2013 Volume 99 Issue 4 Pages 322-328
Austenitic stainless steel is widely used in important industries since it has excellent mechanical and chemical properties such as anti-corrosion, high ductility and high strength. In the past, it was reported that its extremely high energy absorption can be measured by the Charpy impact test. The mechanism of its energy absorption characteristic is still unclear and its rate sensitivity has not been discussed. In the present study, a rate sensitivity of energy absorption characteristic of austenitic stainless steel will be discussed experimentally by measuring J-integral under 3-point bending condition for a wide range of displacement rate. In the experiment, the direct current potential difference method is employed for sensing an onset of a stable crack extension. As a result, the positive rate sensitivity on the energy absorption can be observed and high energy absorption can be achieved by the high ductility of the steel.