* Department of Metallurgy and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, Canada
† I. Le May, Metallurgical Consulting Services Ltd., P.O. Box 5006, Saskatoon, Canada S7K 4E3
Abstract:
This article reviews a number of case studies involving hydrogen-assisted cracking in steels. Before the case studies are presented, the current state of understanding of hydrogen-assisted cracking is briefly reviewed. At present there are two leading approaches to the development of a mechanism of hydrogen-assisted cracking, one based upon bond weakening, and the other upon strain localization. As the case studies illustrate, hydrogen-assisted cracking can lead to failures in perhaps unexpected circumstances. The need for the wider dissemination of information about hydrogen cracking to design engineers is indicated.