Analysis of the effect of crack curvature in Mini-C(T) specimen on fracture toughness evaluation

Shimodaira, Masaki ; Ha, Yoosung  ; Takamizawa, Hisashi ; Katsuyama, Jinya  ; Onizawa, Kunio 

In the current structural integrity assessment of the reactor pressure vessel, the accurate reference temperature (T) based on the Master Curve method is necessary. The T can be estimated by using the Mini-C(T) fracture toughness specimen in accordance with ASTM E1921 and JEAC4216, which prescribe the crack straightness criteria. A requirement in ASTM E1921 has been revised in a decade to increase the accuracy and reasonability, and the applicable crack curvature has been varied by applied codes. The crack curvature of the Mini-C(T) specimen might have an impact on the T because of the variation of the plastic constraint. In this work, the effect of the crack curvature on the fracture toughness (K) evaluation using the Mini-C(T) specimen was quantitatively evaluated by using the finite element analysis (FEA) including the Weibull stress analysis, to discuss the difference in a requirement of the crack straightness in ASTM E1921 and JEAC4216. FEAs showed a possibility that the upper limit curvature would decrease the plastic constraint, and consequently obtain higher K in the Mini-C(T) specimen. Furthermore, if the upper limit curvature according to the ASTM E1921-21 was allowed, the T would be estimated as nonconservative based on the Weibull stress analysis. In contrast, the difference in (T) between the crack with upper limit curvature according to JEAC4216 and the ideal straight crack was not significant.