The finite element method is applied to two-dimensional elastic-plastic analyses for underclad crack problems. The analyses are performed for rectangular specimens with an underclad crack, which are composed of A533B class 1 steel and a clad material, to obtain the fracture mechanics parameter J-integral and the stress distribution ahead of a crack tip. The Q-factor proposed by O’Dowd and Shih is calculated from the stress distribution ahead of a crack tip, and the constraint effect of a crack tip due to a clad material or the effect of a clad material on the fracture toughness of a base material is discussed in terms of the Q-factor. Clad thickness, crack length, and the material property of a clad material are varied to examine their effects.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Topics:
Fracture (Materials), Stress concentration, Finite element methods, Fracture mechanics, Fracture toughness, Materials properties, Steel
1.
Bethmont, M., Moinereau, D., and Rousselier, G., 1991, “Cleavage Fracture of Large Specimens Containing Small Underclad Cracks,” Transactions of the 11th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology, Vol. G, pp. 7–12.
2.
Hutchinson
J. W.
,
1968
a, “
Singular Behavior at the End of a Tensile Crack in a Hardening Material
,”
Journal of Mechanics and Physics of Solids
, Vol.
16
, pp.
13
–
31
.
3.
Hutchinson
J. W.
,
1968
b, “
Plastic Stress and Strain Fields at a Crack Tip
,”
Journal of Mechanics and Physics of solids
, Vol.
16
, pp.
337
–
348
.
4.
Keeney-Walker, J., Bass, B. R., and Pennell, W. E., 1991, “Evaluation of the Effects of Irradiated Cladding on the Behavior of Shallow Flaws Subjected to Pressurized-Thermal-Shock Loading,” Transactions of the 11th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology, Vol. G, pp. 195–200.
5.
Keeney, J. A., Theiss, T. J., McAfee, W. J., and Bass, B. R., 1993, “An Overview of the HSST Full-Thickness Shallow-Crack Clad Beam Testing Program,” Transactions of the 12th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology, Vol. G, pp. 183–188.
6.
Kikuchi
M.
,
1992
, “
Analysis of HRR Fields of Surface Cracks
,”
International Journal of Fracture
, Vol.
58
, pp.
273
–
283
.
7.
Moinereau
D.
,
Rousselier
G.
, and
Bethmont
M.
,
1993
, “
Cleavage Fracture of Large Scale Cladded Mock-Ups Containing an Underclad Crack: Preliminary Analyses by the Local Approach of Cleavage Fracture
,”
ASME PVP
-Vol.
250
, Pressure Vessel Integrity, pp.
35
–
45
.
8.
O’Dowd, N. P., and Shih, C. F., 1991, “Family of Crack-Tip Fields Characterized by a Triaxiality Parameter—I. Structure of Fields,” Journal of Mechanics and Physics of Solids, pp. 989–1015.
9.
O’Dowd, N. P., and Shih, C. F., 1992, “Family of Crack-Tip Fields Characterized by a Triaxiality Parameter—II. Fracture Application,” Journal of Mechanics and Physics of Solids, pp. 939–963.
10.
O’Dowd, N. P., and Shih, C. F., 1993, “Two-Parameter Fracture Mechanics: Theory and Applications,” NUREG/CR-5958.
11.
Parks, D. M., 1992, “Advances in Characterization of Elastic-Plastic Crack-Tip Fields,” Topics in Fracture and Fatigue, ed., A. S. Argon, Springer-Verlag, pp. 59–98.
12.
Rice
J. R.
, and
Rosengren
G. F.
,
1968
, “
Plane Strain Deformation near a Crack Tip in a Power-Law Hardening Material
,”
Journal of Mechanics and Physics of Solids
, Vol.
16
, pp.
1
–
12
.
13.
Shih
C. F.
, and
German
M. D.
,
1981
, “
Requirements for a One Parameter Characterization of Crack Tip Fields by the HRR Singularity
,”
International Journal of Fracture
, Vol.
17
, pp.
27
–
43
.
14.
Sievers, J., and Liu, X., 1993, “Fracture Mechanics Analyses Including Constraint Investigations on Reactor Pressure Vessels under Pressurized Thermal Shock Loading,” Transactions of the 12th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology, Vol. G, pp. 313–319.
15.
Theiss, T. J., Shum, D. K. M., and Rolf, S. T., 1992, “Experimental and Analytical Investigation of the Shallow-Flaw Effect in Reactor Pressure Vessels,” NUREG/CR-5886.
16.
Yoshimura
S.
,
Yagawa
G.
,
Pyo
C. R.
,
Kawate
H.
,
Kashima
K.
,
Shimakawa
T.
, and
Takamatsu
S.
,
1993
, “
Simplified Stable Crack Growth Analyses of Welded CT Specimens: Comparison Study of GE/EPRI, Reference Stress and R6 Methods
,”
ASME PVP
-Vol.
250
, Pressure Vessel Integrity, pp.
151
–
156
.
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 1996
 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.