EFFECT OF MODE I AND II THERMOMECHANICAL PRE-LOADING ON THE FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF HEAT-RESISTANT VESSEL STEELS

The paper presents results of experimental investigations to assess the effect of Mode I and II thermomechanical pre-loading on the crack resistance of specimens in four-point bending tests. Specimens were subjected to Mode I and II repeated loading. The investigations were carried out on heat-resistant reactor steels. An algorithm for the numerical assessment of fracture toughness with allowance for thermomechanical pre-loading under mixed loading conditions is proposed.