An Assessment of Pseudo-Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) Analyses Based on Charpy V-Notch Properties

TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 217/1983

By M G Dawes, E M Remzi and N H Tio

Background

This report describes a theoretical and experimental assessment of some commonly used linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) relationships and assumptions as applied to welded structural steels. The experimental assessment is based on the results of several hundred wide plate tests (WPTs). It is shown that some simple widely used assumptions of applied stresses and lower bound estimates of K_Ic from Charpy V-notch impact test energy (CVN), can lead to unsafe estimates of critical crack sizes and fracture stresses.