This test method can be used to determine the appearance of propagating fractures in plain carbon or low-alloy pipe steels (yield strengths less than 825 MPa) over the temperature range where the fracture mode changes from brittle (cleavage or flat) to ductile (shear or oblique).

This test method can serve the following purposes:

For research and development, to study the effect of metallurgical variables such as composition or heat treatment, or of fabricating operations such as welding or forming on the mode of fracture propagation.

For evaluation of materials for service to indicate the suitability of a material for specific applications by indicating fracture propagation behavior at the service temperature(s).

For information or specification purposes, to provide a manufacturing quality control only when suitable correlations have been established with service behavior.