Method and device for testing a material sample in a standard test for in-plane fracture toughness evaluation

A method of testing a material in a standard test for in-plane fracture toughness evaluation, the material sample of a type used in a wall of a structure, the method comprising:

• obtaining a sample of the wall of the structure;
• shaping the sample into a notched component, the notched component including a flat bottom surface having a thickness dimension equal to a thickness of the wall of the structure, and a profiled top surface, the profiled top surface having a central notch oriented perpendicular to a plane of the bottom surface, a first socket on a first side of the central notch, and a second socket on a second side of the central notch;
• assembling a test specimen which increases an effective thickness of the sample beyond the thickness of the bottom surface of the notched component by coupling a first lateral extension to the first socket and a second lateral extension to the second socket of the notched component;
• applying a standard fracture toughness test to the so-assembled test specimen in order to evaluate the fracture toughness of the material in an in-plane direction;
• and
• prior to applying the standard fracture toughness test, charging the notched component with hydrogen.

An apparatus for testing a material used in a wall of a structure for fracture toughness, the apparatus comprising:

• a notched component made from a sample of the material of the structure shaped to have (a) a bottom surface having a width equal to a thickness of the wall of the structure, (b) a profiled top surface, the profiled top surface having a central notch, (c) a first socket on a first side of the central notch, and (d) a second socket feature on a second side of the central notch;
• a first lateral extension coupled to the first socket of the notched component;
• and
• a second lateral extension coupled to the second socket of the notched component,
• wherein the first and second lateral extensions extend an effective width of the notched component to provide an assembled test specimen of sufficient length to be used in a standard fracture toughness test, and
• wherein the notched component is charged with hydrogen.