EAS 203

Fundamentals of Corrosion & Fracture Mechanics (Experiment 1)

EAS 203 Fundaments of Corrosion and Fracture Mechanics EXPERIMENT 1 Effects of Transition Temperature on Aerospace Materials

Learning outcomes:
At the end of the session, you will be able to: 1. 2. 3. understand the effect of temperature on the fracture behaviour of steel and aluminium. carry out impact testing on standard steel and aluminium specimens at various temperature. determine the ductile-brittle transition temperature of plain carbon steel and aluminium alloy.

Apparatus & materials: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Charpy impact tester Five Charpy impact notched specimens of carbon steel Freezer Boiling water Ice and dry ice Liquid Nitrogen Surface thermoprobe Image Analyser software

Introduction: The presence of a notch causes a triaxial stress concentration when a bar undergoes bending. The stress pattern that favours the quick spread of a fracture in a brittle manner is termed as brittle failure --- little plastic deformation could easily propagate cracks although the energy propagating the specimen can be small. In the case of a specimen experiencing larger plastic deformation either at higher temperature or a slower strain rate before failure is termed as ductile failure. Generally, BCC metals, ceramics and polymers change from ductile to brittle behaviour over a temperature range. The temperature that causes change from a high-energy fracture to a low-energy one is known as the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). In practice, it is very difficult and expensive to obtain an accurate DBTT.

To obtain an estimated DBTT, we can determine the transition zone. There are many ways of determining transition temperature. These ways could be demonstrated based on a certain amount of energy absorbed (e.g. 15 J), change in fracture aspects (50% fibrous fracture), or lateral contraction (e.g. 1 %) that occurs at notch root. The transition temperature varies widely with the composition, heat treatment, processing and microstructure of the steel. Notch size, specimen thickness, rate of loading will also influence the transition temperature. In addition, the changes in energy from ductile to brittle fracture will accompany changes in appearance of the fracture surface. Below the transition temperature, the fracture surface has a shiny and crystalline appearance. Above the transition temperature, a dull and fibrous appearance is observed. The fibrous appearance revealed that extensive plastic deformation has occurred before a failure. Ductile failure is a result of deformation by plastic shearing - almost tearing apart. Brittle failure is a result of fracturing along particular crystallographic plane known as the cleavage plane. Procedure: 1. 2. Test the first specimen at room temperature. (Make a note of the room temperature). Break the remaining specimens at different temperature. A 100 C is achieved by soaking in sufficient time in boiling water. Ice/boiling water will provide temperature between 0 and 100 C. The freezer will provide a temperature between -30 to 0 C. Use the surface thermoprobe to measure the surface temperature of the specimen before invoking the Charpy tester. Take note of the amount of energy absorbed by the material and therefore study the appearance of the fracture surface for each of the case. ENSURE everyone is well clear of the complete arc of the swing of the pendulum BEFORE releasing the pendulum. DO NOT attempt to stop the pendulum with your hands. Plot a graph of absorbed energy versus temperature. Fill in the results in the table and answer the questions given.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

EXPERIMENT 1: Effects of Transition Temperature on Aerospace Materials

Name :_________________________________________________ Date:_______________ UNSIM Adm No:_____________________________ Class:_____________________ RESULT TABLE Steel (Plain Carbon Steel)

Specimen

Testing Temperature

Energy Absorbed (J)

% Brittle Fracture

1 2 3 4 5
RESULT TABLE Aluminium (2024-T4)

Specimen

Testing Temperature

Energy Absorbed (J)

% Brittle Fracture

1 2 3 4 5
Plot a curve of Temperature (X-axis) against Energy (Y-axis) and estimate the transition temperature using the mean energy approach, that is
Max.Energy + Min.Energy . 2

Write down your learning pointers below:

Plot on the same graph paper, a curve of Temperature (X-axis) against % brittle fracture (Y-axis) and estimate the transition temperature when the % brittle fracture is 50%. Write down your learning pointers below:

Write down the major observations (e.g. similarities, differences, etc) you have discovered during the experiment.

Write down how you would distinguish between ductile failure and brittle failure.

Write down how you would apply todays lesson (on the effects of transition temperature) on aerospace components. Also, write down (in your own understanding) the importance of transition temperature.