Experimental study and finite element analysis on fracture performance of ER55-G welds

In order to study the fracture performance of the ER55-G welds used together with Chinese Q460D low-alloy high-strength steel under multiaxial stress state, the uniaxial tensile fracture tests and finite element analyses (FEA) using ABAQUS were carried out on notched round bar specimens, flat grooved plate specimens, pure shear and tensile-shear flat plate specimens of the ER55-G welds respectively. Subsequently, the fracture surfaces were observed and analyzed, and the exponential ductile fracture criterion proposed by Rice and Tracey was calibrated with the test data. The results show that the stress state has an obvious influence on the fracture performance of the ER55-G welds. The FEA results are consistent with the test results. The notch radius, stress triaxiality and Lode angle parameter all affect the bearing capacity and ductility of the ER55-G welds. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.