ASTM E813 — JIC Fracture Toughness (Withdrawn)

ASTM E813: Standard Test Method for JIC, a Measure of Fracture Toughness (Withdrawn)

ASTM E813 is best understood as an elastic-plastic fracture toughness test method focused on J_Ic determination using fatigue-precracked specimens and slow, quasi-static loading. It was historically used for engineering assessment of ductile tearing initiation resistance in metals.

This standard has been withdrawn, and many organizations now reference ASTM E1820 for fracture toughness measurement where E813 was previously cited.

Quick Definition

In practical terms: ASTM E813 defines a way to generate J versus crack-growth information near initiation and to determine a J_Ic-type value for metals using precracked specimens and controlled loading, with crack extension assessed using approaches such as compliance.

What This Standard Covers

ASTM E813 addresses elastic-plastic fracture behavior where linear-elastic K_Ic methods may not be appropriate. It is associated with:

• Fatigue precracking to create a sharp starter crack
• Testing of notched and fatigue-cracked specimens under slow loading
• Use of common fracture mechanics specimen families such as single-edge bend (SE(B)) and compact tension (C(T))
• Determination of a critical toughness value near the initiation of stable tearing (J_Ic)

Important limitation: Validity can depend strongly on specimen size/constraint, crack size, and the specific edition requirements referenced in the customer or regulatory document.

Why This Standard Matters in Testing

Legacy E813 references still appear in technical records for pressure-containing components, structural integrity assessments, welded structures, and materials qualification programs. When an older standard is cited, the biggest practical impact is usually not the math—it is whether the lab’s specimen geometry, crack length measurement approach, and data reduction method align with what the citation intended.

For organizations modernizing test programs, E813 is often a starting point for moving to a current consolidated fracture toughness method while keeping continuity with historical results and acceptance criteria.

Common Materials, Product Types, or Applications Covered

ASTM E813 is most often associated with metallic materials where elastic-plastic crack growth and ductile tearing initiation are relevant.

Common use cases: Base metals and weldments; plate/forgings; structural and pressure-boundary materials where crack-like flaw tolerance or tearing resistance is being assessed.

Common Test or Verification Workflow

While details vary by edition and program requirements, an E813-type workflow commonly includes:

• Machining a fracture mechanics specimen (commonly SE(B) or C(T)) to the required proportions
• Introducing a fatigue precrack to achieve a sharp crack front
• Running a slow, controlled test while recording load and displacement
• Estimating crack extension using an allowed technique (often compliance-based in legacy workflows) and calculating J-based values near initiation
• Reporting the toughness result and documenting specimen size/geometry and validity-related checks required by the cited edition

Planning note for buyers: The method selection (single-specimen vs. multi-specimen approaches in older practice) can drive throughput, fixturing needs, and instrumentation complexity.

Equipment Commonly Used for This Standard

ASTM E813 typically drives equipment selection around controlled loading, high-quality force/displacement measurement, and fracture specimen fixturing.

Common equipment families: Universal testing machines or servo-hydraulic test frames (depending on load range and control needs); fracture mechanics grips and fixtures for bend and compact specimens; precision load cells; displacement measurement (for example, clip gauges or extensometry suited to the specimen/fixture); and data acquisition/control capable of stable, slow loading and high-resolution recording.

Common accessories: Fatigue precracking capability (often a separate fatigue frame or appropriate cyclic loading system), alignment aids, environmental conditioning when required by the test plan, and tooling to support side-grooving or specimen preparation when specified.

If you are building a fracture toughness setup around bend/C(T) fixtures, instrumentation, and software outputs, you can request a detailed quote for a configuration matched to your load range and specimen types.

How to Read This Designation or Revision

ASTM standards are commonly cited as an alphanumeric designation (for example, E813) followed by a year suffix indicating the year of issue or revision (for example, E813-87). Some citations also include an editorial correction suffix (for example, an “e1” style notation) in addition to the year.

Revision sensitivity: Because ASTM E813 is withdrawn and was revised over time, test setup and reporting expectations may depend on the exact edition cited in a contract document, code case, or historical test report.

Related Standards, Methods, or Frameworks

ASTM E813 is commonly discussed in the context of later consolidated fracture toughness methods used today for J-based toughness and related resistance-curve approaches. Many current programs reference ASTM E1820 when they need a modern, consolidated fracture toughness framework that covers J-based toughness measurement workflows.

When a project specification still calls out E813, it is good practice to confirm whether the requirement is strictly “test to that historical method” or “obtain an equivalent toughness parameter” using a current method that the customer accepts.

Talk with Us About an ASTM E813 Test Setup

If you need to support an ASTM E813 citation (or translate it into a current fracture toughness approach for a customer), we can help align specimen geometry, fixtures, instrumentation, and reporting outputs to the requirement. For planning help or to validate a legacy callout, contact our team.