DUCTILE FAILURE

TWI Training & Examinations

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Course in Welding Engineering
(EWE/IWE diploma)

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March 22,©2023 , TWI Ltd World Centre for Materials Joining Technology
 Ductile failure
Appear when yielding and deformation
precedes failure

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March 22,©2023 , TWI Ltd World Centre for Materials Joining Technology
 Ductile fracture features
• it is the result of overloading
• evidence of gross yielding or plastic deformation
• the fracture surface is rough and torn where there
is considerable ductility and shear (“cone-cup”)
• the fracture surface is very smooth and crystalline
in materials of low ductility (e.g. cast iron); final
fracture will be more in the plane normal to the
stress
• the surface shows 45° shear lips or have surfaces
inclined at 45° to the load direction (because
maximum shear plane is at 45° to the load!)
• the final failure is in shear rather than in tension
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March 22,©2023 , TWI Ltd World Centre for Materials Joining Technology
 Factors affecting ductile fracture

• the size and shape of item: the longer the

item, the greater will be the deformation prior
to fracture
• ambient temperature: YS decrease as the
temperature increase
• strain rate: if strain rate increase, deformation
prior to fracture decrease
• microstructure: fine grain structure decrease
deformation prior to fracture
• surface conditions: presence/absence of stress
raisers

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March 22,©2023 , TWI Ltd World Centre for Materials Joining Technology
 Stress distribution
Stress flow spread through entire CSA
Changes in geometry lead to stress concentrations

Change
Plain section Circular hole Notch
in section
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March 22,©2023 , TWI Ltd World Centre for Materials Joining Technology
 Stress flow in welded joints
A
F F

σ = F/A

A
F

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March 22,©2023 , TWI Ltd World Centre for Materials Joining Technology
 Effect of defects on stress flow
Partial
A penetration
weld
F

Practical implications:
•Defects transverse to the load are much more Full
critical than those parallel to the load penetration
•Sharp notch defects are much more critical than weld
round shape defects
•Full penetration welds more advantageous than
partial penetration ones
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March 22,©2023 , TWI Ltd World Centre for Materials Joining Technology