TY - CONF A1 - Holzwarth, M. T1 - First results for the modification of the master curve concept for ferritic ductile cast iron N2 - Within the scope of fracture mechanics safety, ferritic ductile cast iron (DCI) does currently not have an established and validated method to determine and assess dynamic fracture toughness values in the ductile-to-brittle transition regime. For this reason, the applicability of the fracture mechanics Master Curve concept according to ASTM E1921 to DCI is being investigated in a joint research project between MPA Stuttgart and BAM Berlin. To investigate the applicability of the Master Curve concept for DCI, a DCI material of grade GJS-400 has been procured via a detailed manufacturing specification. From this material test specimens of various geometries and sizes (Tensile, Charpy-V, Pellini, SE(B)10, SE(B)25, SE(B)140, DC(T)9, C(T)25 and C(T)50) were produced. In total, about 500 test specimens will be tested to investigate and validate the Master Curve Concept as well as other assumptions (e.g. size effects, Weakest-Link, Weibull distribution) for DCI. While the whole project has not yet concluded, several work packages have yet been completed. Selected test results using C(T)25 specimens are presented. T2 - European Conference on Fracture 2024 CY - Zagreb, Croatia DA - 26.08.2024 KW - Dynamic fracture toughness KW - Ductile cast iron KW - Master curve PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-61451 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Baer, Wolfram T1 - Detection and understanding of the chunky graphite degeneration in ferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron materials with respect to fatigue N2 - CHG is very different compared to other graphite degenerations or defects; Filigree, multi-branched string-like, 3d interconnected structure; Morphology and volumetric amount of CHG cannot be accessed by stereological interpretation of 2d section data; Field-tested, technically established method to quantify CHG in components not available; Fatigue: CHG causes substantial reduction in fatigue limit and significant increase in crack growth rate; Therefore: Avoid or exclude CHG! T2 - 4th International Symposium on Fatigue Design and Material Defects CY - Online meeting DA - 26.05.2020 KW - Ductile cast iron KW - Chunky graphite degeneration KW - Fatigue KW - Correlation microstructure to properties PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-54409 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Baer, Wolfram A1 - Holzwarth, M. A1 - Mayer, U. T1 - Investigation of the Master Curve Concept for ferritic Ductile Cast Iron N2 - Based on state-of-the-art research and regulations, the application of the fracture mechanics master curve (MC) concept to ferritic ductile cast iron (DCI) is being investigated in a recently started German joint research project between BAM Berlin and MPA Stuttgart. This paper outlines the research approach and the planned investigations and provides first results. According to the IAEA guidelines SSG 26, the safety assessment of DCI containers for transport as well as interim and final storage of radioactive materials is based on the fracture mechanics criterion of general crack initiation exclusion. Within this context, the focus of the current research project is on the further development of brittle fracture safety assessment methods under dynamic loading conditions. Within fracture mechanics safety assessments for steels in nuclear technology, the probabilistic MC concept according to ASTM E1921 is currently used for quasi-static loading conditions as a supplement to the established deterministic ASME reference curve concept. The MC concept allows for an effective statistical consideration of the scatter of the material toughness in the transition regime. Furthermore, the MC can also be used for elevated loading rates as they occur in accident or crash scenarios. However, for DCI, a systematic review of potential modifications to the MC assumptions and procedure according to ASTM E1921 and an associated validation are still lacking. Therefore, a corresponding methodology shall be established to determine and assess dynamic fracture toughness values of DCI in the ductile-to-brittle transition regime, using samples extracted from a component. For the experimental program, a DCI material was produced as it is generally used for transport and storage containers. A basic mechanical-technological material characterization consisting of tensile, Charpy, and Pellini tests is planned. A comprehensive fracture mechanics test program was compiled covering dynamic testing of DC(T)9, C(T)25, C(T)50, SE(B)10, SE(B)25, and SE(B)140 specimens. Moreover, numerical analyses of different specimen geometries and test setups are planned to investigate the influences of stress triaxiality and loading rate. Throughout the experimental program, the microstructure-property relationship will be investigated based on quantitative metallographic and fractographic analyses. Finally, different MC assessment strategies will be considered, and modifications will be made if necessary. T2 - PATRAM22 Conference CY - Juans-les-Pins, France DA - 11.06.2023 KW - Master Curve KW - Ductile cast iron KW - Dynamic fracture toughness PY - 2023 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - World Nuclear Transport Institute AN - OPUS4-57765 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Holzwarth, Marcel T1 - Investigation of the Master Curve Concept for Ferritic Ductile Cast Iron N2 - Within fracture mechanics safety assessment for steels in nuclear technology, the probabilistic master curve (MC) concept according to ASTM E1921 is currently used for quasi-static loading conditions as a supplement to the established deterministic ASME reference curve concept. However, for ferritic ductile cast iron (DCI), a systematic review of potential modifications to the assumptions and the procedure according to ASTM E1921 and an associated validation are still lacking. For this reason, the application of the fracture mechanics MC concept to ferritic ductile cast iron is being investigated in a joint research project between MPA Stuttgart and BAM Berlin. According to IAEA SSG-26, the safety assessment of DCI containers for transport as well as storage of radioactive materials is based on the fracture mechanics criterion of general crack initiation exclusion. Within this context, the focus of the research project is on brittle fracture. The goal is the establishment of a methodology to determine and assess dynamic fracture toughness values of DCI in the ductile-to-brittle transition regime, using samples extracted from a component. The experimental program uses a DCI material of grade GJS-400, which is generally used for transport and storage containers of radioactive materials. Firstly, a basic mechanical-technological material characterization will be performed consisting of tensile, Charpy and Pellini tests. Following the material characterization, the loading rate relevant for brittle fracture will be determined using instrumented C(T)25-fracture tests at a temperature of -40°C. To be able to transfer the relevant loading rate to other specimen geometries or sizes, the time-dependent course of the Weibull stress is assessed via numerical analyses. With this information an extensive experimental program consisting of DC(T)9, C(T)25, C(T)50, SE(B)10, SE(B)25 and SE(B)140 specimens is performed. These experimental results will be further supported by numerical and fractographic analyses. The empirical experimental database developed for DCI materials will be used to assess the applicability of the MC concept for DCI materials under dynamic loading. At the current time manufacturing and precracking of test specimens is ongoing. The authors provide first results concerning the mechanical-technological material characterization, the relevant loading rate for brittle fracture determined via C(T)25 tests, and some early results of other specimen types. These experimental results are also supported by preliminary numerical and statistical analyses. T2 - Conference SMiRT27 CY - Yokohama, Japan DA - 04.03.2024 KW - Dynamic fracture toughness KW - Ductile cast iron KW - ASTM E1921 KW - Master curve KW - Brittle fracture PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-59859 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Holzwarth, Marcel A1 - Baer, Wolfram A1 - Mayer, Uwe A1 - Weihe, Stefan T1 - On the Applicability of the Master Curve Concept for Ductile Cast Iron based on experimental and microstructural results N2 - Based on the state-of-the-art research and regulations, the application of the fracture mechanics master curve (MC) concept to ferritic ductile cast iron (DCI) is being investigated in a joint research project (MCGUSS) between BAM Berlin and MPA Stuttgart. The experimental program included a basic mechanical-technological material characterization consisting of tensile, Charpy and Pellini tests. To determine the relevant loading rate for brittle fracture, instrumented C(T)25 fracture tests were performed at different loading rates at a temperature of -40°C. The relevant loading rates are 5x10^3 MPa√ms-1 and 5x10^4 MPa√ms-1. A series of dynamic fracture tests consisting of DC(T)9, C(T)25 and C(T)50 specimens were performed at MPA. BAM performed corresponding test series with SE(B)10 (pre-cracked Charpy), SE(B)25 and SE(B)140 specimens to cover the influence of specimen geometry. In total about 400 tests were performed during this project. The experimental program is complemented by extensive fractographic and metallographic studies using scanning electron microscopy and cross sectioning, as well as characterizations of the chemical composition of the material and of the morphology and distribution of the graphite particles. KJcd values were evaluated for all C(T)25 specimens and some C(T)50 and DC(T)9 specimens. First Master Curve analyses suggest that modifications on the Master Curve setup will be neccessary for instance changing the coefficient from 0.019 to 0.045. This modification requires further validation and is only one of many possible modifications. The SE(B) specimen results clearly show an inverse size effect. This does not correlate with the weakest link effect attributed to steels which dictates lower fracture toughness values for larger specimens. Due to the presence of graphite particles in the DCI material, it is currently assumed that these particles play a significant role in the failure behavior of DCI materials and the following fracture mechanism is proposed: “Specimen size-dependent arrest of local brittle fracures before global brittle failure by weakest link”. T2 - 9th SEDS Workshop: Safety of Extended Dry Storage, 20.-22. Mai 2025 CY - Garching, Germany DA - 20.05.2025 KW - Statistics KW - Dynamic fracture toughness KW - Ductile cast iron KW - Master curve KW - Safety assessment PY - 2025 SP - 1 EP - 3 AN - OPUS4-63566 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Baer, Wolfram T1 - On the assessment of dynamic fracture toughness of ferritic ductile cast iron using the master curve concept N2 - An established and validated method to determine and assess dynamic fracture toughness values of ferritic ductile cast iron (DCI) in the ductile-to-brittle transition regime is currently not available. Although the ASME-Code, Sect. III, Div. 3, WC-2330 explicitly requires safety assessment considerations for dynamic loading, sufficiently substantial information on the procedure is not given. Therefore, the applicability of the probabilistic Master Curve (MC) concept according to ASTM E1921 to DCI is being investigated in the joint German research project MCGUSS conducted by BAM Berlin and MPA Stuttgart. Using a tailored manufacturing specification, a DCI material of grade GJS-400 has been casted to provide a test material which is very homogeneous but typical for heavy-sections. The experimental test program covers test specimens of various geometries and sizes (Tensile, Charpy-V, Pellini, SE(B)10, SE(B)25, SE(B)140, DC(T)9, C(T)25 and C(T)50). In total about 500 specimens will be tested to investigate and validate the Master Curve concept and its background for DCI (e.g. size effects, weakest-link, Weibull distribution, microstructure-property correlation). While the whole project has not yet concluded, several work packages have already been completed. This presentation is focused on dynamic large-scale fracture mechanics test series using SE(B)140 specimens and instrumented Charpy impact testing using ISO-V specimens. T2 - European Conference on Fracture 2024 CY - Zagreb, Croatia DA - 26.08.2024 KW - Dynamic fracture toughness KW - Ductile cast iron KW - Master curve concept PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-61452 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Baer, Wolfram T1 - Recent Results on the Investigation of the Master Curve Concept for Ferritic Ductile Cast Iron N2 - Within the current framework for safety assessment of ferritic ductile cast iron (DCI) containers for transport as well as interim and final storage of radioactive materials, the IAEA guidelines SSG 26 apply fracture mechanics principles. Crack initiation in either, stable or unstable modes is generally forbidden. Additionally, for DCI, the ASME-Code, Sect. III, Div. 3, WC-2330, explicitly requires a safety proof regarding dynamic loading conditions. Nevertheless, corresponding information given in the ASME Code does not seem to be sufficient to appropriately perform a dynamic fracture mechanics safety assessment for DCI. To address and improve this status of the dynamic brittle fracture safety assessment framework for DCI, the application of the fracture mechanics master curve (MC) concept to DCI is being investigated in an ongoing joint research project (acronym MCGUSS) between BAM Berlin and MPA Stuttgart. For ferritic DCI, the MCGUSS project addresses the currently lacking systematic review of applicability and potential modifications to the assumptions and the procedure according to ASTM E1921. The aim is to establish a methodology to determine and assess dynamic fracture toughness values of DCI in the ductile-to-brittle transition regime using small samples extracted from a component. The research approach and the planned investigations were outlined in more detail earlier. This paper is focused on the discussion of recent experimental results to establish the dynamic fracture mechanics toughness data base and its MC analyses. MCGUSS fracture mechanics test setups and the dynamic fracture toughness data base achieved at the time of abstract submission is discussed (covering 128 specimens). Current application limits of ASTM E1921 MC to DCI are discussed, and planned investigations to further investigate and modify the MC procedure for DCI are outlined. T2 - ASTM 23rd International ASTM/ESIS Symposium on Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics CY - Atlanta, GA, USA DA - 12.11.2025 KW - Dynamic fracture toughness KW - Ductile cast iron KW - Safety assessment KW - Master curve KW - Statistics PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64746 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Holzwarth, Marcel A1 - Baer, Wolfram T1 - Investigation of the Master Curve Concept for Ferritic Ductile Cast Iron N2 - The current framework for safety assessment of ferritic ductile cast iron (DCI) containers for transport and storage of radioactive materials applies fracture mechanics principles. As established by the IAEA safety standard SSG 26, prevention of crack initiation is the governing criterion and no reliance in design should be placed on any predicted ductile tearing resistance. Similarly, the ASME-Code, Sect. III, Div. 3 explicitly deals with DCI and requires a safety proof for dynamic loading conditions. However, information given in the guidelines does not seem to be sufficient to appropriately perform such dynamic fracture mechanics safety assessments. The ongoing German research project MCGUSS is tailored to tackle this status. In MCGUSS, the application potential of the probabilistic fracture mechanics master curve (MC) concept according to ASTM E1921 is being systematically investigated and potential modifications specific for dynamic brittle fracture of DCI will be identified. While MCGUSS covers testing of a high number of SE(B)- and C(T)-type specimens, this poster focuses on preliminary C(T) results. The obtained data was statistically analyzed, and current results of MC analyses are discussed. Special emphasis of MCGUSS is on using optical and scanning electron microscopy to link microstructural damage and failure processes to the fracture toughness data gained. A fracture mechanism called "specimen size-dependent arrest of local brittle fractures before global brittle failure by weakest link" is proposed to describe the established dynamic toughness data. Concerning the MC concept, it was shown that the ASTM E1921 procedure cannot simply be adopted to dynamic DCI toughness data on a one-to-one basis. Material specific modifications are being investigated and the DCI dynamic fracture toughness data base is to be expanded. T2 - MPA Conference 2025 CY - Stuttgart, Germany DA - 06.10.2025 KW - Dynamic fracture toughness KW - Ductile cast iron KW - Safety assessment KW - Master curve KW - Statistics PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64367 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Holzwarth, Marcel A1 - Mayer, Uwe A1 - Baer, Wolfram T1 - Investigating the Applicability of the Master Curve Concept for Ductile Cast Iron – Early Results for 2 Different Test Temperatures N2 - Based on the state-of-the-art research and regulations, the application of the fracture mechanics master curve (MC) concept to ferritic ductile cast iron (DCI) is being investigated in a joint research project between MPA Stuttgart and BAM Berlin. This paper outlines the research approach, the planned investigations and first results of the experimental program. T2 - 8th SEDS Workshop: Safety of Extended Dry Storage CY - Garching, Germany DA - 15.05.2024 KW - Dynamic fracture KW - Brittle fracture KW - Ductile cast iron KW - Master Curve PY - 2024 SP - 1 EP - 4 AN - OPUS4-60013 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Baer, Wolfram T1 - Statistische Auswertung der SE(B)-Bruchzähigkeitsdatenbasis und Untersuchungen zum Bruchmechanismus - Neue Ergebnisse zur Untersuchung des Master Curve Konzepts für ferritisches Gusseisen mit Kugelgraphit bei dynamischer Beanspruchung (Projekt MCGUSS) N2 - Die Zielstellung des laufenden Kooperationsprojektes MCGUSS zwischen der BAM Berlin und der MPA Stuttgart ist es, das probabilistische Master Curve (MC)-Konzept hinsichtlich seiner Übertragbarkeit auf ferritisches Gusseisen mit Kugelgraphit (DCI) zu untersuchen. Über Teilergebnisse der Arbeiten wurde bereits auf den Jahrestagungen 2023 bis 2025 des DVM-AK Bruchmechanik und Bauteilsicherheit berichtet. Der vorliegende Beitrag hat zwei Schwerpunkte. Zum einen wurde die Datenbasis der dynamischen Bruchzähigkeit für SE(B)-Proben der Dicken 10 mm, 25 mm und 140 mm auf insgesamt 101 Versuche bei Temperaturen von -40 °C bis -140 °C erweitert, statistisch ausgewertet sowie MC-Analysen unterzogen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Daten sich zwar mit einer Weibullverteilung gut beschreiben lassen, die MC-Methode nach ASTM E1921 jedoch nicht ohne Weiteres anwendbar ist, sondern Modifikationen erforderlich sind. Des Weiteren werden neue Ergebnisse zum werkstoffspezifischen Bruchmechanismus bei dynamischer Belastung im unteren Übergangsbereich der Zähigkeit diskutiert. Die fraktographische Datenbank wurde durch REM-Analysen weiterer Bruchflächen von SE(B)25-Proben bei -40 °C, -60 °C und -80 °C ergänzt. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die prägende Rolle, die Rissarrestereignissen im Verlauf des dynamischen Sprödbruchversagens bei DCI zukommt. Der in MCGUSS zur Erklärung eines gegenüber Stahl inversen Probengrößeneinflusses vorgeschlagene Mechanismus „Specimen size-dependent arrest of local brittle fractures before global brittle failure by weakest link“ wird dadurch weiter unterstützt. T2 - DVM-Jahrestagung 2026 des Arbeitskreises Bruchmechanik und Bauteilsicherheit CY - Stuttgart, Germany DA - 24.02.2026 KW - Dynamic fracture toughness KW - Ductile cast iron KW - Safety assessment KW - Master curve KW - Statistics PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65593 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -