The key industry benefits from this laboratory are the generation of characterisation, comparison and/or proof data for materials in terms of fracture toughness, strength, static and cyclic behaviour in seawater, pressure performance and creep properties. The results of these tests are mainly used for material validation and integrity assessment. TWI is uniquely placed to offer a wide range of laboratory services, along with expertise, research and Standards involvement to best provide technical advice and interpretation alongside the data.
TWI’s Standard fracture toughness testing capabilities features:
- UKAS accredited for carrying out fracture toughness tests to ASTM E1820, BS 7448-1, BS 7448-4, BS EN ISO 15653, ISO 12135
- Experience of testing to ASTM E1921 and BS 8571
- Thermal chamber for testing at -160 to +200°C
- Local heating & cooling for testing from -196 to +400°C
- Test CT, SENB and SENT specimens
- Specimen sizes from 5x10mm up to 150x150mm (depending on strength/tensile properties)
- 16 universal testing machines covering a range of capacities up to 1750kN
- Provision of UKAS accredited tensile testing and Charpy testing as well
- Representation on British and International standards committees to influence and communicate ongoing changes to IS0 12135, BS 8571 and BS EN ISO 15653
- Generation of fracture toughness data in terms of J, CTOD and K
- Fracture toughness data as single point values or tearing resistance curves
- Data suitable for fitness-for-service assessment
Since the 1960s TWI has been designing and building rigs to test large and complex components. Testing large scale test specimens, or full structural components demonstrates their fracture performance under load in a way that matches the in-service component behaviour. These tests enable structurally relevant mechanical properties to be obtained for validation or design.
Examples at TWI include:
- Wide plate test rigs of 4000 tonnes and 3500 tonnes
- Pipe tension test rig of 1000 tonnes capacity
- Pipe bend test rigs of 6MN capacity and 30MN
- Pressure test pit with capacity of 3.7m x 13.5m x 3.5m deep, with side anchors of 500kN, end anchors of 15,000kN and 2000 bar internal pressure
- Crack arrest test panels and notched wide plate test panels
- Design of large scale bespoke testing equipment for specialised applications
- Typical applications include pipeline girth welds, offshore mooring chains, forgings and castings, ship hull structures
TWI’s bespoke fracture testing capabilities provide a range of options to support research work or unusual testing requirements alongside standard or large-scale testing. These include:
- Environmental fracture testing facilities to test in seawater or sour service environment
- Specialist equipment allows high strain rate testing up to 20m/s test velocity
- Digital image correlation capability for strain mapping
- Testing of thinner sheet materials using centre cracked tension specimens.
- Instrumented Charpy tests and analysis
- Creep testing at temperatures up to 1200°C
- Pellini (drop weight) testing
- Interpretation of fracture toughness results, such as pop-ins, invalidities, metallography, audits
- Bespoke fracture testing and test rig design
- Fracture mechanics assessment such as ECA and FFS assessment (including software)
Equipment factsheets
750 joule Charpy impact testing machine
High-rate servo-hydraulic test machine
See here for a full list of TWI equipment.
Fracture Toughness Testing at TWI
To assist with creating fracture toughness testing requirements you can quickly send details and specifications using our enquiry form:
Fracture Toughness Testing enquiry