Prediction of Fracture Resistance from Tensile Properties and Validation with Experimental Data for 316 Type Stainless Steels

Influence of test temperatures in the range 300-500 °C (including room temperature) on tensile properties and fracture toughness of SS 316 type austenitic stainless steel has been investigated. Decrease in yield strength, plateau in ultimate tensile strength and decrease in ductility was observed with test temperatures. Decrease in modulus of resilience and modulus of toughness was also observed. From true stress–true strain curves, strain hardening parameters and plastic strain energy density were determined. Plastic strain energy density was observed to follow trends similar to tensile properties. Fracture toughness (J_1c) and tearing resistance were determined from J–R cures. From J_1c, equivalent linear elastic fracture toughness (K_j1c) values were determined. An attempt was made to predict linear elastic fracture toughness (K_1c) from tensile properties, based on a previously proposed methodology. Estimated K_1c are compared with experimentally determined fracture toughness (K_j1c). Estimation of K_1c was also carried out for similar (SS 304 and SS 316) type of austenitic stainless steels and three other grades of steels. Based on estimated results, it is concluded that previous fracture toughness estimation scheme is applicable for austenitic stainless steels (SS 316 type and SS 304) and three other grades of steel.