Study of cleavage fracture in ferritic stainless steels Part II: Cleavage micro-mechanisms and critical stresses

Cleavage fracture and the mechanisms involved in different ferritic steel model microstructures are investigated according to grain sizes, precipitates solute atoms matrix. For each case, one of these parameters is varied. Estimation critical stress for cleavage was discussed: it shown be determined from a simple Griffith inspired analysis or by employing Smith's description. The description adopt depends on careful mechanisms. This aims at better understanding governing Ductile Brittle Transition Temperature (DBTT) suggest routes alloys processing reduce DBTT steels.