Analysis of the Influence of Microstructure Heterogeneity and Mechanical Properties of Welded Joint Constituents on Fracture Toughness for Plane Strain, K_(Ic)

摘要

The problem of fracture toughness, K_(Ic), determination at a crack tip localized in a welded joint is placed in principle because fracture mechanics assumes homogenous material, not only around the crack tip but on a distance from it, in order to maintain valid theoretical assumptions and importance of the fracture toughness as the property measured by some of the fracture mechanics methods. Welded joint, as an integral part of a structure, represents inhomogeneity by microstructure and mechanical properties, often by geometrical form, and by the stress field as well, which are affected by various factors as well as residual stresses after welding [1]. However, these general difficulties did not disenable experimental determination of the fracture toughness under plane strain, K_(Ic), in certain critical areas of a welded joint, or welded joint as a whole, but rather there are difficulties in interpreting the meaning of the measured values. Specimens for the fracture mechanics parameters determination are specimens with cracks, and cracks appears in welded joints as the most critical defects.