Application of the Master Curve to ferritic steels in notched conditions

• The application of the Master Curve methodology in notched conditions is evaluated.
• A new parameter named Notch Reference Temperature is defined.
• The experimental programme includes 240 tests performed on CT specimens.
• The predictions provided by the Master Curve have been compared to those provided by an alternative model named Notch-Master Curve.

This paper evaluates the application of the Master Curve methodology for the prediction of the apparent fracture toughness of ferritic-pearlitic steels in notched conditions. With this purpose, a new parameter is defined named the notch reference temperature (T0N), which is different from the reference temperature (T0) obtained in cracked specimens and varies with the notch radius. In order to validate this application, the fracture resistance results obtained in 240 CT specimens have been used. The tests cover two different structural steels (S275JR and S355J2) and five different notch radii, from 0.15 mm up to 2.0 mm. The predictions provided by the Master Curve have also been compared to those provided by the Notch-Master Curve, revealing the temperature ranges where each prediction tool provides the best results.