Book Description

Elastic-plastic finite element analyses of the three-point bend specimen geometry were performed as part of an investigation to study the application of the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) fracture parameter to flawed pressure vessels. The elastic-plastic fracture mechanics (EPFM) parameters, CTOD and J, were determined from the results of two- and three-dimensional finite element analyses. Three sizes of the preferred specimen geometry (thickness, t, by depth, 2t, by span, 8t) and five steels with varying stress-strain characteristics were considered. To obtain experimental results for comparison, tests were conducted in accordance with the procedure outlined in British Standard BS 5762:1979, "Methods for Crack Opening Displacement Testing.".