Cleavage to quasicleavage fracture transition in steels

Abstract

The cleavage behaviour of plain carbon steels containing from 0· 2 to 0·8%C has been investigated. It is observed that each steel displays two characteristic temperatures at which a transition in the mode of fracture occurs. These are the transition temperatures for cleavage T_c and for general yielding T_g. At temperatures below T_c, the steels fail by pure cleavage. This involves the generation of a cleavage crack nucleus in a carbide particle followed by cleavage crack propagation. The cleavage fracture stress σ _f is independent of temperature. Between temperatures T_c and T_g, the steels fail by quasicleavage. This involves the generation of a crack nucleus by a localised fibrous process followed by cleavage crack propagation. The crack nucleation stage is shear stress controlled and therefore the quasicleavage fracture stress σ_q increases with decreasing test temperature. Above temperature T_g, failure occurs at or after general yielding.

MST/1045