Abstract
A two-parameter fracture criterion has been proposed to predict fracture conditions of notched
components. This criterion includes the critical notch stress intensity factor K , c , which
represents fracture toughness of a material with a notch of radius , and the effective T-stress.
The effective T-stress Teff has been estimated as the average value of the T-stress distribution
in the region ahead of the notch tip at the effective distance X eff . These parameters were
derived from the volumetric method of notch fracture mechanics. The results of numerical
Teff , c -stress estimation are compared to the Teff , c -stress results obtained from experimental
analysis. The material failure curve or master curve K , c = f (Teff , c ) has been established as a
result of the notched specimen tests. It was shown that the notch fracture toughness is a linear
decreasing function of the Teff , c -stress. The use of the material failure curve to predict fracture
conditions was demonstrated on gas pipes with surface notch.
1. Introduction
It is now admitted that mechanical properties are sensitive to specimen geometry and loading
mode. One of the most ancient observations of this phenomenon is the so called scale effect
on tensile properties which evidence has been noted by Galileo Galile and Leonardo da Vinci.
Fracture Resistance R is also sensitive to specimen geometry, ligament size, thickness and
loading mode. It is measured according to standards which provide a reference fracture
resistance value Rref which is generally the small scale yielding. However its real value in a
structure or in a component depends on stress state and more precisely on constraint.
Constraint factor L is defined as the ratio of the yield stress y for a given stress state over the
yield stress in pure uniaxial tension y,pt.
L = y / y , pt
(1)
This parameter is often used to explain the difference in fracture toughness between plane
stress and plane strain situation. The possibility to use the fracture resistance obtain in a
reference situation to a real one is known as transferability problem. It is generally assumed
that fracture resistance R for a real structure is a function of the reference fracture resistance
Rref and a transferability parameter Z.
R = f ( Rref , Z )
(2)
Stress triaxiality has been used to predict ductile failure strain under different stress state
and is defined as the ratio of the hydrostatic stress h and the equivalent Von Mises stress
VM.
= h / VM
(3)
This is particularly true for ductile failure [1] but one note that cleavage stress seems also
sensitive to . Lost of constraint has been defined by Dodds et al.[2] by the way of Q
parameter. This parameter is defined as ratio between the stress level for a given situation to a
reference situation generally small scale yielding (SSY) and divided to yield stress. The
difference between the opening stress yy levels is measured at the conventional non
dimensional distance x2 as ry/J = 2.
Q=
yy , real ( x 2 , = 0) yy , SSY ( x 2 , = 0)
(4)
Re
This parameter is only defined is the stress distribution are homothetic and this induces a
validity condition based on stress gradient given as :
Q(1) Q(5 )
gradQ =
0,1
(5)
4
where Q(1) and Q(5) are Q values determined respectively at non dimensional distance ry/J =
1 and ry/J = 5. This condition limits strongly the used of Q parameter which in reduced in
case of brittle fracture as a simple relative difference in fracture toughness. This parameter has
been extended in the case of notch tip stress distribution by Akkouri et al.[3].
250
a/W=0,1
a/W=0,2
a/W=0,5
Jc [MPa.mm]
200
Q (J/b*0)
T= -100C
150
100
50
0
-1.5
-1
-0.5
Q-parametr [-]
Figure 1 : Evolution of fracture toughness JIc with Q parameter , cast steel at -100C. [4]
A decreasing of fracture toughness Jc with constraint parameter has been note by Chlup et al.
[4] who have perform tests on CT specimen made in Cast steel (Yield stress 280 MPa) with
non dimensional crack length a/W= 0.1 ; 0.2 and 0.5 at -100 C. These authors have found a
decreasing of fracture toughness with ligament size. Transferability has been expressed as a
curve J = f(Q) where Q is the Dodds parameter.
The concept of brittle crack-extension resistance is based on the assumption that stress
intensity factor K-dominance exists at a crack-tip. Then, in a region surrounding the crack-tip;
the stress fields can be characterized by the mathematical solution limited to the second term
[5]:
K ij 2r . f ij ( ) + T .r 0 xi xj
as
r ,
(6)
where K is the Stress Intensity Factor, fij() defines the angular function, ij is the symbol of
Kroneckers determinant. A polar coordinate system (r,) with origin at the crack tip is used.
The higher terms is called the T-stress. Txx, or simply T, a constant stress acting parallel to the
crack in the direction xx with a magnitude proportional to the gross stress in the vicinity of the
crack. The non-singular term T represents a tension (or compression) stress. Positive T-stress
strengthens the level of crack tip stress triaxiality and leads to high crack-tip constraint while
negative T-stress reduces the level of triaxiality and leads to the lost of constraint. Rice [6],
Larsson and Carlsson [7] have shown that sign and magnitude of the T-stress substantially
change the size and shape of the plane strain crack tip plastic zone. Analytical and
experimental studies have show that T can be used as a measure of constraint for contained
yielding; see for example Sumpter [8]. Chao et al. [9] and Hancock et al.[10] have shown that
fracture toughness increases when (T ) increases .
In this paper the concept of T-stress as a constraint factor has been extend to notch tip stress
distribution as the effective T stress Tef. The fracture toughness measured from notched
specimen as the critical notch stress intensity factor and has been determined using the
Volumetric method [11]. Transferability is then proposed as a K,c Tef curve and establish
from 4 specimen types (CT, SENT, DCB and RT) made in X52 pipe steel. A fracture driving
force diagram is establish for each studied structure (gas pipe with surface notch) as K,ap=
f(Tef, ap). Fracture conditions are then given by the intersection of master curve and fracture
driving force diagram.
function (r , ) where r is the distance from notch tip and the relative stress gradient
defined by :
(r ) =
yy (r )
yy (r )
(7)
Several weights functions can be used including the unit and Petersons weight function and
are described in [10]. The effective stress is finally defined as the average of the weighted
stress inside the fracture process zone:
ef
1
=
X ef
X ef
(r ).(r , )dr
(8)
yy
where ef , X ef , yy (r ) and (r , ) are effective stress, effective distance, opening stress. The
graphical representation of this local fracture stress criterion is given in figure 3 where the
stress normal to the notch plane is plotted against the distance ahead of notch. For
determination of X ef , a graphical procedure is used; it has been observed that the effective
distance is related to the minimum value of the relative stress gradient . The opening stress
distribution at the notch is calculated using FEM with elastoplastic material behaviour. In
figure 3, the opening stress distribution versus distance is plotted in bi-logarithmic axes; the
relative stress gradient is also plotted on the same graph. The position of the minimum
relative stress gradient allows obtaining an effective distance precise value. One notes on the
same picture that the effective corresponds to stress distribution governs by a power law and
fixed by a constant which is precisely the notch stress intensity factor defined from effective
distance and stress by the following relation ship :
K = ef 2X ef
(9)
A simple fracture criterion is obtain by using the critical notch stress intensity factor K ,c and
write
K = K ,c
The critical notch stress intensity factor is a facture toughness values with units
notch has parallel side (notch angle equal to zero) and for elastic behaviour.
(10)
MPa m ,
if the
0.5
Log(yy(r))
KI=eff.(2..Xeff)
Log(xx(r)-yy(r))
Xeff
Xn
Log(r)
eff
Geometrical defect
Teff
T =(xx-yy)
T-Stress distribution along defect root
Figure 2. Determination of the notch stress intensity factor and the effective T-stress at the
notch tip.
T = ( xx - yy )r = 0, = 0
(11)
T stress is evaluated using finite element method and computing the difference of principal
stresses along ligament for direction =0. However, T-stress can be evaluated in any
direction and given by simple relationships in some given directions.
=0
T = ( xx - yy )
T = xx
T = xx yy 3
T = xx yy 3
T = ( xx - yy )
An example of the computing T-stress distribution along ligament for a Roman Tile (RT)
specimen with notch is given in Figure 5. A large range of non dimensional notch length a/t is
explored [a/t = 0.1-0.7].
500
a/t
a/t
a/t
a/t
a/t
a/t
N otch-tip
=0.05
=0.2
=0.4
=0.6
=0.8
=0.95
T-Stress, (MPa)
P= 150 N
-500
(Zone III)
(Zone II)
(Zone I)
-1000
1E-3
0,01
0,1
Figure 5: T-stress distribution along ligament for a Roman Tile specimen with large range of
non dimensional notch length [a/t= 0.1-0.7].
We note that T is not really constant as in theory (see [hadj meliani]. For short crack, T
distribution is stabilised after some distance. For long crack, T increases linearly with
ligament except in a region close to crack tip. Then it is necessary to use a conventional
definition of T-stress to overcome this difficulty Maleski et al.[15] have suggest that T stress
can be represented by the following relation ship:
T ( x ) =T0 + ( x / a ) )
(12)
By extrapolation to r0, they obtain T0 value and consider this value as the acting T-stress.
Using the Volumetric Method proposed by Pluvinage [11], we have preferred to define an
effective T-stress calculated as value corresponding to the effective distance determined on
the notch stress distribution as we can see Figure 2. The acting T-stress is named Tef. In
Figure 6, we note that the difference between T0 and Tef is small for the case of a Roman Tile
specimen.
35
Teff =-8,009 MPa
30
-50
T0=-8,635 MPa
Polynomial Fit for Data1_B on linearized scales.
Y' = A + B * X' + C * X' ^ 2 + ...
where X' = Axis-Scale-Function(X) and
Y' = Axis-Scale-Function(Y).
Parameter
Value Error
-----------------------------------------------------------A
-6,24706
1,13565
B1
16,74283
4,25146
B2
14,16093
12,6659
B3
-72,04943
17,37498
B4
-102,45491
37,8079
B5
40,84341
23,83499
B6
150,47269
30,65665
B7
117,6016
29,02721
B8
39,47125
10,13244
B9
4,86968
1,24046
------------------------------------------------------------
-100
-150
P= 150 N
R-Square(COD)
SD
N
P
-----------------------------------------------------------0,99249
4,7043 94
<0.0001
------------------------------------------------------------
-200
25
20
15
Gradient of T
T-Stress (MPa)
Linear Fit
10
5
Xeff=0.2762mm
-250
0,01
0,1
Figure 6: Example of T0 stress determination from Maleski [15] and comparison with Tef
value (a/w =0.1).
a/w
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
Used Method
-8.009
-11.213
-15.804
-21.656
-28.022
-37.638
-51.035
E(%)
-7,816
-2,809
-5,264
-2,364
-7,483
-7,928
-9,582
3. Conclusion
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