Fracture toughness evaluation of a low upper-shelf weld metal from the Midland Reactor using the master curve

The primary objective of the Heavy-Section Steel Irradiation (HSSI) Program Tenth Irradiation Series was to develop a fracture mechanics evaluation of weld metal WF-70, which was taken from the beltline and nozzle course girth weld joints of the Midland Reactor vessel. This material became available when Consumers Power Company of Midland, Michigan, decided to abort plans to operate their nuclear power plant. WF-70 is classified as a low upper-shelf steel primarily due to the Linde 80 flux that was used in the submerged-arc welding process. The master curve concept is introduced to model the transition range fracture toughness when the toughness is quantified in terms of K{sub Jc} values. K{sub Jc} is an elastic-plastic stress intensity factor calculated by conversion from J{sub c}; i.e., J-integral at onset of cleavage instability.