Modelling of the Charpy V-notch test at low temperature for structural steels.

Charpy V notch specimens taken out from a pressure vessel steel are tested on a standard instrumented pendulum impact machine at low temperature. Numerical calculations were carried out to model these tests using a plane strain and plane stress analysis. The strain rate effect on the yield stress is investigated. The anvils and the striker are supposed rigid bodies with sliding friction surfaces. A comparison of the load-displacement curves indicate an overestimation by a plane strain analysis whereas a plane stress underesimate the experimental curve. In order to apply the Beremin model (1), attention is payed to obtain correct local stress and strain fields.