On predicting the temperature and strain rate dependences of the fracture toughness of plain carbon steels

Abstract The variability of fracture toughness and its dependence on temperature and strain rate are described by applying a well-developed and accepted model to some recent data found in the literature. At low testing temperatures (⩽ − 60°C), the estimated fracture toughnesses agree well with the measured values when the strain rate increased from 0.0001/s to 1500/s. At room temperature, the calculated fracture toughnesses agree to within 10% or better with the measured values if work-hardening exponents higher than those used at lower temperatures are used in the model. The increase in fracture toughnesses at higher temperatures under higher loading rate conditions is also discussed.