Effects of Strain Rate on Fracture Toughness in Sour Environment

Abstract

Fracture toughness testing in sour environment using Single Edge Notch Tensile (SENT) and Single Edge Notch Bend (SENB) specimens has been developed and applied by authors’ laboratory for Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) of pipeline girth welds. The method of testing and application of fracture toughness result for ECAs of pipeline girth welds for sour service has been presented at a previous OMEA conference (paper OMAE2009-79305). The current paper presents the results of further experimental work carried out to evaluate the effect of strain rate on the fracture toughness value. A series of fracture toughness tests using SENT specimens was carried out in artificial brine sour environment (NACE solution “A” saturated with H2S) at ambient temperature. For comparison, the result from test in air condition are also presented and discussed. Following the test, the J-integral and the CTOD values were calculated and assessed. As expected, the results show significant effect of strain rate on the J integral value and the CTOD, especially for the strain rate range between 10−6/s to 10−7/s. Further experiments and studies are suggested to establish appropriate procedures and guidelines for selection of suitable strain rates for sour environment fracture toughness testing of pipeline girth welds.