Dynamic fracture toughness of LWR pressure vessel steel A508 C1.3 : A Japanese round-robin study

Fracture mechanics approach has been widely applied to the evaluation of integrity and maintenance of machineries and structures. Since ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Secs. Ill and XI were established, fracture mechanics has been used in the evaluation of integrity of light water reactor pressure vessels and their fail safe performance. The materials applied to pressure retaining components such as pressure vessels must satify the reference fracture toughness K IR as determined by the minimum value of static and dynamic plane strain fracture toughness and crack arrest toughness. Among these three kinds of fracture toughness, the dynamic fracture toughness appears to be the minimum if brittle fracture is concerned (Nakano, et al. 19Ö0).