Thermomechanical analysis of thermal shock fracture in the brittle/ductile transition zone. Part I: description of tests

This article describes the experimental part of a project to develop a method for testing thermal shock combined with mechanical loading. The main objectives were to create the conditions for a major shock and to carry out the test in the laboratory using conventional equipment. The work focused on 16 MND 5 steel (A508) used for reactor vessels and on tearing close to the brittle/ductile transition temperature. The article is divided into two main parts:• rst describes how the properties of the material were determined. These properties were required for numerical simulations and for understanding the fracture mechanisms. cond describes the test proposed using a specially-adapted compact specimen and the preliminary test results. It also describes the test potential, particularly the thermal gradients that can be obtained and the possible loading/temperature changes.