Comparative Analysis of Dynamic Strength and Impact Toughness of Pipe Steels

To study the dynamic strength of pipe steels, a cycle of dynamic tests of three grades of pipeline steels (X80, X90, and X100) was performed, which included three types of experiments based on the Kolsky method: uniaxial tension of smooth specimens, as well as tension of specimens with a V-shaped annular notch and Charpy impact test according to the three-point bending pattern of beam-type specimens with a V-notch. In the last two cases, the fracture force and impact toughness, as well as the nominal fracture stress in the specimen, were determined. To assess the effect of “cold brittleness” and determine the temperature of the ductile-brittle transition, the specified test cycle was carried out in the temperature range from +20°C to –100°C. As shown by the test results, the studied steels have a fairly high ductility: the elongation at break is 25-30%. Therefore, the destruction of specimens directly in the first load cycle is not always possible. The use of an original system for registering additional loading cycles makes it possible to determine in which loading cycle the specimen ruptured. The limiting characteristics of plasticity (ψ and δ ) of all tested steel grades are weakly dependent on both the strain rate and temperature (within the range of their variation). Whereas the impact toughness of steels significantly (2-3 times) decreases with a decrease in temperatures from room temperature to –100°C.