SPECIMEN THICKNESS EFFECTS FOR ELASTIC-PLASTIC CTOD TOUGHNESS OF AN A36 STEEL ; AN ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL COMPARISON OF RECTANGULAR AND SQUARE CTOD FRACTURE SPECIMENS OF AN A36 STEEL (To Purchase Call 1-800-854-7179 USA/Canada or 303-397-7956 Worldwi
This paper describes the results of an experimental and analytical study of the effect of specimen size on the fracture-toughness behavior of A36 steel@ primarily in the lower-transition region. This region is beyond the limits of plane-strain as defined by ASTM E-399@ but in the region where failure occurs prior to any macroscopic fibrous tearing. Experimental results were obtained using Crack-Tip Opening Displacement (CTOD) three-point bend specimens@ and analytical results were obtained using a 3-D elastic-plastic finiteelement analysis. Two specimen sizes@ full thickness [31.8-mm (1.25-in.) thick] and reduced thickness [12.7-mm (0.50-in.) thick]@ were investigated using the preferred t X 2t X 8t specimen size.