9/10/2015

OmegaResearchInc.|NOTCHEDTENSILESTRENGTH

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Occasionally, we are asked the question,".... My notched tensile samples appear to be over 350,000 psi, I
thoughttheywererequiredtobe260,000280,000psi?...."
This is called notch strengthening and is a normal phenomenon with hydrogen embrittlement
samples
Notch strengthening falls in the field of Fracture Mechanics, and can be present in any ductile metal. When
yourhydrogenembrittlementsamplesaremanufacturedtheyarefirstblankedout,andthenheattreatedto
therequired260,000280,000psitensilestrengthrange.Thisistherequiredtensilestrengthforthebase
steelalloy,e.g.AISI4340.Aheattreattensilestrengthtestisthenperformedonthesesmooth,unnotched
samples to verify the proper heat treat. Then the samples are finish machined and ground, with notch
placementthelastmanufacturingoperationtooccur.Duringthefinaltestingandcertificationofthesamples,
now with a notch present, a final notched tensile strength test is performed. (In the field of mechanical
metallurgy,alwaysrememberthedifferencebetweenatensileload,inpoundsandtensilestrength/stressin
poundspersquareinchorpsi)
Donotconfusetheresultsoftheheattreattensilestrengthtestwiththe notch tensile strength tests. The
heat treat tensile strength test establishes proper heat treat The notched tensile strength test simply
providesthenotchedtensilestrengthnecessaryforthetestlaboratoriestoevaluateyourplatedtestsamples.
Eventhoughthecrosssectionalareaatthebaseofthenotchislessthanthecrosssectionalareaofasmooth
sample, an increase in the tensile strength/stress happens due to this phenomenon called notch
strengthening. For our 4340 low alloy steel, an increase in the tensile strength/stress approaching 50% is
possible.Thisphenomenonisnotpresent in brittle materials, but only in materials exhibiting ductility. Even
highheattreat4340lowalloysteelat260,000280,000psitensilestrengthwillexhibitupwardsof1014%
ductility.
The rest of this Technical Commentary is reprinted portions of section 7.5 of "Deformation and Fracture
MechanicsofEngineeringMaterials",byRichardW.Hertzberg,JohnWiley&Sons,NewYork1976whichgoes
intomoredetailconcerningthisphenomenoncallednotchstrengthening.

7.5NOTCHSTRENGTHENING
Whenanappreciableamountofplasticdeformationispossible,aninterestingturnofeventsmayoccurwith
regard to the fracture behavior of notched components. We saw in Chapter One that plastic constraint is
developedintheneckedregionofatensilebarasaresultofatriaxialstressstatetheunneckedregionsofthe
sampleexperiencealowertruestressthantheneckedsectionand,therefore,restrictthelateralcontractionof
thematerialintheneck.Similarstressconditionsexistinthevicinityofanotchinaroundbar.Whenthenet
section stress reaches the yield strength level, the material in the reduced section attempts to stretch
plastically in the direction parallel to the loading axis. Since conservation of volume is central to the plastic
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OmegaResearchInc.|NOTCHEDTENSILESTRENGTH

deformation process, the notch root material seeks to contract also, but is constrained by the bulk of the
sample still experiencing an elastic stress. The development of tensile stresses in the other two principal
directionstheconstrainingstressesmakesitnecessarytoraisetheaxialstresstoinitiateplasticdeformation.
Thedeeperthenotch,thegreateristheplasticconstraintandthehighertheaxialstressmustbetodeform
the sample. Consequently, the yield strength of a notched sample may be greater than the yield strength
foundinasmoothbartensiletest.ThedatashowninTable7.2demonstratethe"notchstrengthening"effect
in1018steelbars,notchedtoreducethecrosssectionalareabyupto70%.
TABLE7.2NotchStrengtheningin1018Steel

ReductionofArea
inNotchSample

yieldstrength,
notchedbar
smoothbar

1.00

20

1.22

30

1.36

40

1.45

50

1.64

60

1.85

70

2.00

Inthiscasenotethatthenetsectionstresswillincreasewithnotchdepthasaresultoftheincreasedplastic
constraint. In this manner, you may prove to yourself that materials with limited deformation capacity will
notchweaken,andhighlyductilematerialswillnotchstrengthen.

Two factors need to be emphasized when discussing the observed notch strengthening effect. First, even
thoughthenotchedcomponentmayhaveahighernetsectionstress,itrequiresalowerloadforfracturethan
does the smooth sample when based on the gross crosssectional area. I trust that this should temper the
enthusiasmofanyoverzealousstudentwhomightotherwiseraceabout,hacksawinhand,withtheintentof
"notchstrengthening"allthebridgesintown.Second,thereisalimittotheamountofnotchstrengthening
thatamaterialmayexhibit.Fromtheoryofplasticityconsiderations,itisshownthatthenetsectionstressina
deformablematerialmaybeelevatedto2~to3timesthesmoothbaryieldstrengthvalue.

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