THE EFFECT OF SEVERAL GEOMETRICAL VARIABLES ON THE NOTCH TENSILE STRENGTH OF 4340 STEEL SHEET HEAT TREATED TO THREE STRENGTH LEVELS

摘要

A systematic study was conducted to evaluate the effects of initial stress distribution and strength level on the notch tensile behavior of a typical high strength steel sheet alloy (SAE 4340) in the presence of stress concentrations.nThe initial stress distribution, characterized by the stress concentration factor (K) and the stress gradient at the root of a notch, was determined analytically from the notch geometry according to elastic theory. As part of the study, K was kept constant and the stress gradient allowed to vary for different notch depths and section widths.