Ductile crack depth prediction of steel members by crack growth model

• Published in: Engineering fracture mechanics Vol. 269; p. 108510
• Main Authors: Li, Y.W., Zhou, Z.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 15.06.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Brittle fracture; Crack propagation; Ductile crack depth; Ductile fracture; Ductile-brittle transition; Ductility; Ductility amplitude; Growth models; Normalized plastic energy amplitude; Notch; Propagation; Room temperature; Steel structures; Temperature effects; Ductility amplitude; Ductile crack depth; Normalized plastic energy amplitude; Brittle fracture; Notch
• ISSN: 0013-7944; 1873-7315
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2022.108510

•Experiments of steel notched components under variable amplitude loadings at different temperatures were carried out.•Crack growth models are proposed in this study to predict ductile crack depth.•Ductility amplitude and normalized plastic energy amplitude can be applied to the proposed crack growth models.•The crack growth rate at cooling temperature is quicker than that at room temperature.•Using normalized plastic energy amplitude is more accurate in predicting ductile crack depth. To understand the correlation between ductile crack propagation and ductility amplitude is important for finding a design method to prevent brittle fracture. An experimental study of ductile crack propagation in steel members is described in this paper. The experiment of steel notched beams and notched bars under variable amplitude loadings at different temperatures were carried out. The fractured sections were investigated. Crack growth models are proposed in this study. The correlations between ductile crack depth and ductility amplitude / normalized plastic energy amplitude were analyzed. And the temperature effect on ductile crack propagation was analyzed. It is found that ductility amplitude and normalized plastic energy amplitude can be applied to the proposed crack growth models to predict ductile crack depth, and that the crack growth rate at cooling temperature is quicker than that at room temperature. Moreover, using normalized plastic energy amplitude is more accurate than using ductility amplitude in predicting ductile crack depth.