New experimental set-up to approach pipeline fracture behaviour by Three Point Bending Specimens

摘要

The work deals with the effective shape of the fracture during a Drop Weight Tear Testud(DWT). An inexpensive technique, able to determine the geometrical shape of the fracture,udis discussed and presented. The technique is capable to perform reliable measurements andudoffers a mathematical description of the fracture profile. In few words, the fracture tunnelingudmeasurement and its correlated effects are the objectives of this work. The technique isudbased on a copy of the fracture by a silicone mold, followed by a digital analysis of theudtomographic images. The attention is finally focused on two different steels used in inshoreudgas piping. The tunneling measurement is exploited in a finite element simulation of theudfracture propagation, thus opening the opportunity to update the kinematic modelsudapplied for Crack Tip Opening Angle assessment.