An Investigation of the Influence of Residual Stresses and Heterogeneous Yielding on Brittle Fracture

摘要

The problem of brittle fracture at low stresses in mild steel was separated into three phases: (a) measurement of fracture toughness for initial crack extension from an artificial (fatigue) crack using concepts of linear elastic fracture mechanics, (b) measurement of fracture toughness for a running crack and for crack arrest, and (c) measurement of the reduction in fracture toughness for initial crack extension caused by one or a combination of embrittling factors including residual welding stresses, heat affected zone, compressive prestrain, hydrogen, irradiation and possibly certain atmospheres. (Author)