Fracture Toughness J_IC Prediction From Super-Small Specimens (0.2CT, 0.5MM Thick) of a Martensitic Stainless Steel HT-9

The fracture toughness of alloy HT-9, a martensitic stainless steel under consideration for fusion reactor applications, was determined from 0.2CT (0.5mm thick) specimens. Specimens with thicknesses of 25 (1CT), 10 (0.4CT), 3 and 0.5 (0.2CT)mm were tested to investigate the effects of specimen size on fracture toughness. 0.2CT (0.5mm thick) specimens did not satisfy ASTM E813 size requirements for a valid J_Ic. Fractographic examinations of the variation of stretch zone width and fracture modes along the specimen thickness were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), where flat and shear fracture regions had been distinguished. A new J_Ic evaluation procedure for invalid specimen size is proposed using rigid plastic analysis and shear fracture measurements with fractographic observations. Predicted J_Ic values were compared with the J_Ic values obtained from valid specimen sizes. This miniaturized specimen technique may be applicable to post-irradiation fracture toughness testing.