Simulation of the damage behaviour of electron beam welded joints with the Rousselier model

Experimental and numerical investigations of crack propagation on S355NL steel electron beam welded joints are presented. Mechanical properties were obtained from tensile test results of flat specimens extracted from the base material, the fusion zone and heat affected zone, respectively. Based on metallographic investigations, numerical calibration of Rousselier parameters were performed on notched round specimens. The same parameters were used to predict the ductile fracture of compact tension specimens with initial crack located at different regions. Numerical results were compared with the experiments in terms of force vs. crack opening displacement as well as fracture resistance curves.

► Obtain the mechanical behaviours of different regions on S355NL electron beam welds. ► C(T) specimens with initial crack located at different weld regions were tested. ► Honeycomb structural fracture surfaces of C(T) samples are found. ► Fix the Rousselier parameters based on the metallographic investigations and numerical calibrations. ► Apply the Rousselier model to predict the crack propagation of C(T) specimens.