Abstract
A comprehensive program is being conducted relative to applying fracture mechanics technology to large turbine-generator rotors. One facet of this program involves the determination of plane-strain fracture toughness ( K Ic) over a range of temperatures for various types of rotor steels. Data have been obtained for ten large production forgings, representing three alloys, using various types of compact K IC and spin burst test specimens. These results demonstrate that valid K IC data can be obtained in these types of intermediate-strength, high-toughness steels in the temperature range of practical interest. Data indicate that the plane-strain fracture toughness of these steels increases rapidly with increasing temperature and is rather high ( K tc/σ YS > 1 in 1 2 ), in the application range. As a result, the critical defect sizes for catastrophic failure upon a single cycle of loading are relatively large. The plane-strain fracture toughness measurements, as well as the application of these data, are presented and discussed.
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