Determination of Dynamic Fracture Toughness of Nuclear Pressure Vessel Steel Using Electromagnetic Force

This paper is concerned with the application of electromagnetic force to the determination of dynamic fracture toughness. We take an edge-cracked specimen which carries a transient current I and is simply supported in a uniform and steady magnetic field B. In fracture analysis, the extended J-integral with the effect of the electromagnetic force and the inertia force is calculated. Also the R-curve technique is utilized in upper shelf temperature ranges and the electric potential method below the transition ones in order to detect the crack initiation. Using these techniques, we evaluate the dynamic fracture toughness of A508 cl. 3 steel and discuss about the loading rate effect on fracture toughness.