Retracted: Modeling fracture toughness of functionally graded steels in crack divider configuration

Fracture toughness of functionally graded steels in crack divider configuration has been modeled. By utilizing plain carbon and austenitic stainless steel slices with various thicknesses and arrangements as electroslag remelting electrodes, functionally graded steels were produced. The fracture toughness of the functionally graded steels was found to depend on the type, volume fraction and position of the phases present. According to the area under the stress-strain curve of each layer in the functionally graded composites, a mathematical model has been presented for fracture toughness prediction using the rule of mixtures. In addition, the fracture toughness of the composites has been simulated by the 3D dynamic finite element method. There is good agreement between experimental results and those acquired from the numerical and mathematical models.