Fracture behaviour of 8%Ni 980 MPa high strength steel at various temperatures Part 2 - COD tests

The fracture behaviour of 8%Ni 980 MPa grade high strength steel is investigated by combining experimental results of crack opening displacement (COD) tests at various temperatures with detailed microscopic observations of fracture surfaces and crack configurations in unloaded specimens. The results reveal that this high strength steel possesses high toughness with a transition temperature around -150 degrees C. Even though at a very low temperature (-196 degrees C), cleavage cracking dominates the fracture process and the crack does not propagate immediately through the entire ligament: a 'pop-in' extension is observed in macroscopic tests, and the microscopic fracture mode is quasi-cleavage. It is found that resistance to crack propagation is provided by three barriers: original austenite grain boundaries, bainite colony boundaries and interlayers between bainite laths. These barriers manifest themselves by tear ridges with dimples on the fracture surfaces. At higher temperatures, the fracture mechanism is dominated by fibrous rupture, associated with a 'dimpled' fracture surface and some individual quasi-cleavage facets.