EFFECTS OF MATERIAL TOUGHNESS AND PLATE THICKNESS ON BRITTLE FRACTURE OF STEEL MEMBERS

Extensive research efforts have been devoted to clarifying the causes and their physical relationships of the brittle fracture of steel structures observed in the 1994 Northridge and 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake Disasters. This paper reports results of a full-scale fracture test to identify the effects of material toughness and plate thickness on the plastic deformation capacity governed by brittle fracture. Two innovative methods, termed the artificial hot spot method and multiple critical point method, were employed for the experiment in order to simulate brittle fracture in steel members undergoing plastic deformation and to obtain reliable data from a small number of specimens. The artificial hot spot method was found with absolute certainty to originate brittle fracture at an intended location, and the multiple critical point method yielded satisfactory consistency in statistical estimation of prefracture ductility. Test results demonstrated that material toughness in terms of Charpy impact energy has a substantial influence on the ductility governed by brittle fracture, while the plate thickness is of less importance within the test range greater than an inch. It is suggested from this fact that Charpy values of structural steels, which are not specified or specified only to be greater than a single low level in current material standards, should be classified into multiple grades in accordance with the necessary performance levels of ductility required in earthquake resistant design.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339445
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Kuwamura, H
  • Iyama, J
  • Matsui, K
• Publication Date: 2003-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1475-83
• Serial:
  • Journal of Structural Engineering
  • Volume: 129
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9445
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/loi/jsendh

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brittleness; Ductility; Earthquake resistant design; Fracture properties; Seismicity; Steel structures; Structural deterioration and defects; Structural members
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00964645
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 30 2003 12:00AM