Abstract "This research will develop and evaluate non-destructive test methods that have the
potential for providing information about material resistance to fracture. This may include
in-situ measurements of surface hardness, acoustic-emission measurements, and/or
advanced ultrasonic evaluation. Test results obtained from these advanced technologies
will be correlated with fracture toughness and absorbed impact energy for a variety of
metallic materials used in highway infrastructure."
Description "The project has been divided into three phases: I) Literature Review, II) Data Collection
and Analysis, and III) Final Reporting. Phase I will consist of a comprehensive literature
review, focusing on fracture mechanics, the internal and external parameters influencing
material resistance to fracture (fracture toughness), and identify any non-destructive
and/or minimally-destructive test methods that may provide data related to these
parameters. The information gathered as part of the literature review will be synthesized
and used to guide the collection of data in the next phase of the project.
Phase II of the project focuses on collection and analysis of fracture data sets. This will
include a variety of steels, both steels used in the highway bridge industry and those used
in other industries. The data set will consist of fracture toughness and/or Charpy V-notch
impact energy data, as well as data related to the non- and minimally-destructive test
methods identified in Phase I of the project. The data will be analyzed, identifying
correlations between fracture behavior and other parameters. Statistical models will be
used to predict fracture resistance based on other data that can be gathered from an inservice
structure.
Upon completion of the first two project phases, Phase III of the project consists of final
project reporting. The final report will contain results of all work performed for the project.
This includes the comprehensive literature review, collected and analyzed database, and
the development of the potential in-situ fracture toughness evaluation approach."
Objective "It is expected that at the end of this project information will be gathered regarding potential
non-destructive evaluation data that may have a relationship to material fracture
toughness. Analysis of existing data sets will quantify any relationships that may be
discovered, potentially leading to future in-situ non-destructive methods for determining
fracture toughness of members and components in existing bridge structures."
Impacts/Benefits "While specifically focused on highway bridges, the work undertaken during this project
will have applications outside of the transportation industry. This may include impacts on the safety of structures and components in the energy development, off-shore oil,
building, and shipping industries."