Distinct Fracture Patterns in Construction Steels for Reinforced Concrete under Quasistatic Loading— A Review

Abstract

Steel is one of the most widely used materials in construction. Nucleation growth and coalescence theory is usually employed to explain the fracture process in ductile materials, such as many metals. The typical cup-cone fracture pattern has been extensively studied in the past, giving rise to numerical models able to reproduce this pattern. Nevertheless, some steels, such as the eutectoid steel used for manufacturing prestressing wires, does not show this specific shape but a flat surface with a dark region in the centre of the fracture area. Recent studies have deepened the knowledge on these distinct fracture patterns, shedding light on some aspects that help to understand how damage begins and propagates in each case. The numerical modelling of both fracture patterns have also been discussed and reproduced with different approaches. This work reviews the main recent advances in the knowledge on this subject, particularly focusing on the experimental work carried out by the authors.

Mechanical Behavior of High-Strength, Low-Alloy Steels

“…Zhang et al [11] investigate the brittle fracture of large press die holders following a systematic approach that encompasses chemical composition analysis, mechanical property testing, and microstructure examination of the critical area; Riyanta et al [12] determine the fracture resistance of AISI 304 welding by Charpy impact testing, relating the values of energy absorption to the presence of chromium interstitial solute and chromium carbide precipitation. Last, but not least, Suárez et al [13] review the recent experimental and numerical advances dealing with fracture mechanics in steels with a primary focus on flat-fracture surfaces.…”

Fracture locus of a Cor-ten weathering steel: Experimental–numerical calibration

“…Hancock & Mackenzie [27] and, successively, Johnson & Cook [28], starting from the work of Rice & Tracey, proposed new models that included the effects of temperature and strain rate also. Studies by Bao [29,30], carried out on aluminum, showed how triaxiality affects the maximum plastic strain to fracture. This relation cannot be modeled with a monotonic decreasing function: different triaxiality levels are, for most of the materials, associated with different failure mechanisms (Fig.…”

“…The same configurations were Figure 4: Relation between the stress triaxiality and the equivalent strain to fracture. Adapted from [30].…”

The Evolution of Internal Damage Identified by Means of X-ray Computed Tomography in Two Steels and the Ensuing Relation with Gurson’s Numerical Modelling

“…This analysis was performed with 3 mm-diameter specimens to allow penetration of X-rays into the material. Please note that some of the results presented here were already included in [26], but are now completed with more figures that help to better describe the damage evolution process in each material.…”