INTEGRATION OF METALLURGICAL AND FRACTURE MECHANICS CONCEPTS OF TRANSITION TEMPERATURE FACTORS RELATING TO FRACTURE-SAFE DESIGN FOR STRUCTURAL STEELS.

Abstract : The report presents interpretations of the relationships between micromechanical and macromechanical ductilities, a broad survey of the evolution of the various aspects of transition temperature concepts, and a summary of recent research which has clarified the constraint-effects issue. As an essential part of the background survey, the basic aspects of micromechanical fracture processes are described in an abridged form. An introduction to the elementary aspects of fracture mechanics theory, for purposes of this report, is provided. (Author)