TWI Frequently asked questions
by Andrew Kelleher and Isabel Hadley
A tearing resistance curve, or R-curve, represents a material's resistance to progressive crack extension (this implies that a material's fracture toughness can change with crack extension). Hence, a tearing resistance curve is aplot of fracture toughness against crack extension (e.g.: J vs Δa or CTOD vs Δa, whereΔa is crack extension (see FAQ: What is a fracture toughness test?). An example is shown below.
Tearing resistance curves are only of use if a material exhibits stable tearing behaviour, and can not be generated beyond the onset of a brittle fracture event. Stable tearing in metals occurs predominantly by the process ofmicrovoid coalescence. In this process, material within the crack tip plastic zone deforms plastically, forming microvoids ahead of the crack tip. Linking of these voids with the crack tip results in crack extension.
In many ductile, work hardening materials, the size of the plastic zone at the crack tip increases as the crack extends. Hence, each successive unit of crack extension requires more energy than the preceding unit of extension (i.e.:in order to further increase the plastic zone size). Thus, the resistance of the material to crack extension increases with crack extension. This type of behaviour is known as a 'rising R-curve'. Of course, there is a limit to thisincrease in toughness, and hence all R-curves eventually flatten off.
Standards for tearing resistance curves include BS7448 Part 4 and ASTM E1820 (see FAQ: Are there any differences between fracture toughness tests carried out to BS 7448 and those using ASTME1820?). Data that can be generated from a tearing resistance curve include:
- the equation for the entire resistance curve (typically in the form of an offset power law, e.g. J = m + l (Δa)x,
- the value of J or CTOD at initiation of stable ductile tearing (δ0.2BL, J0.2BL)
- the value of J or CTOD at maximum load (δm, Jm)
