TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 217/1983
By M G Dawes, E M Remzi and N H Tio
Background
This report describes a theoretical and experimental assessment of some commonly used linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) relationships and assumptions as applied to welded structural steels. The experimental assessment is based on the results of several hundred wide plate tests (WPTs). It is shown that some simple widely used assumptions of applied stresses and lower bound estimates of KIc from Charpy V-notch impact test energy (CVN), can lead to unsafe estimates of critical crack sizes and fracture stresses.