Numerical method to characterize probabilistic energy distribution of drop weight tear test at Ductile-Brittle transition temperatures

Abstract

This paper proposes a numerical method to characterize probabilistic energy distributions of drop weight tear tests (DWTTs) at ductile–brittle transition temperatures. The method employs finite element ductile–brittle fracture simulation using the stress-modified fracture strain model for ductile tearing and the maximum principal stress criterion for cleavage fracture. The probability of energy scatters is expressed using the two-parameter Weibull distribution in terms of the maximum principal stress. The maximum principal stress is then obtained as a function of the absorbed energy using FE simulation. The characterized energy scatters are compared with API X80 DWTT data at transition temperatures, showing good agreement. The proposed method can be used to effectively predict DWTT data at transition temperatures.