ELSEVIER Journal of Nuclear Materials 212-215 (1994) 1682-1687

Current status of small specimen technology in Charpy

impact testing
H. Kurishita, H. Kayano, M. Narui, M. Yamazaki
The Oarai Branch, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai, Ibaraki-ken 311-13, Japan

Abstract

The current status of small-scale specimen technology in Charpy impact testing for ferritic steels is presented,
with emphasis on the effect of the notch dimensions (notch depth, notch root radius and notch angle) on the upper
shelf energy (USE) and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). The USE for miniaturized specimens,
normalized by Bb* or (Bbj3/* (B is the specimen thickness, b the ligament size), is essentially independent of notch
geometry and has a linear relationship with the USE of full size specimens, regardless of irradiation and alloy
conditions. The DB’IT of miniaturized specimens depends strongly on the notch dimensions; this dependence of the
DB’IT decreases as the DBTT of full size specimens increase due to neutron irradiation or thermal aging. These
results may be useful in determining the USE and DBTI for full size specimens from those for miniaturized
specimens.

1. IntruduMion the notch dimensions (notch depth, notch root radius

It is well known that small specimen technology is
required in mechanical testing for the fusion reactor
materials development program, since it must rely on
accelerator-based high energy neutron sources that are
quite limited in irradiation volume. In Charpy impact
testing, with which the present paper is concerned, the
major problems caused by the ‘use of miniaturized
specimens are that both the upper shelf energy (USE)
and the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature
(DB’IT) are considerably lower than those of full size
specimens. Many attempts to determine the USE and
DBTT of full size specimens have been made by using
one third sized [l-9] or more miniaturized specimens
[lo-121. Although some successful results have been
reported, it is desirable to improve the methodology to
correlate the USE and DBTI of different sized speci-
mens.
The present authors had a particular interest in the
effect of the notch geometry on Charpy impact test
results of ferritic steels because the effect of the notch
may be controlled by varying notch dimensions. In this
paper, the current status of the studies on the effect of
and notch angle) on the USE and DBTT is presented.
2. Experimental
Four ferritic steels that have different Charpy im-
pact properties were used, i.e., JFMS (Japanese fer-
rite/martensite dual phase steel) in the unirradiated
and irradiated conditions, and two other high strength
ferritic steels that have lower values of USE and DBTI
than the unirradiated and irradiated JFMS. Full size
and miniaturized Charpy specimens were prepared in
which the axis of the specimen lay in the rolling direc-
tion. The miniaturized specimens were of four differ-
ent sizes, 3.3 by 3.3 by 23.6 mm, 2.0 by 2.0 by 20 mm,
1.5 by 1.5 by 20 mm and 1.0 by 1.0 by 20 mm. They are
here called 3.3, 2, 1.5 and 1 mm specimen, respectively.
Each of them had three or four variations in notch
dimensions; an example of the nominal and measured
values is tabulated in Table 1 for unirradiated JFMS.
The measured values correspond to the average of all
the measured values, with the range of measured val-
ues given in parentheses. A notch root radius of ap-

0022-3115/94/$07.00 0 1994 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

LSD1 0022-3115(94)00280-2
 H. Kurishita et al. /Journal of Nuclear Materials 212-215 (1994) 1682-1687 1683

proximately 0.02 mm is the minimum value that can be
achieved by machining. A very large notch root radius
of 0.25 mm for specimen type no. 12 is specially intro-
duced to examine the effect of less sharp notch on the
USE and DB’IT for the smallest-sized 1 mm speci-
mens.
Neutron irradiation was performed to a dose of
3 x 10z2 n/m2 (E > 0.1 MeV) at about 300°C in the
Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR), in which it is
possible to irradiate full size specimens as well as
miniaturized specimens at the same time.
The specimens were subjected to instrumented
Charpy impact tests at temperatures between 93 and
473 K using a specially designed electrically controlled
hydraulic machine. The details of the machine and the
procedures developed for testing were described ear-
lier [13]. The span was set at 40 mm for full size
specimens, 15 mm for 3.3 mm specimens, 12.5 mm for
the other miniaturized specimens. The ratio of the
span to the specimen width was 4.0 for full size speci-
mens, 4.55 for 3.3 mm specimens, 6.25 for 2 mm
specimens, 8.33 for 1.5 mm specimens and 12.5 for 1
mm specimens.
The DBTT was determined using three different
measurements: energy absorption, ductility (i.e., the
amount of lateral expansion at the compression side of
the specimen), and fracture appearance (i.e., the per-
centage of fibrous fracture). The fracture surfaces of
both halves of each broken specimen were observed by
scanning electron microscopy GEM) to obtain the lat-
ter two measurements. The values of USE and DBTI
were determined from total absorbed energy versus
temperature curves of all specimens tested. The DBTT
was determined as the temperature at which one half
of the USE was absorbed during fracture.
3. Results and discussion
The effect of the notch dimensions on the tempera-
ture dependence of the total absorbed energy in minia-
turized specimens is shown in Fig. 1 [ll], taking the 2
mm specimen of the unirradiated JFMS as an example.
It is clear that the impact behavior is affected by each
of the notch dimensions, i.e., notch angle, notch root
radius and notch depth. The USE is dependent on
notch depth, but not on notch angle or notch root
radius, whereas the DB’IT changes significantly with
all three notch dimensions, particularly notch depth
and notch root radius. This trend was evident for other
specimen sizes.
3.1. Upper shelf energy
To correlate the USE of miniaturized and full size
specimens, the measured USES were divided by vari-
ous geometric factors and compared. The best correla-
tion, which was still not satisfactory, was obtained

Table 1
Notch dimensions for miniaturized and full size Charpy specimens of JFMS
Specimen Size Notch depth Notch root radius Notch angle
Type a (mm) P (mm) TV(deg)
Nominal Measured Nominal Measured Nominal Measured
1 3.3 mm 0.51 0.508 (0.502-0.515) 0.08 0.086 (0.080-0.093) 45 45 (44-46)
2 0.51 0.513 (0.510-0.520) 0.08 0.083 (0.079-0.086) 30 30 (28-32)
3 0.51 0.509 (0.500-0.518) 0.02 0.032 (0.029-0.035) 30 29 (28-30)

4 2.0 mm 0.40 0.404 (0.400-0.410) 0.08 0.079 (0.075-0.088) 45 45 (43-47)

5 0.40 0.406 (0.396-0.408) 0.08 0.073 (0.070-0.077) 30 30 (29-32)
6 0.40 0.407 (0.405-0.409) 0.02 0.028 (0.024-0.031) 30 29 (28-30)
7 0.60 0.604 (0.600-0.608) 0.02 0.031 (0.024-0.038) 30 29 (28-29)

8 0.305 (0.299-0.310) 0.02 0.030 (0.026-0.034) 30 31(30-32)

9 0.294 (0.291-0.298) 0.08 0.075 (0.069-0.079) 45 45 (44-46)
10 0.455 (0.445-0.460) 0.02 0.027 (0.025-0.030) 30 29 (29-30)

0.203 (0.197-0.207) 0.05 0.046 (0.041-0.049) 45 45 (44-47)

0.197 (0.193-0.200) 0.25 0.246 (0.234-0.259) _
0.300 (0.295-0.305) 0.02 0.024 (0.022-0.026) 30 31(30-32)

2.00 (1.992-2.008) 0.25 0.240 (0.233-0.243) 45 45 (45)

1684 H. Kurishita et al. /Journal of Nuclear Materials 212-215
Temperature W)
Fig. 1. Temperature dependence of absorbed energy as a
function of notch dimensions for miniaturized Charpy speci-
mens (2 mm specimens) of unirradiated JFMS Ill].
when Bb2 or (Bbj312 was employed as a normalizing
factor, where B is the specimen thickness and b the
ligament size (b = W- a). These volumetric parame-
ters were originally employed by Corwin and coworkers
[3] and are known to be related to the extent of plastic
deformation below the notch after general yield [5].
Fig. 2 shows the effect of the notch dimensions on the
USE normalized by (Bb) 3/2 for all the miniaturized
and full size specimens of unirradiated JFMS that were
considered in this work. Here, the elastic stress con-
centration factor, K,, was used to express the effect of
the notch geometry, with the K, of the experimental
data reported by Nishida [14] as shown in Fig. 3. The
reason why the K, values by Nishida are used instead
of the well known Neuber’s formula [15] was described
in a previous paper ill].
I I I
3 5
Kl
Fig. 2. Normalized USE against the elastic stress concentra-
tion factor, K,, for full size and miniature Charpy specimens
of unirradiated JFMS [ll].
(1994) 1682-1687
3
a lW
Fig. 3. Elastic stress concentration factor, K,, as a function of
notch dimensions. Here, a is the notch depth, p is the notch
root radius, W is the specimen width and 0 is the notch angle.
After Nishida [14].
In this case, for unirradiated JFMS, all but one data
point (corresponding to a 1 mm specimen with a very
large notch root radius of 0.25 mm) exhibits a normal-
ized USE that is constant to within &-15%, irrespective
of K,. This means that the observed dependence of
USE on notch depth resulted only from the depen-
dence of the USE on ligament size: the notch geometry
is apparently unimportant for the USE. The higher
normalized USE of the 1 mm specimen indicates that
the estimated fracture volume used as a normalization
parameter, Bb* or (BbJ3/‘, is an underestimate and
that the actual fracture volume is larger.
1.6
FerrlticSteels
Y.”
0 100 100 so0
USE (Full Size) (J)
Fig. 4. Plot of the ratio, (Y, of USE/(Bb)3/2 of full size
specimens to that for third size specimens against the unnor-
malized USE of full size specimens in ferritic steels.
 H. Kurishita et al. /Journal of Nuclear Materials 212-215 (1994) 1682-1687 1685

On the other hand, for the irradiated JFMS and
other unirradiated high strength ferritic steels, the
normalized USE of full size specimens was always
lower than that of miniaturized specimens, and the
ratio of the full size to miniature normalized USE
decreases with decreasing USE (unnormalized) of full
size specimens [12]. This indicates that for full size
specimens of these ferritic steels the normalization
parameter, Bb’ or (Bb)3/2, is an overestimate of the
fracture volume and that the actual fracture volume
should be smaller. These results suggest that the ob-
served difference in the effect of specimen size on the
USE of the different alloy and irradiation conditions
occurs by a larger reduction in specimen volume asso-
ciated with fracture for full size specimens than pre-
dieted using the volumetric parameters Bb* or (Bbj312.
To demonstrate this concept, the ratio, (Y, of the nor-
malized USE of full size specimens to that of miniatur-
ized (third size) specimens was calculated for all the
ferritic steels reported to date in the literature, includ-
ing the unirradiated and irradiated JFMS considered
in the current work. The results are listed in Table 2,
where the value of (Ygiven is for a normalization factor
of (Bb)3/2. Fig. 4 shows cx against the unnormalized
full size USE for the data given in Table 2. The
relationship between (Y and unnormalized USE of full

Table 2
Values of USE and normalized USE for full size and third size specimens, together with the ratio, a, of USE/(Bbj3/* for full size
specimens to that for third size specimens in irradiated and unirradiated JFMS and other ferritic steels reported in the literature
Alloy Full size specimens Third size specimens
USE USE/(BbJ3” USE/Bb’ USE USE/(BbJ3” USE/Bb* a a
(J) (J/mm31 (J/mm3) (J) (J/mm3) (J/nun3)
9Cr-lMo-V-Nh 262 0.366 0.409 9.7 0.347 0.378 1.05
norm. and temp.
J-T [41
9Cr-lMo-V-Nh 200 0.277 0.313 8.8 0.315 0.343 0.879
norm. and temp.
TL t41
9Cr-lMo-V-Nh 111 0.153 0.173 5.7 0.204 0.222 0.750
quenched
LT [41
9Cr-lMo-V-Nh 72 0.101 0.113 5.1 0.183 0.199 0.551
quenched
LT 141
HT-9 [7] 129 0.180 0.202 6.0 0.209 0.227 0.861
A302 [51 62 0.086 0.097 3.4 0.134 0.150 0.642
A508 [51 118 0.165 0.184 6.5 0.253 0.284 0.652
A508 [S] 68 0.095 0.106 3.9 0.151 0.169 0.629
9Cr-1W [6] 259 0.362 0.405 10.8 0.387 0.420 0.935
9Cr-2W 161 245 0.342 0.383 9.8 0.351 0.381 0.974
9Cr-4W [6] 221 0.309 0.345 8.8 0.315 0.343 0.981
2.25Cr-W (V) [8] 245 0.342 0.383 9.4 0.328 0.328 1.043
224 0.313 0.350 9.7 0.340 0.338 0.921
278 0.389 0.434 9.6 0.335 0.335 1.161
272 0.380 0.425 9.7 0.339 0.338 1.121
5Cr-2W-V [81 245 0.342 0.383 10.0 0.349 0.349 0.980
9Cr-W (MO) [81 216 0.302 0.338 9.4 0.328 0.328 0.921
255 0.356 0.398 9.7 0.339 0.338 1.050
262 0.366 0.409 9.7 0.339 0.338 1.080
200 0.280 0.313 8.8 0.307 0.307 0.912
12Cr-W (MO) [8] 192 0.268 0.300 9.0 0.314 0.314 0.854
115 0.161 0.180 5.9 0.206 0.206 0.782
JFMS 190 0.265 0.313 8.2 0.295 0.333 0.898
Unirr. [ll]
JFMS 168 0.235 0.263 8.3 0.297 0.323 0.791
Irr. [12]
a (Y= [USE/(Bb)3/2]full size/[USE/(Bb)3/21third size.
1686 H. Kurkhita et al. /Journal
size specimens is linear and therefore so in the rela-
tionship between the unnormalized USE of full size
specimens and the normalized USE of miniaturized
specimens, as shown in Fig. 5. Accordingly, it is con-
cluded that the effect of specimen size on the USE can
be understood in terms of the specimen volume associ-
ated with fracture. In addition, the observed linear
relationship between the unnormalized USE of full
size specimens and the normalized USE of miniatur-
ized specimens can be used to determine the USE of
full size specimens from the USE of miniaturized spec-
imens. The next step is to develop a theoretical analy-
sis to explain the observed linearity.
3.2. Ductile-to-brittle transition temperature
No significant difference was found between the
DBTT values determined on the basis of energy ab-
sorption, ductility, and fracture appearance [ll]. The
DBTT based on energy absorption is discussed in this
section. DBTT is plotted against the elastic stress con-
centration factor, K,, in Fig. 6 [ll] for unirradiated
JFMS. The DB’IT varies significantly depending on
the notch dimensions, with some of the miniature
specimen DBTT exceeding that of full size specimens.
Further, almost all the data points for miniaturized
specimens lie well on a single curve, though the two
data points for 3.3 mm specimens show a slight devia-
tion from the curve: the DBTT for the miniaturized
specimens appears to be uniquely defined by K,. The
DBTT for full size specimens, on the other hand, has
the different dependence on K, and is approximately
equal to that of the miniaturized specimens with the
elastic stress concentration factor of _ 4.8 (indicated
by the arrow in the figure). This provides the possibility
that the DBTT for full size specimens can be directly
obtained from the DBTT of miniaturized specimens
Fenitk Steels
300 / pendence of USE on specimen size varies with alloy
I A4
t ture because unnormalized USE for full size specimens
w zoo
5
” t
USE/(Bbp (Third-size) (J/mm’)
Fig. 5. Plot of the USE of full size specimens against the
USE/(Bb) 3/2 of third size specimens in ferritic steels.
of Nuclear Materials 212-215 (1994) 1682-1687
loo- _I
0 2 4 6 8
Kt
Fig. 6. Plot of the DBTT based on energy absorption against
the elastic stress concentration factor, K,, for full size and
miniature Charpy specimens of unirradiated JFMS [ll].
with a notch giving a suitable value of K,. In order to
examine this possibility, data from impact tests on the
neutron irradiated JFMS and other unirradiated fer-
ritic steels of less ductility were compared. The K,
dependence of the DBTT decreases as the DB’IT of
full size specimens is increased by irradiation or ther-
mal aging. There is also a relationship between the
DBTT of full size specimens and the dependence on
notch dimensions of the DBTI’ for miniaturized speci-
mens. This result excludes the above-mentioned possi-
bility for determining the DBTT of full size specimens,
but it provides an alternative way for determining the
DBTT of full size specimens using miniaturized speci-
mens. The details of the technique to determine the
DBTT for full size specimens from the notch dimen-
sion dependence of DBTT for miniaturized specimens
are described elsewhere [ 121.
4. Conclusions
The USE depends on specimen thickness and liga-
ment size, but not on notch dimensions, and the de-
and irradiation conditions. This variation arises from
the difference in specimen volume associated with frac-
I
is uniquely related to the normalized USE for minia-
turized specimens, regardless of alloy and irradiation
conditions. The DBTT varies significantly depending
on notch dimensions, especially notch depth and notch
root radius. The dependence of DBTT on notch di-
mensions decreases as the DBTT of full size specimens
increases due to irradiation or thermal aging.
These results may lead to techniques for determin-
ing both the USE and DBTT for full size specimens
from impact test results on miniaturized specimens.
 H. Kurishita et al. /Journal of Nuclear Materials 212-215
References
[l] W.L. Hu and D.S. Gelles, Proc. Conf. On Ferritic Alloys
for Use in Nuclear Energy Technologies, Snowbird, UT,
1983, p. 631.
[2] W.L. Hu, HEDL-SA-2947-FP, 1983.
131W.R. Corwin, R.L. Klueh and J.M. Vitek, J. Nucl. Mater.
122&123 (1984) 343.
[4] W.R. Corwin and A.M. Houghland, The Use of Small
Scale Specimens for Testing Irradiated Materials,
ASTM-ST 888, eds. W.R. Cotwin and G.E. Lucas
(American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadel-
phia, 1986) p. 325.
[S] G.E. Lucas, G.R. Odette, J.W. She&herd, P. McConnell
and J. Perrin, The Use of Small Scale Specimens for
Testing Irradiated Materials, ASTM-ST 888, eds. W.R.
Corwin and G.E. Lucas (American Society for Testing
and Materials, Philadelphia, 1986) p. 305.
161 F. Abe, T. Noda, H. Araki, M. Okada, M. Narui and H.
Kayano, J. Nucl. Mater. 150 (1987) 292.
171 B.S. Louden, A.S. Kumar, F.A. Garner, M.L. Hamilton
and W.L. Hu, J. Nucl. Mater. 155-157 (1988) 662.
(1994) 1682-1687 1687
[8] D.J. Alexander and R.L. Klueh, Charpy Impact Test:
Factors and Variables, ASTM-STP 1072, ed. J.M. Holt
(American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadel-
phia, 1990) p. 179.
191A.S. Kumar, B.S. Louden, F.A. Garner and M.L. Hamil-
ton, Small Specimen Test Techniques, ASTM-STP 1204,
(American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadel-
phia, 1993) p. 47.
[lo] H. Kayano, H. Kurishita, A. Kimura, M. Narui, M. Ya-
mazaki and Y. Suzuki, J. Nucl. Mater. 179-181 (1991)
425.
1111H. Kurishita, H. Kayano, M. Narui, M. Yamazaki, Y.
Kano and I. Shibahara, Mater. Tram JIM 34 (1993) 1402.
1121H. Kurishita, H. Kayano, M. Narui, M. Yamazaki, S.
Mizuta and I. Shibahara, to be submitted to Mater. Trans
JIM.
1131H. Kayano, H. Kurishita, M. Narui and M. Yamazaki,
Ann. Chim. Fr. 16 (1991) 309.
[141 M. Nishida, Stress Concentration, 5th ed. (Morikawa
Publishers, Tokyo, Japan, 1984) p. 572.
1151 H. Neuber, Theory of Notch Stresses, 2nd ed. (Springer,
Berlin, 1958) p. 71.