Continuing Education


Ductility and Brittle Fracture: Another View

Session 1 – Ductility: Another View (4/12/2022)

It is often said that "steel is an inherently ductile material," and yet this statement fails to explain how steel occasionally behaves in a brittle manner. Most texts include both yield and tensile strengths in the listing of mechanical properties, but sometimes steel fails with no sign of yielding before fracture. Structural engineers designing structures to resist earthquake loading rely on ductile behavior to absorb seismically-induced loads, and yet brittle fractures have been observed after earthquakes. These apparent paradoxes can be understood when the role of shear stresses and ductility is properly understood. Notches and constraint, known to be problematic when ductility is desired, can also be explained in terms of shear stresses. Designing structural systems to enable the development of shear stresses is essential if ductility is desired. This presentation will give insight into how ductility can be achieved and provide some insight into how Mohr's Circle can be used to easily explain ductility.


Session 2 – Brittle Fracture: Another View (4/19/2022)

This lecture examines brittle fracture from a holistic perspective, considering the many variables that lead to brittle fracture. Four case studies are used to illustrate the effect of these variables: the World War II Liberty Ships, the Silver Bridge, the Martha Ingram barge and the Hoan Bridge. The interaction of fatigue loading and fracture will are reviewed. Finally, 48 practical ideas that will increase the resistance of a structure to brittle fracture are presented.

 

Individual Registration

 

$95 Member
$150  Non-member
$80 Student/Faculty
$80 Government Employee

 1.5 PDHs per session to the registrant only

 Registration is closed
Group Registration

 

$325 Member
$500 Non-member
$270 Student/Faculty
$270 Government Employee

Registration is good for only one connection.*

1.5 PDHs per session to unlimited attendees at each connection

 Registration is closed
*Accommodations for stay-at-home and safer-at-home orders

 

In light of the recent changes to daily work life, we understand that many people are working from home at this time. If the individual registration option is not feasible for your company, we will accommodate each attendee who would typically gather in your office conference room. Your registration confirmation e-mail will include information on how to add more employees to the registration.

 
  • Date: 4/12/2022 and 4/19/202 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
  • Duration: 1.5 hours per session
  • Location: Live Webinar
  • PDH Credits: 1.5 PDHs per session
  • Registration Deadline: 4/12/2022 11:00 a.m.
  • Substitutions and Cancellations: Substitutions may be made at any time. Cancellations received 1-3 days prior to the webinar will be charged a $50 service charge. Cancellations and no shows the day of the webinar session will not receive a refund.

  • Connection Instructions: Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing your receipt, information on accessing the webinar, and a link providing access to PDF handout of slides.

Speakers

Duane Miller

Duane Miller, PE, ScD

Duane K. Miller, PE, ScD, is a recognized authority on the design of welded connections.