Skip to main content

Microstructural effects on the cleavage fracture stress of fully pearlitic eutectoid steel

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A volume 17, pages 1769–1786 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

The microstructural parameter(s) controlling the critical cleavage fracture stress, σF, of fully pearlitic eutectoid steel have been investigated. Independent variation of the pearlite interlamellar spacing,S p, and the prior austenite grain size were accomplished through heat treatment. Critical cleavage fracture stresses were measured on bluntly-notched bend specimens tested over the temperature range -125 °C to 23 °C. The cleavage fracture stress increased with decreasingS p, and was independent of prior austenite grain size. Fine pearlitic microstructures exhibited temperature, strain-rate, and notched-bar geometry independent values for σF, consistent with propagation-controlled cleavage fracture. Coarse pearlitic specimens exhibited temperature-dependent values for σF over a similar temperature range. Inclusion-initiated fractures were generally located at or beyond the location of the peak normal stress in the bend bar, while cracking associated with pearlite colonies was observed to be closer to the notch than the predicted peak stress location. The calculated values for σF were independent of both the type and location of initiation site(e. g., inclusion, pearlite colony). Thus, although inclusions may provide potent fracture initiation sites, their presence or absence does not necessarily change σF in fully pearlitic microstructures.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. A. R. Rosenfield, G. T. Hahn, and J. D. Embury:Metall. Trans., 1972, vol. 3, pp. 2797–2804.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. J. M. Hyzak and I. M. Bernstein:Metall. Trans. A, 1976, vol. 7A, pp. 1217–24.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. A. R. Marder and B. L. Bramfitt:Metall. Trans. A, 1976, vol. 7A, pp. 365–72.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. J.P. Houin, A. Simon, and G. Beck:Trans. I.S.I.J., 1981, vol. 21, pp. 726–31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. G.T. Gray, III, A. W. Thompson, and J.C. Williams:Metall. Trans. A, 1983, vol. 14A, p. 421.

    Google Scholar 

  6. D. J. Alexander and I. M. Bernstein: inPhase Transformations in Ferrous Alloys, A.R. Marder and J.I. Goldstein, eds., TMSAIME, Warrendale, PA, 1984, pp. 243–57.

    Google Scholar 

  7. B.E. O’Donnelly, R.L. Reuben, and T. N. Baker:Metals Technology, 1984, vol. 11, pp. 45–51.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Gensamer, E. B. Pearsall, and G. V. Smith:Trans. ASM, 1940, vol. 28, pp. 388–95.

    Google Scholar 

  9. M. Gensamer, E.B. Pearsall, W. S. Pellin, and J. R. Low, Jr.:Trans. ASM, 1942, vol. 30, pp. 983–1019.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. D.C. Lemon and O.D. Sherby:J. Materials, 1969, vol. 4, pp. 444–56.

    Google Scholar 

  11. T. Gladman, I.D. McIvor, and F. B. Pickering:J.I.S.I., 1972, vol. 210, pp. 916–30.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. H. Sunwoo, M. E. Fine, and D. H. Stone:Metall. Trans. A, 1982, vol. 13A, pp. 2035–47.

    Google Scholar 

  13. J. Gil Sevillano: inInternational Conf. on Strength of Metals and Alloys-5, P. Haasen, ed., Pergamon Press, New York, NY, 1979, pp. 819–24.

    Google Scholar 

  14. T. Takahasi and M. Nagumo:Trans. J.I.M., 1970, vol. 11, pp. 113–19.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Y. Yamada:Trans. I.S.I.J., 1977, vol. 17, pp. 516–22.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. D. A. Porter, I.E. Easterling, and G.D.W. Smith:Acta Metall., 1978, vol. 26, pp. 1405–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. L.E. Miller and G.C. Smith:J.I.S.I., 1970, vol. 208, pp. 998–1005.

    Google Scholar 

  18. F. B. Pickering:Iron and Steel, 1965, vol. 38, pp. 110–18.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. K.W. Burns and F. B. Pickering:J.I.S.I., 1964, vol. 202, pp. 889–906.

    Google Scholar 

  20. J. Pepe:Metall. Trans., 1973, vol. 4, pp. 2455–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. G. Langford:Metall. Trans. A, 1977, vol. 8A, pp. 861–75.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. P. Steif:Int. J. Solids and Structures, in press.

  23. Y. J. Park and I. M. Bernstein:Fracture 1977, D. M. R. Taplin, ed., Univ. of Waterloo Press, Waterloo, ON, 1977, vol. 2, pp. 33–40.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Y.J. Park and I. M. Bernstein:Metall. Trans. A, 1979, vol. 10A, pp. 1653–64.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Y. J. Park and I. M. Bernstein:Rail Steels: Developments, Processing and Use, ASTM STP 644, D. H. Stone and G. G. Knupp, eds., ASTM, Philadelphia, PA, 1978, pp. 287–302.

    Google Scholar 

  26. J.J. Lewandowski and A.W. Thompson:Metall. Trans. A, 1986, vol. 17A, pp. 461–72.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. D. A. Curry and J.F. Knott:Metal Sci., 1978, vol. 12, pp. 511–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. J.F. Knott:J.I.S.I., 1966, vol. 204, pp. 104–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. C. J. McMahon, Jr., and M. Cohen:Acta Metall., 1965, vol. 13, pp. 591–604.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. H. Kotilainen: “The Micromechanisms of Cleavage Fracture and Their Relationship to Fracture Toughness in a Bainitic Low Alloy Steel,” Ph.D. Thesis, Technical Research Center of Finland, Espoo, Finland, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  31. P. Brozzo, G. Buzzichelli, A. Mascanzoni, and M. Mirabile:Metal Sci., 1977, vol. 11, p. 123.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. P. Bowen and J.F. Knott:Metal Sci., 1984, vol. 18, pp. 225–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. J.F. Knott:Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics, Butterworths, London, 1973, p. 178.

    Google Scholar 

  34. J.F. Knott:J.I.S.I., 1967, vol. 205, pp. 288–91.

    Google Scholar 

  35. A. S. Tetelman, T. P. Wilshaw, and C. A. Rau, Jr.:Int. Jnl. of Fract. Mech., 1968, vol. 4, pp. 147–56.

    Google Scholar 

  36. G. T. Hahn:Metall. Trans. A, 1984, vol. 15A, pp. 947–59.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. A.R. Rosenfield, E. Votava, and G.T. Hahn:Trans. ASM, 1968, vol. 61, p. 807.

    Google Scholar 

  38. J. J. Lewandowski: “Hydrogen Effects on Cleavage Fracture in Fully Pearlitic 1080 Steel”, Ph.D. Thesis, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  39. J.R. Griffiths and D. R. J. Owen:J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 1971, vol. 19, pp. 419–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. J.F. Knott:J.I.S.I., 1966, vol. 204, pp. 1014–21.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. O.A. Onyewenyi: “Studies on Plastic Instability, Notch Deformation and Hydrogen Effects on Spheroidized Steel”, Ph.D. Thesis, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  42. D.J. Alexander, J.J. Lewandowski, W. J. Sisak, and A.W. Thompson:J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 1986, in press.

  43. R. Bradford: CEGB Report No. SWR/SSD/S/1300/S/83, 1983.

  44. M. Wall and A.J.E. Foreman: Harwell Report No. 11620, 1985.

  45. J.J. Lewandowski and A.W. Thompson:Fracture 1984 -Proceedings of the 6th Int’l. Conf. on Fracture-ICF6, S. R. Valluri, D. M. R. Taplin, P. Rama Rao, J.F. Knott, and R. Dubey, eds., Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1984, vol. 2, pp. 1515–24.

    Google Scholar 

  46. F. P. Beer and E. R. Johnston:Mechanics of Materials, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1981, ch. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  47. S.A. Mohamed and A.H. Shabaik:J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 1974, vol. 22, pp. 503–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. D. J. Alexander: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 1983, unpublished research.

  49. G. T. Hahn, B. L. Averbach, W. S. Owen, and M. Cohen:Fracture, B. L. Averbachet al., eds., John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY, 1959, p. 91.

    Google Scholar 

  50. A. P. Green and B. B. Hundy:J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 1956, vol. 4, pp. 128–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. D.J. Alexander: “Microstructural Effects on Cleavage Fracture in Fully Pearlitic Eutectoid Steel”, Ph.D. Thesis, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  52. J.E. Costa and A. W. Thompson:Metall. Trans. A, 1981, vol. 12A, pp. 761–71.

    Google Scholar 

  53. R. I. Garber, I. M. Bernstein, and A. W. Thompson:Metall. Trans. A, 1981, vol. 12A, pp. 225–34.

    Google Scholar 

  54. D.E. Hodgson and A. S. Tetelman: inProceedings of 2nd Intl. Conf. on Fracture-Fracture 1969, Chapman and Hall, paper no. 22, pp. 266–77.

  55. D.A. Curry:Metal Sci., 1980. vol. 14, pp. 319–26.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. J. J. Lewandowski: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 1983, unpublished research.

  57. F. B. Pickering: inTowards Improved Ductility and Toughness, Climax Molybdenum Co., Ann Arbor, MI, 1971, pp. 9–31.

    Google Scholar 

  58. D. R. J. Owen, G. C. Nayak, A. P. Kfouri, and J. R. Griffiths:Int. Jnl. Num. Meth., 1973, vol. 6, pp. 63–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. E. Orowan:Trans. Inst. Engrs. Shipbuilders Scot., 1945, vol. 89, pp. 165–215.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. T. Yokobori, Y. Sawaki, S. Shono, and A. Kumagai:Trans. J.I.M., 1976, vol. 17, p. 149.

    Google Scholar 

  61. V.A. Palyanichka:Metallurgia, 1978, vol. 12, p. 20.

    Google Scholar 

  62. J. J. Lewandowski and A. W. Thompson:Acta Metall., in press.

  63. K. Kuhne and W. Dahl:Arch. Eisenhüttenwes., 1983, vol. 54, pp. 439–44.

    Google Scholar 

  64. R. O. Ritchie, J. F. Knott, and J. R. Rice:J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 1973, vol. 21, pp. 395–410.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. J. J. Lewandowski: unpublished research, 1985.

  66. C. J. McMahon, Jr. and M. Cohen:Acta Metall., 1965, vol. 13, pp. 591–604.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. J.J. Lewandowski and A. W. Thompson: inFracture Control of Engineering Structures-ECF6, Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Fracture, H. C. van Elst and A. Bakker, eds., EMAS, 1986, vol. III, pp. 1985–95.

  68. F. P. Kavishe and T.J. Baker:Mat. Sci. and Tech., 1986, vol. 2, pp. 583–88.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. F. P. L. Kavishe and T. J. Baker: inFracture Control of Engineering Structures-ECF6, Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Fracture, H. C. van Elst and A. Bakker, eds., EMAS, 1986, vol. III, pp. 1721–37.

  70. D. J. Alexander and I. M. Bernstein: unpublished research, 1986. 71. J. Gil Sevillano, J.M. Rodriquez Ibabe, and A. Martin Meizoso: in8th International Wheelset Congress, Madrid, 1985, pp. 12:1–17.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Case Western Reserve University, 44106, Cleveland, OH

    J. J. Lewandowski (Assistant Professor)

  2. Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Carnegie Mellon University, 15213, Pittsburgh, PA

    A. W. Thompson (Professor)

Authors
  1. J. J. Lewandowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. W. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

formerly Graduate Student, Carnegie Mellon University

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lewandowski, J.J., Thompson, A.W. Microstructural effects on the cleavage fracture stress of fully pearlitic eutectoid steel. Metall Mater Trans A 17, 1769–1786 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02817275

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02817275

Keywords

  • Pearlite
  • Cleavage Fracture
  • Notch Root
  • Pearlitic Microstructure
  • Cleavage Fracture Stress