ASTM E399-12e3
Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness KIc of Metallic Materials

Standard No.

ASTM E399-12e3

Release Date

2012

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM E399-17

Latest

ASTM E399-23

Scope

5.1 The property K_Ic determined by this test method characterizes the resistance of a material to fracture in a neutral environment in the presence of a sharp crack under essentially linear-elastic stress and severe tensile constraint, such that (1) the state of stress near the crack front approaches tritensile plane strain, and (2) the crack-tip plastic zone is small compared to the crack size, specimen thickness, and ligament ahead of the crack.

5.1.1 Variation in the value of K_Ic can be expected within the allowable range of specimen proportions, a/W and W/B. K_Ic may also be expected to rise with increasing ligament size. Notwithstanding these variations, however, K_Ic is believed to represent a lower limiting value of fracture toughness (for 28201;% apparent crack extension) in the environment and at the speed and temperature of the test.

5.1.2 Lower values of K_Ic can be obtained for materials that fail by cleavage fracture; for example, ferritic steels in the ductile-to-brittle transition region or below, where the crack front length affects the measurement in a stochastic manner independent of crack front constraint. The present test method does not apply to such materials and the user is referred to Test Method E1921 and E1820. Likewise this test method does not apply to high toughness or high tearing-resistance materials whose failure is accompanied by appreciable amounts of plasticity. Guidance on testing elastic-plastic materials is given in Test Method E1820.

5.1.3 The value of K_Ic obtained by this test method may be used to estimate the relation between failure stress and crack size for a material in service wherein the conditions of high constraint described above would be expected. Background information concerning the basis for development of this test method in terms of linear elastic fracture mechanics may be found in Refs (1) and (2).

5.1.4 Cyclic forces can cause crack extension at K_I values less than K_Ic. Crack extension under cyclic or sustained forces (as by stress corrosion cracking or creep crack growth) can be influenced by temperature and environment. Therefore, when K_Ic is applied to the design of service components, differences between laboratory test and field conditions shall be considered.

5.1.5 Plane-strain fracture toughness testing is unusual in that there can be no advance assurance that a valid K _Ic will be determined in a particular test. Therefore, compliance with the specified validity criteria of this test method is essential.

5.1.6  Residual stresses can adversely ......

ASTM E399-12e3 Referenced Document

• ASTM B645 Standard Practice for Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness Testing of Aluminum Alloys
• ASTM B909 Standard Guide for Plane Strain Fracture Toughness Testing of Non-Stress Relieved Aluminum Products
• ASTM E177 Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• ASTM E1820 Standard Test Method for Measurement of Fracture Toughness
• ASTM E1823 Standard Terminology Relating to Fatigue and Fracture Testing
• ASTM E1921 Standard Test Method for Determination of Reference Temperature, T_o, for Ferritic Steels in the Transition Range
• ASTM E337 Standard Test Method for Measuring Humidity with a Psychrometer (the Measurement of Wet- and Dry-Bulb Temperatures)
• ASTM E4 Standard Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
• ASTM E456 Standard Terminology for Relating to Quality and Statistics
• ASTM E691 Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• ASTM E8/E8M Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

ASTM E399-12e3 history

• 2023 ASTM E399-23 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness of Metallic Materials
• 2022 ASTM E399-22 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness of Metallic Materials
• 2020 ASTM E399-20a Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness of Metallic Materials
• 2020 ASTM E399-20 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K_IC of Metallic Materials
• 2019 ASTM E399-19 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K_IC of Metallic Materials
• 2017 ASTM E399-17 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness KIc of Metallic Materials
• 2012 ASTM E399-12e3 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness KIc of Metallic Materials
• 2012 ASTM E399-12e2 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness KIc of Metallic Materials
• 2012 ASTM E399-12e1 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness KIc of Metallic Materials
• 2012 ASTM E399-12 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K Ic of Metallic Materials
• 2009 ASTM E399-09e2 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness _Ic of Metallic Materials
• 2009 ASTM E399-09e1 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K Ic of Metallic Materials
• 2009 ASTM E399-09 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K Ic of Metallic Materials
• 2008 ASTM E399-08 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K Ic of Metallic Materials
• 2006 ASTM E399-06e2 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K Ic of Metallic Materials
• 2006 ASTM E399-06e1 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K_Ic of Metallic Materials
• 2006 ASTM E399-06 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K _Ic of Metallic Materials
• 2005 ASTM E399-05 Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness K_IC of Metallic Materials
• 1990 ASTM E399-90(1997) Standard Test Method for Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness of Metallic Materials