Conditions for Arrest of a Running Crack in Quenched and Tempered Steels

Abstract

AbstractMeasurements of the differences between the minimum crack lengths to cause failure for stationary and fast-running cracks are described. The experiments were performed at room temperature on quenched and tempered steels having a range of ductilities. The results are explained in terms of the variation of effective surface energy with strain rate and the influence of plate thickness. An estimate is made of the effect of kinetic energy in reducing the critical running-crack length.