A New Method for Determining J_(IC) of High StrengthHigh Fracture Toughness Steels by SingleThree Point Bend Specimen

A single three point bend specimen compliance method for determining JIC of high strength high fracture toughness steels is presented and a formula for calculatinff J-integral is proposed as follows.It is simple and valid for high strength high fracture toughness steels. The values of JIC and KIC measured by this method are in good agreement with those measured by standard test method.

In situ synthesis and phase analysis of low density O'-sialon-based multiphase ceramics

In situ formed low density O＇-sialon-based multiphase ceramics were prepared by liquid-phase sintering method at 1400°C with Si3N4, SiO2 and Al2O3 as raw materials.Crystalline phases were identified by X-ray diffraction（XRD）.The quantitative phase analysis was finished by matrix-flushing method and the substitution parameter x value of O＇-sialon was estimated.The effects of sintering additives on the phase composition of the material were studied.The results show that, when using Y2O3 alone, Al6Si2O13 phase can be formed in the material, but when using Y2O3 and MgO, MgAl2O4 phase can be preferentially formed and the Al6Si2O13 is not observed.The mechanical properties of the material were measured and the relationships between microstructure and mechanical properties were discussed.The sample with Y2O3 and MgO sintering additives, using fused quartz alone as SiO2 source, displays a combination of high bending strength（163 MPa） and good fracture toughness（3.11 MPa·m1/2）.Bending strength and fracture toughness of the samples increase with the increase of the content and aspect ratio of elongated grains and decrease with the increase of the porosity.

Effect of retained austenite on the fracture behavior of a novel press-hardened steel

Tensile and bending properties are two critical attributes of press hardened steels(PHSs)for automotive body structural components.However,the research on these properties of PHSs with retained austenite(RA),which is introduced to improve the mechanical properties,has not been well reported.In this study,the effect of RA on the quasi-static uniaxial tensile and three-point bending behaviors has been systematically investigated for a newly developed Cr and Si alloyed PHS.RA with various degrees of mechanical stabilities was obtained by tuning the auto-tempering of martensite through the control of the die contact pressure during the press hardening process.Mechanically stable RA provides the optimal combination of tensile and bending performance,while the PHS with RA of poor mechanical stability has a deteriorated bending toughness as manifested by a reduction of bending angle from approximately 61.6°to56.8°.However,itstensileproperties,incontrast,arethebestintermsof theproductofulti-mate tensile strength and total elongation(15.9 GPa%).This is mainly attributed to the unstable RA on the outermost surface of the bending sample.The unstable RA can easily transform into brittle martensite under local plane strain and strain gradient conditions in the bending test compared with uniaxial stress in the tensile test,promoting crack initiation and propagation.Furthermore,the effect of martensitic auto-tempering or contact pressure on the quantity and stability of RA are also discussed.This study would provide a useful reference to guide hot stamping process optimization for the newly developed Cr and Si-containing press-hardened steel.