Assessment of large-scale heterogeneity due to toughness variations in a multipass weld: brittle failure mechanisms and modeling
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract The fracture surfaces of 49 SE(B) toughness tests performed on five different geometries, were carefully investigated by SEM imaging and cross-section analysis. The specimens were extracted from a large multi-pass weld in T-S orientation. The failure characteristics were associated with three distinctly different zones of the weld. Transgranular fracture occurred primarily in the reheated zone and in the as-welded zone with a dendritic microstructure inclined relative to the crack plane. With a dendritic microstructure aligned with the crack plane intergranular fracture occurred. The toughness of the as-welded zone with a low inclination angle, was significantly lower than that obtained in the other two weld zones. Due to the relatively large size of the zones compared to the fracture process zones of the tests, it is appropriate to characterize the failure behavior as large-scale heterogeneity. Weakest-link modeling may be applied locally in each weld zone, giving rise to three different sets of model parameters. A new calibration technique is introduced and used to fit a local weakest-link model to the toughness distribution curves of the individual zones.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Fatigue and fracture mechanics · Welding Techniques and Residual Stresses · Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Steels
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (46)
Show source-provided references
1. Anderson TL, Dodds RH Jr (1991) Specimen size requirements for fracture toughness testing in the transition region. J Test Eval 19(2):123–134. https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE12544J10.1520/JTE12544J ↗
2. Anderson TL, Stienstra D, Dodds RH (1994) A theoretical framework for addressing fracture in the ductile-brittle transition region. ASTM Spec Tech Publ 1207:186–186
3. ASTM E1820–24 (2024) Standard test method for measurement of fracture toughness. Standard, ASTM International, West Conshohocken
4. ASTM E1921–24 (2024) Standard test method for determination of reference temperature, t0, for ferritic steels in the transition range. Standard, ASTM International, West Conshohocken
5. Beremin FM (1983) A local criterion for cleavage fracture of a nuclear pressure vessel steel. Metall Mater Trans A Phys Metall Mater Sci 14A:2277–228710.1007/BF02663302 ↗
6. Boåsen M, Dahlberg CF, Efsing P, Faleskog J (2021) A weakest link model for multiple mechanism brittle fracture—model development and application. J Mech Phys Solids 147:104224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2020.10422410.1016/j.jmps.2020.104224 ↗
7. Boåsen M, Lindgren K, Öberg M, Thuvander M, Faleskog J, Efsing P (2022) Analysis of thermal embrittlement of a low alloy steel weldment using fracture toughness and microstructural investigations. Eng Fract Mecha 262:108248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2022.10824810.1016/j.engfracmech.2022.108248 ↗
8. Bordet SR, Karstensen AD, Knowles DM, Wiesner CS (2005) A new statistical local criterion for cleavage fracture in steel. part i: model presentation. Eng Fract Mech 72(3):435–452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2004.02.00910.1016/j.engfracmech.2004.02.009 ↗
9. Bowen P, Druce SG, Knott JF (1987) Micromechanical modelling of fracture toughness. Acta Metall 35(7):1735–1746. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-6160(87)90119-210.1016/0001-6160(87)90119-2 ↗
10. Briant CL, Banerji SK (1978) Intergranular failure in steel: the role of grain-boundary composition. Int Metals Rev 23(1):164–199
11. Brindley BJ (1970) The effect of dynamic strain-ageing on the ductile fracture process in mild steel. Acta Metall 18(3):325–32910.1016/0001-6160(70)90147-1 ↗
12. Catel E, Amzil A, Lorentz E, Dahl A, Besson J (2025) Effect of temperature and geometry on the brittle failure of an 18mnd5 steel in the lower part of the ductile to brittle transition. Eng Fract Mech 314:110745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2024.11074510.1016/j.engfracmech.2024.110745 ↗
13. Cotterell B, Rice JR (1980) Slightly curved or kinked cracks. Int J Fract 16:155–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF0001261910.1007/BF00012619 ↗
14. Dodds RH Jr, Anderson TL, Kirk MT (1991) A framework to correlate a/w ratio effects on elastic-plastic fracture toughness (jc). Int J Fract 48(1):1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF0001249910.1007/BF00012499 ↗
15. Dodds RH Jr, Fong Shih C, Anderson TL (1993) Continuum and micromechanics treatment of constraint in fracture. Int J Fract 64(2):101–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF0001669310.1007/BF00016693 ↗
16. Faleskog J, Gao X, Shih CF (1998) Cell model for nonlinear fracture analysis-i. micromechanics calibration. Int J Fract 89:355–37310.1023/A:1007421420901 ↗
17. Faleskog J, Kroon M, Öberg H (2004) A probabilistic model for cleavage fracture with a length scale–parameter estimation and predictions of stationary crack experiments. Eng Fract Mech 71(1):57–7910.1016/S0013-7944(03)00066-3 ↗
18. Gao X, Ruggieri C, Dodds RH Jr (1998) Calibration of weibull stress parameters using fracture toughness data. Int J Fract 92:175–200. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:100752153019110.1023/A:1007521530191 ↗
19. Gurland J (1972) Observations on the fracture of cementite particles in a spheroidized 1.05 c steel deformed at room temperature. Acta Metall 20(5):735–74110.1016/0001-6160(72)90102-2 ↗
20. Gurovich BA, Kuleshova EA, Shtrombakh YI, Zabusov OO, Krasikov EA (2000) Intergranular and intragranular phosphorus segregation in Russian pressure vessel steels due to neutron irradiation. J Nucl Mater 279(2):259–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(00)00007-610.1016/S0022-3115(00)00007-6 ↗
21. Hytönen N, Que Z, Arffman P, Lydman J, Nevasmaa P, Ehrnstén U, Efsing P (2021) Effect of weld microstructure on brittle fracture initiation in the thermallyaged boiling water reactor pressure vessel head weld metal. Int J Miner 28:867–87610.1007/s12613-020-2226-6 ↗
22. Joshi A, Stein DF (1972) Temper embrittlement of low alloy steels. ASTM STP 499:59–89
23. Kaechele LE, Tetelman AS (1969) A statistical investigation of microcrack formation. Acta Metall 17(4):463–47510.1016/0001-6160(69)90028-5 ↗
24. Kantidis E, Marini B, Allais L, Pineau A (1994) Validation of a statistical criterion for intergranular brittle fracture of a low alloy steel through uniaxial and biaxial (tension-torsion) tests. Int J Fract 66:273–19410.1007/BF00042589 ↗
25. Klein DV, Faleskog J (2023) Influence of heterogeneity due to toughness variations on weakest-link modeling for brittle failure. Eng Fract Mech 292:10964310.1016/j.engfracmech.2023.109643 ↗
26. Kroon M, Faleskog J (2002) A probabilistic model for cleavage fracture with a length scale-influence of material parameters and constraint. Int J Fract 118:99–11810.1023/A:1022864513654 ↗
27. Kroon M, Faleskog J, Öberg H (2008) A probabilistic model for cleavage fracture with a length scale—parameter estimation and predictions of growing crack experiments. Eng Fract Mech 75(8):2398–2417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2007.08.00910.1016/j.engfracmech.2007.08.009 ↗
28. Lindley TC, Oates G, Rihards CE (1970) A critical appraisal of carbide cracking mechanisms in ferride/carbide aggregates. Acta Metall 18:1127–113610.1016/0001-6160(70)90103-3 ↗
29. Margolin BZ, Shvetsova VA (1992) Brittle fracture criterion: structural mechanics approach. Strength Mater 24(2):115–13110.1007/BF00779249 ↗
30. Margolin BZ, Gulenko AG, Shvetsova VA (1998) Improved probabilistic model for fracture toughness prediction for nuclear pressure vessel steels. Int J Press Vessels Pip 75(12):843–85510.1016/S0308-0161(98)00083-0 ↗
31. Margolin BZ, Shvetsova VA, Gulenko AG, Kostylev VI (2008) Prometey local approach to brittle fracture: development and application. Eng Fract Mech 75(11):3483–3498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2007.05.00210.1016/j.engfracmech.2007.05.002 ↗
32. McMahon CJ Jr, Cohren M (1965) Initiation of cleavage in polycrystalline iron. Acta Metall 13:104–13510.1016/0001-6160(65)90121-5 ↗
33. Mudry F (1987) A local approach to cleavage fracture. Nucl Eng Des 105(1):65–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-5493(87)90230-510.1016/0029-5493(87)90230-5 ↗
34. Nahshon K, Hutchinson J (2008) Modification of the Gurson model for shear failure. Eur J Mech A/Solids 27(1):1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euromechsol.2007.08.00210.1016/j.euromechsol.2007.08.002 ↗
35. Nash SG (1984) Newton-type minimization via the lanczos method. SIAM J Numer Anal 21(4):770–788. https://doi.org/10.1137/072105210.1137/0721052 ↗
36. Ritchie RO, Knott JF, Rice JR (1973) On the relationship between critical tensile stress and fracture toughness in mild steel. J Mech Phys Solids 21(6):395–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-5096(73)90008-210.1016/0022-5096(73)90008-2 ↗
37. Ruggieri C, Dodds RH Jr (2015) An engineering methodology for constraint corrections of elastic-plastic fracture toughness-part i: A review on probabilistic models and exploration of plastic strain effects. Eng Fract Mech 134:368–39010.1016/j.engfracmech.2014.12.015 ↗
38. Schulz BJ, McMahon CJ (1972) Alloy effects in temper embrittlement. ASTM STP 499:59–89
39. Suresh S, Fong Shih C (1986) Plastic near-tip fields for branched cracks. Int J Fract 30:237–259. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF0001970510.1007/BF00019705 ↗
40. Tvergaard V, Needleman A (1984) Analysis of the cup-cone fracture in a round tensile bar. Acta Metall 32(1):157–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-6160(84)90213-X10.1016/0001-6160(84)90213-X ↗
41. Wallin K (1989) Optimized estimation of the weibull distribution parameters. Research Report 604, VTT Research Centre of Finland, Espoo, Finland, 17 p. + App. 1 p
42. Wallin K (1984) The scatter in KIC-results. Eng Fract Mech 19(6):1085–1093. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7944(84)90153-X10.1016/0013-7944(84)90153-X ↗
43. Wang S, Faleskog J (2024) A non-local GTN model with two length scales—application to ductile failure in a wide range of stress triaxiality. Eur J Mech A/Solids 104:105056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euromechsol.2023.10505610.1016/j.euromechsol.2023.105056 ↗
44. Weibull W (1951) A statistical distribution function of wide applicability. J Appl Mech 18(3):293–297. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.401033710.1115/1.4010337 ↗
45. Xia L, Shih CF (1996) Ductile crack growth-iii. Transition to cleavage fracture incorporating statistics. J Mech Phys Solids 44(4):603–63910.1016/0022-5096(95)00086-0 ↗
46. Yahya OML, Borit F, Piques R, Pineau A (1998) Statistical modelling of intergranular brittle fracture in a low alloy steel. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct 21(12):1485–1502. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1460-2695.1998.00126.x10.1046/j.1460-2695.1998.00126.x ↗