Fracture Toughness Test Specimens Research Articles

State of the art of the WOL specimen for [formula omitted] fracture toughness testing

A comprehensive review of the development and the current state-of-the-art for the WOL (wedge opening loading) specimen for plane strain fracture toughness testing is described. Fracture toughness data ( K Ic ) were determined for a wide range of temperatures for several steels representing the strength range of 50–175 ksi yield strength. Various WOL and other types of specimens were employed. The consistency of K Ic data for various geometrical proportions and sizes of WOL specimens, as well as other types of specimens, is demonstrated. A newly developed modification of the ‘ T’ type WOL specimen to facilitate two pin loading is described. It is concluded that the state-of-the-art is sufficiently well advanced so that a standard ASTM recommended practice for plane strain fracture toughness testing with compact tension specimens can be prepared.