International round robin test on Master Curve reference temperature evaluation utilizing Miniature C(T) specimen
Yamamoto, Masato*; Onizawa, Kunio
; Yoshimoto, Kentaro*; Ogawa, Takuya*; Mabuchi, Yasuhiro*; Valo, M.*; Lambrecht, M.*; Viehrig, H.-W.*; Miura, Naoki*; Soneda, Naoki*
In order to ensure the robustness of the Master Curve technique, round-robin tests were performed using 0.16 inch-thick Mini-CT specimens by different investigators to see if consistent ![$$T$$](/search/images/ERKCI.gif)
values can be obtained. All the specimens used were machined and pre-cracked by one fabricator from unique Japanese RPV material. Seven institutes participated in this exercise, and obtained valid ![$$T$$](/search/images/ERKCI.gif)
values according to the ASTM E1921 standard. The scatter of ![$$T$$](/search/images/ERKCI.gif)
values obtained was well within the uncertainty range defined in the standard, indicating the robustness of the Mini-CT specimen test technique. Throughout this activity, we could obtain 182 ![$$K$$](/search/images/ERFSI.gif)
for a single material. We investigated the statistics of this large database, and found that there is no remarkable difference not only in the ![$$T$$](/search/images/ERKCI.gif)
values but also in the fracture toughness distribution between the Mini-CT specimen and the standard size 1T-C(T) specimen results.