EVALUATION OF FRACTURE TESTS AND SPECIMEN PREPARATION

Factors affecting the evaluation of fracture tests receive general attention in this chapter. The discussion begins with observations on the philosophy of testing; this is followed by a brief description of 11 types of tests commonly employed for steel, with examples of the types of data obtained. For the most part, the discussion in this chapter centers about those types of tests associated with the transition temperature concept. The topic of fracture mechanics testing, of obvious importance, receives only limited attention because other chapters in this treatise are devoted solely to this complex topic. Brief comments are offered about factors that play an important role in testing and interpretation; namely, the effects of welding procedures, residual stress, flaws, and instrumentation. The last major section discusses techniques for interpreting the test results and factors that must be considered in such interpretation.