Modelling and experimental characterisation of a residual stress field in a ferritic compact tension specimen

Summary, in English

The aim of the work is to elucidate the influence of plasticity behaviour on the residual stress field in a ferritic reactor pressure vessel steel. To this end, we investigate two compressively pre-loaded compact tension (CT) specimens to generate a mechanical residual stress field. One specimen was subsequently pre-cracked by fatigue before both specimens were measured using high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction. A fine grain size microstructure (similar to 5-10 mu m grain size) allowed a small X-ray beam slit size and therefore gauge volume. The results provide an excellent data set for validation of finite element (FE) modelling predictions against which they have been compared. The results of both mechanical testing and modelling suggest that the use of a combined hardening model is needed to accurately predict the residual stress field present in the specimen after pre-loading. Some discrepancy between the modelled crack tip stress values and those found by X-ray diffraction remain which can be partly explained by volume averaging effects in the presence of very high stress/strain gradients. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Author: M. R. Wenman; A. J. Price; Axel Steuwer; P. R. Chard-Tuckey; A. Crocombe
• Department/s: European Spallation Source ESS AB
• Publishing year: 2009
• Language: English
• Pages: 830-837
• Publication/Series: International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping
• Volume: 86
• Issue: 12
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpvp.2009.10.006
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Physical Sciences; Natural Sciences
• Keywords: Plasticity; Finite element modelling; compression; In-plane; Residual stress; High-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1879-3541