Predictions of mechanical properties from small punch test results using FE damage analyses

This paper compares FE ductile fracture simulation results with compact tension (C(T)), small punch (SP) and notched small punch (NSP) test data for SA508 Gr. 3 material. Ductile fracture simulation method in this paper is based on the stressmodified fracture strain model, recently proposed by the authors. Tensile properties and stress-modified fracture strains are extracted from smooth and notched bar tensile tests, and SP test. To extract tensile property from SP test, tensile property constitutive equations are assumed. Using the extracted tensile properties and stress-modified fracture strains, C(T), SP and NSP tests are simulated and the results are compared with experimental data. The results using the properties from smooth and notched bar tensile tests agree well with experimental data. And the SP and NSP simulations using the properties from SP test well predict the maximum loads and fracture behaviors, However, C(T) test simulations have conservative results relatively. C(T) and NSP simulation results are sensitive to element size. However, SP simulation results are not sensitive to element size.