Investigation of some problems in developing standards for precracked Charpy slow bend tests

The reported investigation was undertaken in connection with an attempt to develop procedures which would be useful in standardizing a test method for the precracked Charpy slow bend specimen. A number of alloys was studied for which valid plane-strain fracture toughness values have been established. The investigation shows that useful relations between precracked Charpy slow bend results and crack size factors can be obtained under some circumstances. However, it is not yet known what factors control these circumstances.