Fracture Toughness characterization

According to ASTM E1820-15a and ASTM E647-15

Marco Andr
es Mera P
erez

Test Plan

Ikerlan
30/04/2017
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Contents
1 Overview 2
1.1 Definition and Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 Specimen design 2
2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

3 Apparatus and Sensorization 4

3.1 Displacement Gages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.2 Force Transducers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.3 System Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

4 Fatigue Pre-cracking 6
4.1 Specimen Pre-cracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.2 Fatigue crack starter notch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.3 Fatigue crack size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.4 Fatigue Loading Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.5 Fatigue Precracking Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

5 Procedure 7
5.1 Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5.2 System and specimen preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5.2.1 Specimen Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5.2.2 Specimen Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.3 Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.3.1 Compact Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.4 Basic Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.5 Optical crack size measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
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1 Overview
1.1 Definition and Purpose
1. This test plan details the procedure for fracture toughness characterization employing metallic
materials according to the combination of standards ASTM E1820-15a and ASTM E647-15.

2. This test method covers procedures and guidelines for the determination of fracture toughness of
metallic materials using the following parameters: K for linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM),
and, J and CTOD() for elastoplastic fracture mechanics (EPFM). For this test plan, toughness
can be measured as a point value. The fracture toughness determined in accordance with this test
method is for the opening mode (Mode I) of loading.

2 Specimen design
2.1 Introduction
1. ASTM E1820-15a proposes three different configurations of specimens: single edge bend, [SE(B)],
compact, [C(T)], and disk-shaped compact, [DC(T)]. All specimens contain notches that are sharpened
with fatigue cracks.

2. The specimen used for the test is the compact specimen which is related with the standard ASTM
E647-15 for fatigue crack growth rates. This is because crack propagation and fracture toughness
will be characterized with two consecutive tests in the same specimen. First, one with the standard
ASTM E647-15 for crack propagation, and one with ASTM E1820-15a for fracture toughness.

3. The specific specimen for ASTM E1820-15a is shown in Fig. 1. However, as two tests will be
applied in the specimen, the geometry for testing crack propagation according to ASTM E647-15
is shown in Fig. 2.

4. ASTM E647-15 and ASTM E1820-15a standards suggest a similar geometry; however, there are
some differences between them which are detailed next.

The specimen thickness for both standards are different; yet, both standards specify thickness
in the range of 2W/B 4, so it is possible to use just one thickness for both tests.
The design of the notch in ASTM E1820-15a is wider than the notch in ASTM-E647-15.
Nevertheless, as two different tests want to be applied in the same specimen, the specimen
of ASTM-E647-15 will be used because it also covers the standard ASTM E-399-12 for linear
elastic fracture mechanics.
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Figure 1: Specimen dimensions according to ASTM E1820-15a.

Figure 2: Specimen dimensions according to ASTM E647-15.

5. After having taken into account both standards, the final dimensions for the specimens are shown
in fig. 3.
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Figure 3: Final specimen dimensions.

3 Apparatus and Sensorization

Apparatus is required for measurement of applied force, load-line displacement, and crack-mouth opening
displacement. Force versus load-line displacement and force versus crack-mouth opening displacement
may be recorded digitally for processing.

3.1 Displacement Gages

1. Displacement measurements are needed for the following purposes: to evaluate J from the area
under the force versus load-line displacement record, CTOD from the force versus crack-mouth
opening displacement record and, for the elastic compliance method, to infer crack extension.

2. The clip gage, which attaches to the mouth of the crack, consists of four resistance-strain gages
bonded to a pair of cantilever beams. Deflection of the beams results in a change in voltage across
the strain gages, which varies linearly with displacement. As a big working range is needed, an
enlarged gage such as the one shown in figure 5 is recommended.

3. A parallel alignment of knife edges shall be maintained to within 1o .

4. The specimen shall be provided with a pair of accurately machined knife edges that support the
gage arms and serve as the displacement reference points.
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Figure 4: Double-cantilever clip-in displacement gage mounted by means of integral knife edges.

Figure 5: Clip Gage Design for 8.0 mm and More Working Range.

3.2 Force Transducers

1. Applied force may be measured by any force transducer capable of being recoded continuously.
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3.3 System Verification

1. It is recommended that the performance of the force and displacement measuring systems be verified
before beginning a series of continuous tests.

4 Fatigue Pre-cracking
4.1 Specimen Pre-cracking
1. A fatigue precrack should be produced by cyclically loading the notched specimen for a number of
cycles usually between about 104 to 106 depending on the specimen size.

4.2 Fatigue crack starter notch

1. The root radius for a straight-through slot terminating in a V-notch, as used in the specimen,
should be 0.08 mm or less.

4.3 Fatigue crack size

1. The crack size (total average length of the crack starter configuration plus the fatigue crack shall
be between 0.45 and 0.70 W for J and determination.

4.4 Fatigue Loading Requirements

1. Allowable fatigue force values are limited to keep the maximum stress intensity applied during
precracking, Kmax , well below the material fracture toughness measured during the subsequent
test. The combination of starter notch and fatigue precrack shall conform to the requirements
shown in fig. 6.

Figure 6: Envelope of fatigue crack and crack starter notches.

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4.5 Fatigue Precracking Procedure

1. The procedure can be conducted either force control or displacement control. There is no known
marked frequency effect on fatigue precrack formation up to at least 100 Hz.
2. The length of the fatigue precrack extension from the machined notch shall not be less than 0.05B,
and not less than 1.3 mm for the wide notch.
3. Precracking shall be accomplished in at least 2 steps. For the first step, the maximum stress
intensity factor applied to the specimen shall be limited by:
!
Yf S f
KM AX = (0.063 Y S M P a m)
YT S

where:
Yf S and YT S = the material yield stresses at the fatigue precrack and test temperatures respectively.
4. It is strictly recommended that the user start with approximately 0.7 KM AX given by the above
relationship, and if the precrack does not grow after 105 cycles the loading can be incrementally
increased until the crack begins to extend.
5. For the second precracking step, which shall include at least the final 50% of the fatigue precrack
or 1.3 mm for the wide for the wide notch.
!
Yf S
KM AX = 0.6 KF
YT S

where, KF = KQ , KJQ , KJQ or KJQu depending on the result of the test, and KF is calculated
from the corresponding JF using the relationship that:
s
EJF
KF =
(1 2 )

5 Procedure
5.1 Methods
Standard ASTM E1820-15a proposes two procedures.
1. A basic procedure directed toward evaluation of a single K, J, or CTOD value without the use of
crack extension measurement equipment.
2. A procedure directed toward evaluation of a complete fracture toughness resistance curve using
crack extension measurement equipment.
The first procedure will be used for this test.

5.2 System and specimen preparation

5.2.1 Specimen Measurement
Measure the dimensions, Bn , B, W , H , and d to the nearest 0.050 mm or 0.5%, whichever is larger.
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5.2.2 Specimen Temperature

1. The temperature of the specimen shall be stable and uniform during the test. Hold the specimen
at test temperature 3o C for 12 25
h
mm of specimen thickness.

2. Measure the temperature of the specimen during the test to an accuracy of 63o C, where the tem-
perature is measured on the specimen surface within W/4 from the crack tip.

3. For the duration of the test, the difference between the indicated temperature and the nominal test
temperature shall not exceed 3o C

5.3 Alignment
5.3.1 Compact Testing
Loading pin friction and eccentricity of loading can lead to errors in fracture toughness determination.
The centerline of the upper and lower loading rods should be coincident within 0.25 mm. Center the
specimen with respect to the clevis opening within 0.76 mm. Seat the displacement gage in the knife
edges firmly by wiggling the gage lightly.

5.4 Basic Procedure

1. Load all specimens under displacement gage or machine cross head or actuator displacement control.

2. The basic procedure involves loading a specimen to a selected displacement level and determining
the amount of crack extension that occurred during loading.

3. Load specimens at a constant rate that lies between 0.3 to 3 min.

5.5 Optical crack size measurement

1. After unloading the specimen, mark the crack according to heat tinting at about 300o C for 30 min.
The beginning of stable crack extension is marked by the end of the flat fatigue precracked area.
The end of crack extension is marked by the end of heat tint or the beginning of the second flat
fatigue area.

2. Break the specimen to expose the crack. Cooling ferritic steel specimens to ensure brittle behavior
may be helpful.

3. Along the front of the fatigue crack and the front of the marked region of stable crack extension,
measure the size of the original crack and the final physical crack size at nine equally spaced points
centered about the specimen centerline.

4. Calculate the original crack size, ao , and the final physical crack size, ap with the following pro-
cedure, average the two near-surface measurements, combine the result with the remaining seven
crack size measurements and determine the average. The physical crack extension ap = ap ao .
The measuring instrument shall have an accuracy of 0.025 mm.

5. None of the nine measurements of original crack size and final physical crack size may differ by
more than 0.05B from the average physical crack size defined in the last point.