The fracture behaviour of cast steel and its prediction based on the local approach Original Research Article

The master curve (MC) concept has been used for assessment of the fracture toughness transition behaviour of C–Mn cast steel intended for fabrication of large containers for spent nuclear fuel (ŠKODA). Standard fracture toughness tests using single edge notched bend specimens (SENB) with various crack lengths, the static tests of the CVN specimens and the axisymmetric notched tensile specimens have been utilised. The transferability of results received on the small pre-cracked Charpy specimens are tested here and the methodology MC is applied. For determining the reference transition temperature, To, which is taken as a basic material characteristic positioning the MC on the temperature axis, the large (1T) specimens are required. Additionally, the small pre-cracked Charpy-type specimens have been used for determining the fracture transition behaviour and for fracture toughness measurement and prediction.