Abstract
A series of fracture tests and elastic-plastic FEM analysis were carried out for three-point bend specimens with different notch root radius in the cleavage temperature region of a RPV low alloy steel. The cleavage initiation distance (CID) from the notch tip was measured by SEM photographs on the fracture surface of each specimen. The local cleavage fracture stress σf * was defined as the stress σyy at the cleavage initiation site. The σf * increased with decreasing notch root radius. The CID’s were larger in specimens with bigger root radius. This implies that a larger volume of material and possibly bigger microcracks should be involved in the cleavage fracture process of those specimens. The σf * is considered to have a certain relationship with the level of stress-strain concentration in different geometry specimens.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
