Flaw Stability in Mild Steel Tanks in the Upper-Shelf Ductile Range—Part I: Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Mechanical properties of 1950’s vintage, A285 Grade B carbon steels have been compiled for elastic-plastic fracture mechanics analysis of storage tanks (Lam and Sindelar, 2000). The properties are from standard Charpy V-notch (CVN), 0.4T planform compact tension (C(T)), and tensile (T) specimens machined from archival steel from large water piping. The piping and storage tanks were constructed in the 1950s from semi-killed, hot-rolled carbon steel plate specified as A285 Grade B. Evaluation of potential aging mechanisms at both service conditions shows no loss in fracture resistance of the steel in either case. Site and literature data show that the A285, Grade B steel, at and above approximately 70°F (21°C), is in the upper transition to upper shelf region for absorbed energy and is not subject to cleavage cracking or a brittle fracture mode. Furthermore, the tank sidewalls are 1/2 or 5/8-in. (12.7 or 15.875 mm) thick, and therefore, the J-resistance (JR) curve that characterizes material resistance to stable crack extension under elastic-plastic deformation best defines the material fracture toughness. The JR, curves for several heats of A285, Grade B steel tested at 40°F (4.4°C), a temperature near the average ductile-to-brittle (DBTT) transition temperature (CVN at 15 ft-lb or 20.3 J), are presented. This data is applicable to evaluate flaw stability of the storage tanks that are operated above 70°F (21°C) since, even at 40°F (4.4°C), crack advance is observed to proceed by ductile tearing. [S0094-9930(00)00402-9]