Experimental analysis of differences in mechanical behaviour of cracked and notched specimens in a ferritic–pearlitic steel: Considerations about the notch effect on structural integrity

This paper analyses the experimental differences found between the mechanical behaviour of cracked and notched specimens. These differences are defined in terms of local strains, global strains, stresses and CTOD values during testing, and also through the correlations established between these variables. The experimental programme has been performed at a wide range of temperatures (from −100 °C to −20 °C), providing an outline of the notch effect throughout the transition region. The corresponding effects on structural integrity assessments (through failure assessment diagrams) are also analysed. From the results obtained, a clear notch effect has been defined in all the mentioned parameters and in the assessment itself for temperatures below the transition temperature (T < T0) of the material. The effect is less pronounced or even negligible at higher temperatures (T > T0).