Assessment of Macroscopically Inhomogeneous Fracture Toughness Data Sets Using the Simplified and Multimodal Master Curve Methods

Published

March 13, 2023

Author(s)

Enrico Lucon

Abstract

A number of large, historical fracture toughness data sets have been analyzed according to the provisions of ASTM E1921-22a, in order to compare two Master Curve methods for assessing potential macroscopic material inhomogeneity: simplified method (based on the SINTAP procedure) and multimodal approach. Analyses conducted on 51 data sets, 20 of which inhomogeneous, demonstrated substantial equivalence between the two approaches, even below the current applicability limit of the multimodal method (20 data points). A revised (lower) limit might be considered for future revisions of the E1921 standard. Overall, the simplified method provides slightly more conservative assessments, while the multimodal approach is likely more accurate. Freeware tools are currently available for the application of both methodologies, and of ASTM E1921 in general, for the analysis of fracture toughness data obtained in the ductile-to-brittle transition regime.

Citation

Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics

Volume

125

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2023.103861

Local Download

Keywords

ASTM E1921, ductile-to-brittle transition regime, fracture toughness, inhomogeneous data sets, Master Curve, multimodal method, simplified method

Citation

Lucon, E. (2023), Assessment of Macroscopically Inhomogeneous Fracture Toughness Data Sets Using the Simplified and Multimodal Master Curve Methods, Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2023.103861, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=936106 (Accessed May 8, 2026)

Additional citation formats