The Split, Layered, Cup-and-Cone Tensile Fracture

Quenched and tempered plate steel is capable of modified cup-and-cone fractures involving one or more longitudinal cracks “parallel” to the flat plate surfaces. The occurrence was verified by tensile testing of three steels at a variety of temperatures. Electron fractography revealed that quasi-cleavage, shear lips, tearing, and normal rupture were active, being identified by modified river patterns and by elongated and equiaxed dimples resulting from the coalescence of microvoids. The brittle longitudinal cracks are formed shortly before final rupture. Application of the Bridgman plasticity solution for necked tensile specimens shows that the split, layered, fracture occurs under unique stress conditions.