Nonlinear Stress–Strain Characterization of Cast Iron Used to Manufacture Pipes for Water Supply

The stress–strain response of cast iron under tension or compression is nonlinear. This paper examines how the hyperbolic constitutive law can be applied to characterize nonlinear stress–strain behavior of cast iron used in water supply networks. Procedures are described to obtain parameters of the hyperbolic constitutive law from either the response (data) obtained from simple uniaxial tensile and compressive tests or from bending tests. To demonstrate its applicability, this hyperbolic constitutive law is first applied to data obtained from uniaxial tensile and compressive tests conducted by Schlick and Moore (1936, “Strength and Elastic Properties of Cast Iron in Tension, Compression, Flexure, and Combined Tension and Flexure,” Bulletin 127, Iowa Engineering Experiment Station, Ames, IA). In addition, an approach to extract parameters for the hyperbolic constitutive law from bending (beam and pipe rings) tests is proposed and subsequently applied to tests conducted by Talbot (1908, “Tests of Cast-Iron and Reinforced Concrete Culvert Pipe,” Bulletin No. 22, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL). This latter approach is attractive for practical purposes because the test set up is simple and the test coupons are very easy to prepare. The hyperbolic constitutive law in conjunction with maximum normal strain theory as proposed by St. Venant (Collins, J. A., 1993, Failure of Materials in Mechanical Design: Analysis, Prediction, Prevention, John Wiley, New York, NY) was also used to predict failure loads.