In order to evaluate fracture toughness of flake graphite cast iron, J
IC test was performed on standard three point bending specimens of FC 15-30 class irons and the implication of the obtained J
in values were discussed based on the J-
Δa curves and fracture process observations. The compliance method was used to estimate crack lengths as these are difficult to measure by standard methods.
The J-
Δa curves obtained indicate crack extention under small load, and not crack blunting as reported for nodular iron and other metals. Microscopic cracks initiate along graphite flakes around the notch tip and easily propagate in the eutectic cells. From these initial cracks, a macroscopic fracture propagates through the metallic matrix. This occurs at the nodal point in the J-
Δa curve. At the nodal point, the load is about 95% of the maximum load and the initial cracks have grown to 0.5-1mm, the order of the cell size. The J
in value of flake graphite cast iron, defined by the nodal point was about 0.5-1.2kgf/mm for FC 15-30 irons, which gives a Kc value (K(J
in)) of 75-125kgf/mm
3/2. This K(J
in) value is 20-30% higher than the K(P
max), 50-100kgf/mm
3/2, calculated directly from the maximum load. Considering the ease of estimating, good experimental correlation with K(J
in), and its accuracy on the whole in application, K(P
max) can be adopted as a safe value for practical purposes although its mechanical implications are not clear.
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