Minimum design metal temperature of Q345R determined by exemption curve in ASME VIII-2 and its derived methods

In order to prevent the brittle fracture accident, minimum design metal temperature of ferrite steel should be limited. After the minimum design metal temperature curve in American Society of Mechanical Engineers VIII-2 (2007) was proposed, much related research has been done in recent years. In this paper, firstly the theoretical basis of four methods used to determine the minimum design metal temperature was introduced. Secondly, the mechanical properties of Q345R was measured by tensile test, Charpy v-notch impact test and fracture toughness test Thirdly, minimum design metal temperature curve of Q345R that determined by four methods were obtained. There are obvious difference between the curves of Q345R that determined by four methods. It can be concluded that low temperature fracture toughness of Q345R is underestimated when classifying Q345R into exemption curve A in American Society of Mechanical Engineers VIII-2 (2007).