–Y recorder was used to identify the serrated
flows on the stress–strain curves in addition to a digital
instrument.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. J–R fracture properties
Variations of the J–R curves with test temperatures for
SA516-Gr.70 carbon steel at various loading rates ranging
from quasi-static (0.3 mm min 21) to quasi-dynamic
(1000 mm min 21) are shown in Fig. 2. The fracture resis-
tance of the tested material depended strongly on the test
temperature and loading rate. It could be deduced that
there existed a critical temperature at which the J–R
fracture resistance became a minimum at each loading
rate. The negative temperature sensitivity of J–R fracture
resistance changed into a positive one, centering about
the critical temperature. The fracture toughness dependence
on loading rates at 3168C, the normal operating temperature,

1600

Loading rate :
1400
(0.3m m /m in) (10m m /m in) (1000m m /m in)
1200

1000
J 0.1 (kJ/m )
2

800

600

400

200

0 100 200 300 400 500

o
Tem perature ( C )

Fig. 4. Variations of J values, corresponding to crack growth of 2.54 mm (0.1 in) on J–Da plots, with temperature and loading rate.
666 J.H. Yoon et al. / International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping 76 (1999) 663–670

1200
Loading rate :
0.3m m /m in 10m m /m in 1000m m /m in
1000

Tearing m odulus, T R
800

600

400

200

100 200 300 400 500

o
Tem perature ( C )

Fig. 5. Variations of tearing modulus with temperature and loading rate.

is shown in Fig. 3. The J–R fracture resistance was found to
be a minimum near a loading rate of 100 mm min 21 at
3168C.
J integral values named as J0.1 were obtained at D a ˆ
2.54 mm (0.1 inch) on the J–R curves to look through the
dependence of the fracture resistance on the temperature
and loading rate quantitatively as shown in Fig. 4. J0.1 can
give more reliable information about the fracture resistance
than JIC does in the analysis of a large component. As shown
in Fig. 4, minimum J0.1 values were 30–40% of those which
represented high fracture resistance under different condi-
tions. As the loading rate increased, the temperature at
which the fracture resistance became a minimum for each
loading rate shifted to the higher temperature region. Fig. 5
represents the variation of the tearing modulus (TR) as a
function of temperature at various loading rates. The tearing
modulus is a parameter, which shows the stability of crack
growth in a cracked body. TR is defined as …E=s2Y †…dJ=da†mat ,
where E is the Young’s modulus, s Y is the yield strength,
and (dJ/da)mat represents the average slope of a J–R curve
between 0.2 mm offset line and 1.5 mm exclusion line [16].
The trend in the variations of TR values with test conditions
was very similar to that of J0.1. On the basis of previous
research, the occurrence of abrupt drops in the J–R
fracture resistance and TR at a specific temperature and load-
ing rate range is presumably due to DSA in SA516-Gr.70
steel [7].

3.2. Fractography

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical micro-

Fig. 6. SEM fracture surfaces after J–R tests at 3168C at the loading rate of
(a) 0.3; and (b) 1000 mm min 21.
scope observations were carried out to examine macro frac-
ture behavior dependence on J–R test conditions. Fig. 6(a)
and (b) shows SEM photographs of fracture surfaces of J–R
tests at the loading rates of 0.3 and 1000 mm min 21 at
3168C. As mentioned previously, the fracture resistance at
the loading rate of 0.3 mm min 21 was much higher than that
at the loading rate of 1000 mm min 21 at 3168C. There were
some differences in the fracture surfaces of the two speci-
mens. A number of evenly distributed microvoids are
observed in Fig. 6(a), but they are hardly seen in Fig.
6(b). The fracture surface of Fig. 6(a) shows a mixed struc-
ture of large and small dimples. On the contrary, Fig. 6(b)
 J.H. Yoon et al. / International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping 76 (1999) 663–670
Fig. 7. Cross-sections of fracture surfaces after J–R test at the loading rate
of (a) 0.3; and (b) 1000 mm min 21 at 3168C.
shows the flatter fracture surface and larger dimples
compared with Fig. 6(a). Fig. 7(a) and (b) are the optical
microscope photographs of the normal planes to fracture
surfaces of specimens tested at the above two loading
rates at 3168C. It is observed that grains under the fracture
surface are elongated along a direction in Fig. 7(a). Further,
the fracture surface in Fig. 7(a) is rougher than when
compared with that of Fig. 7(b). Conclusively, the large
plastic deformation took place during the test at the loading
rate of 0.3 mm min 21 (high fracture resistance), but the
deformation was ultimately limited in the case of the load-
ing rate of 1000 mm min 21 (low fracture resistance). Gener-
ally, it is known that DSA accompanies an ultimate
limitation of plastic deformation during crack propagation.
Hence, it is deduced that the abrupt drop in fracture resis-
tance in specific combinations of test temperature and load-
ing rate is due to DSA.
667
3.3. DSA in SA516-Gr.70 steel verified by tensile tests
DSA phenomena are usually recognized by serrated flows
in the tensile stress–strain curve that is referred to as the
Portevin–Le Chatelier effect [17]. Figs. 8 and 9 show a
series of the tensile test results for SA516-Gr.70 steel.
Serrated flows were obviously observed in some test condi-
tions. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the maximum tensile
strength was obtained near the disappearance of the serrated
flow. This fact coincides with the test results of previous
research for SA106 steel by Kim and Kim [18]. The condi-
tions for the occurrence of serrated flows were expressed as
a serration map in Fig. 10. As DSA is regarded as a ther-
mally activated process [19,20], the activation energy of
solute diffusion in SA516-Gr.70 steel can be obtained
from the Arrhenius-type plot. The activation energies
were determined as 65 and 111 kJ/mol for the onset and
disappearance of serration, respectively as represented in
Fig. 10. These values fall in the range of published data
about the activation energies for the diffusion of carbon
and nitrogen in steel [3].
From tensile test results, it can be deduced that the dete-
rioration of J–R fracture resistance is due to DSA, but there
has been no clear relationship between J–R test results and
tensile test results. This fact is due to the difficulty in
describing the local plastic flow in the crack tip process
zone of J–R test specimens. As DSA depends on the strain
rate, and also on the temperature, the local strain rate at the
crack tip region should be defined to explain the fracture
properties quantitatively. Unfortunately, there has been no
eminent result that quantified the local strain rate at the
crack tip in the case of large plastic deformation. This
must be due to the fact that there is no general rule to define
the crack tip process region. The limited numerical results
also strongly depend on the choice of the reference distance
from the crack tip. In this study, the effective strain rate at
the crack tip region of J–R test specimen was approximately
estimated by the following equation in the case of large
deformation. Detailed derivation is summarized in the
Appendix.
D_ L
1_ eff ˆ …1:455†n …1†
ah3 …a=W; n†
The loading rates of J–R tests were converted to the
effective strain rate calculated by Eq. (1). The J–R test
conditions at which J–R fracture toughness becomes a mini-
mum are marked in Fig. 10. It is noticeable that the mini-
mum toughness line is located on the serration disappearing
line. The fact is almost identical to that in which the tensile
strength appeared as a maximum also at this location. This
implies that Eq. (1) can represent the effective strain rate at
the crack tip region where the local plastic deformation is
defined. Conclusively, it could be possible to correlate J–R
test results and tensile test results in observation of DSA
phenomenon.
668 J.H. Yoon et al. / International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping 76 (1999) 663–670

Fig. 8. Stress–strain curves at various strain rates at 1778C.

4. Summary and conclusion rate conditions, it can be concluded that the deterioration
of SA516-Gr.70 is caused by DSA.
4. A simple approximate equation was derived for the effec-
tive strain rate at the crack tip deformation region of CT
1. The J–R fracture toughness of SA516-Gr.70 carbon
type specimens. The derived equation was adequate in
steel is significantly influenced by the loading rate
explaining the deformation behaviors at the crack tip
in the operating temperature range of PWR. Par-
region. Hence, it was possible to correlate the J–R test
ticularly, at the normal operating temperature (3168C),
results and tensile test results in investigating the DSA
the fracture resistance is reduced dramatically at the
phenomenon.
quasi-dynamic loading rate that corresponds to the seis-
mic effect.
2. For a given loading rate, the negative temperature sensi-
tivity of J–R fracture resistance changes into a positive Acknowledgements
one, centered about the critical temperature.
3. Through the fractography of J–R test specimens and This work has been carried out as a part of Reactor Pres-
tensile tests, that showed the serrated flows at the sure Boundary Materials Project under the Nuclear R&D
specific combinations of test temperature and strain Program by MOST in Korea.

700
SA516-G r.70 steel

ε=8.3x10 s
-2 -1
600

500
Stress (M Pa)

400

300

o o o o
177 C 230 C 288 C 316 C

200

Strain

Fig. 9. Stress–strain curves at various temperature at the strain rate of 8.3 × 10 22 s 21.
 J.H. Yoon et al. / International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping 76 (1999) 663–670 669

as the follows
 n
1 s s
ˆ 1a ; …A:3†
10 s0 s0
where P0 is the limit load per unit thickness and is given by
P0 ˆ 1:455bbs0 for plane strain …A:4†
where b is defined as in Ref. [22] as
q
b ˆ …2a=b†2 1 2…2a=b† 1 2 2 …2a=b 1 1†: …A:5†
Limit load analysis for CT specimens under gross yield-
ing conditions were used in this study [22]. If the original
analysis by Merkle and Corten is extended to the isotropic
strain hardening material, it becomes as shown in Fig. 11. In
Fig. 11, the net tensile stress region exists for an equilibrium
with the applied tensile load. The tensile stress in this region
Fig. 10. Serration map which shows serrated flow region and relationship increases with the applied load, i.e. with the load-line
between deterioration of J–R property and DSA. displacement. If we assume the b -value to be the same as
that of perfect plastic material, the strain rate near the crack
Appendix A. An approximate solution for the strain rate tip can be calculated by the following equations:
near the crack tip of CT specimens
P ˆ sb
 b;
Several attempts have been made to derive the relation-  n  n
ship between the local strain rate at a crack tip and the crack 1 s P
ˆa ˆa
tip opening displacement rate (or the applied loading rate). 10 s0 s0 bb
However, many difficulties are faced in defining the local
region for determining the effective strain value as the local DL
1_ ˆ …1:455†n for plane strain: …A:6†
strain rate very much depends on the position at the crack ah3 …a=W; n†
tip. Here, the authors derive a simple approximate value for For typical values of this material, n ˆ 5, a=W ˆ 0:6, and
the local effective strain rate at the crack tip region, which is h3 ˆ 1:852. This produces the effective strain rate at the
based on the analysis method of a fracture mechanics hand- crack tip to be about 2.0 × 10 23 s 21 when the load-line
book. displacement rate is 1 mm min 21. The estimated strain
For a Ramberg–Osgood hardening material, the fully rates are only about a quarter to a half of the values given
plastic solutions for the CT specimen are given by Kumar, by Kußmaul et al. [23] from a detailed dynamic finite
German and Shih as flowing equation [21]. element method (FEM) analysis. However, the difference
J ˆ as0 10 bh1 …a=W; n†…P=P0 †n11 …A:1† may be small compared with the uncertainty of estimation
of the crack tip strain rate [24]. Note that the estimated strain
DL ˆ a10 ah3 …a=W; n†…P=P0 †n ; …A:2† rate depends on the hardening exponent as well as the crack
length.
where P is the applied load per unit thickness, a, the crack
length, W, the specimen width and b, the uncracked liga-
ment. a and n are the Rambergood–Osgood coefficients,
where the uniaxial stress–strain relationship is described References

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