On the possibility of avoiding the use of a clip-gage when testing PCCv specimens in the ductile-to-brittle transition region

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Fracture toughness testing using bend-type samples, such as precracked Charpy specimens, requires using a clip-gage for measuring crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD). This paper demonstrates that it is possible to avoid using a clip-gage and use machine crosshead displacement (MCD) as an approximation of load-line displacement; this simplifies considerably the test procedure, both in terms of mechanical operations and specimen instrumentation. This is particularly desirable for irradiated materials and when testing sub-size specimens. Results obtained in the ductile-to-brittle transition regime from the analysis of 151 toughness tests show that reference temperatures calculated using the Master Curve methodology with CMOD and MCD are fully equivalent within a few degrees. The investigation has been conducted on different materials, test machines, full-size and sub-size specimens.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article numberJTE11782
    Number of pages15
    JournalJournal of Testing and Evaluation
    Volume32
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2004

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