Evaluations of ductile and cleavage fracture using coupled GTN and Beremin model in API X70 pipelines steel

This paper is aimed to characterize ductile and cleavage fracture behavior of API X70 pipeline steel and investigate applicability of a micro-damage mechanics model to simulate static and dynamic crack propagation of single-edge notched tension (SENT) and drop-weight tear test (DWTT) specimens, as well as a local approach to describe cleavage fracture behavior. Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman (GTN) model was applied to simulate ductile fracture behavior of SENT and DWTT specimens, where GTN model has been widely known for well-established model to characterize micro-damage process of void nucleation, growth and coalescence. As for a local approach, Beremin model was considered to estimate probability of cleavage fracture. In this regard, this study was especially focused on abnormal fracture appearance of DWTT specimen. In the present study, firstly, experiment data from tensile specimen test was used to obtain plastic flow curve (i.e. stress and strain curve). And load-CMOD and J-integral/CTOD resistance curves obtained from SENT test were used to characterize static ductile fracture and calibrate GTN model parameters for X70 pipeline steel. And the calibrated GTN model parameters were verified by comparing experiment data from DWTT test such as load-displacement and crack length-time curves with those from FE analysis. To accommodate dynamic effect on material properties, rate-dependent stress-strain curves were considered in FE analyses. To describe cleavage fracture, the Weibull stress was calculated from FE analyses of DWTT and Weibull parameters were calibrated by comparing with probability distribution of cleavage fracture from experiment data of DWTT specimen. Using Weibull parameters, the whole of cleavage fracture probability can be estimated as ductile shear area of DWTT specimen increases.