Fracture behavior of A533B Class - 1 steel

The fracture behavior of ferritic steels is examined with special reference to the effects of interstitial impurities and radiation-induced defects. Tensile, 3-point bend and unloading compliance elastic-plastic fracture (J1c) tests were performed on A533B Class steel. While serrated flow is noted in the tensile tests, the 3-point bend and J1c test results clearly indicated energy minima in the upper shelf region where DSA is noted. The superimposed radiation effects revealed complex tends in the bend ductility and strengths while J1c results clearly demonstrated the suppression of DSA due to the interaction of interstitials with radiation-induced defects. (author)