Fracture of welded steel samples at normal and low temperatures: Experimental dataset and nonlocal modeling

This study combines experimental and theoretical approaches to investigate the deformation and fracture behavior of welded steel samples. The experimental campaign involves systematic variations of key parameters, including testing temperatures and weld inclination angles, to gather a comprehensive dataset. Samples with notches and without notches are included to enhance the dataset’s information content. The raw data is presented in its unprocessed form, suitable for model calibration and validation. As a demonstration example, a nonlocal ductile damage model is calibrated against the experimental data, and the challenges encountered during the calibration process are discussed. The fully calibrated damage model enables detailed end-to-end simulations of damage accumulation, crack initiation, and fracture. As a useful byproduct, the nonlocal damage model allows for the generation of an atlas of possible cracking patterns. The generated atlas includes both experimentally observed and theoretically predicted cracking patterns.