Determination of the critical hydrogen concentration for delayed fracture of high strength steel by constant load test and numerical calculation

The critical hydrogen concentration for hydrogen induced delayed fracture of the AISI 4135 steel at 1320 and 1450 MPa has been determined by constant load tests in combination with numerical calculations, and thus the concept of a critical hydrogen concentration has been verified. The time to fracture was obtained for circumferentially notched round bar specimens under a constant load after electrochemically pre-charged with various hydrogen contents. A numerical model was then developed for calculating the accumulated hydrogen concentration in the vicinity of the notch root, taking into account the driving effect of the hydrostatic stress on hydrogen transport. The results showed that the delayed fracture of the steel occurred when a critical hydrogen concentration at the location of the stress peak was reached by accumulation, and that the time to fracture was related to the stress-driven hydrogen accumulation process. The critical hydrogen concentration was dependent not only on the strength level, but also on the stress concentration factor of the specimens.     

Environmentally assisted cracking of 18%Ni maraging steel

Slow strain rate testing of notched cylindrical specimens of 18Ni2400 maraging steel has been carried out in air with 30% relative humidity and synthetic seawater environments. Peak-aged condition has been chosen, considering the relevance to engineering applications. Studies have also been carried out with different notch geometries to understand the effect of stress concentration factor. It is concluded from the study that (i) degree of stress concentration at the notch influences the notched tensile strength (ii) mild hydrogen embrittlement seems to occur in air environment, (iii) synthetic seawater environment drastically brings down the notched tensile strength and time to fracture (iv) environmentally assisted cracking occurs in air tests in quasicleavage and microvoid coalescence modes and in seawater tests in intercrystalline mode.     

Evaluation of susceptibility of high strength steels to delayed fracture by using cyclic corrosion test and slow strain rate test

To evaluate susceptibilities of high strength steels to delayed fracture, slow strain rate tests (SSRT) of notched bar specimens of AISI 4135 with tensile strengths of 1300 and 1500 MPa and boron-bearing steel with 1300 MPa have been performed after cyclic corrosion test (CCT). During SSRT the humidity around the specimen was kept high to keep absorbed diffusible hydrogen. The fracture stresses of AISI 4135 steels decreased with increment of diffusible hydrogen content which increased with CCT cycles. Their delayed fracture susceptibilities could be successfully evaluated in consideration of both influence of hydrogen content on mechanical property and hydrogen entry.     

Susceptibility of a X80 steel to hydrogen embrittlement

The susceptibility to hydrogen of a X80 grade steel produced by a thermo‐mechanical control process (TMCP) has been investigated by keeping straining notched specimens under continuous charging conditions. Hydrogen charging was carried out either in synthetic seawater under potentiostatic control at ? 1000 mV vs. SCE or in sulphuric acid with an absorption promoter under galvanostatic control at ? 5 mA/cm². Results reported in terms of hydrogen effect on the ductility of the steel as a function of both cross head speed and root radius of the notch indicate that under the combined effect of cathodic charging, notch severity and very low strain rates the ductility of the TMCP X80 steel can be greatly affected by the presence of hydrogen. With notched specimens strained in air increasing loss of ductility in terms of reduction in area is observed as the notch severity increases. Notched specimens are fairly “more brittle” than smooth ones. As notched specimens are strained under cathodic charging at ? 1000 mV vs. SCE in the synthetic seawater, considerable decrease of reduction in area (RA) is observed. The same trend is observed for displacement and load at fracture both being connected with ductility even if a definite tendency is not always obtained. As the notched specimens are strained under cathodic charging in seawater the fracture morphology shows regions of mixed ductile and brittle fracture and zones where intergranular and/or transgranular fracture path are prevailing. Area of intergranular and transgranular fracture path, that can be more strictly associated with the presence of hydrogen, tends to increase as the strain rate decreases, which suggests a fracture behaviour influenced by hydrogen diffusion. Several mechanisms were involved in the rupture process in sulphuric acid depending on the notch geometry and, especially, on the cross head speed. Apparently, transgranular (quasi‐cleavage) rupture tends to prevail as the displacement becomes lower and lower. No evidence of intergranular fracture was observed.     

The influence of aging treatments on sulfide stress corrosion cracking of PH 13-8 Mo steel welds

Slow displacement rate tensile tests were carried out to study sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SSCC) of PH 13-8 Mo stainless steel welds in a saturated H₂S solution. The welds aged in the temperature range of 482-593 °C were susceptible to SSCC; the fracture surfaces revealed mainly quasi-cleavage fractures after notched tensile tests. However, the SSCC susceptibility in terms of the percentage loss of the notched tensile strength (NTS) of the welds was dependent on the aging treatment. The SSCC resistance and the austenite content of the welds increased with the aging temperatures. The presence of greater amounts of austenite, mainly reverted austenite, in the W1100 specimen (the weld aged at 1100 °F or 593 °C) than that in other aged specimens could account for its lower hardness and better SSCC resistance. On the other hand, the AW (as-welded) specimen containing a small amount of retained austenite films in a soft matrix exhibited a slightly improved SSCC resistance than that in the W1100 specimen. The lower hardness of the AW specimen was owing to the absence of fine coherent precipitates, leading to a reduced local stress and an enlarged plastic zone located in front of the notch in the test. With lower hardness, the local stress would also be lower and less likely to exceed some critical stress for failure in the saturated H₂S solution. For the aged specimens, the hardness/strength level and the amount of reverted austenite were the important factors that affect SSCC susceptibility.     

两种不同碳含量铁素体+珠光体型非调质钢的缺口高周疲劳破坏行为

采用旋转弯曲疲劳实验和疲劳裂纹扩展速率实验研究了两种不同碳含量的铁素体+珠光体型非调质钢30MnVS和49MnVS的光滑样和缺口样(应力集中系数Kt=4)的高周疲劳破坏行为。结果表明,缺口对实验钢的疲劳极限具有显著的影响,30MnVS和49MnVS钢缺口样的疲劳极限较光滑样降低了约69%,呈现出较高的疲劳缺口敏感性。与49MnVS钢相比,30MnVS钢的光滑疲劳极限提高了11.0%,缺口疲劳极限提高了8.5%,但30MnVS钢的疲劳缺口敏感性及疲劳裂纹扩展速率均略高。两种实验钢的疲劳裂纹往往萌生于试样或缺口根部表面基体组织中的铁素体/珠光体边界,并优先沿着该边界扩展。实验结果及文献数据的拟合分析表明,可采用Kt的二次多项式拟合公式来简便地计算Kf值。     

Investigation of the surface reactivity on a 304L tensile notched specimen using scanning electrochemical microscopy

Local electrochemical reactivity around a notched tensile sample of 304L stainless steel under applied stress was investigated using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The plastic strain field around the notch was evaluated by finite element model (FEM). Microscopic observations of local plasticity related to grain morphology were correlated with the effective plastic strain field calculated with FEM around the notch root. Numerical results, surface observations and experimental electrochemical investigations showed the significant effect of plastic strain gradient on the surface reactivity. The effect of roughness induced by the triaxial plastic strain field around the notch was investigated with surface topography measurements.     

The effect of residual stresses induced by prestraining on fatigue life of notched specimens

The effect of tensile prestraining-induced residual stress on the fatigue life of notched steel parts was investigated. The study was performed on AISI 4140 steel. Rotating bending fatigue tests were carried out on semicircular notched specimens with different notch radii in the as-quenched and tempered conditions. Metallography of the specimens was performed by means of light optical microscopy. The finite-element method was used to evaluate the residual stress distribution near the notch region. Fatigue tests revealed fatigue life improvement for notched specimens, which changes depending on the notch radii and applied stress. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the fracture surfaces of the specimens.     

Hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility and permeability of two ultra-high strength steels

Slow displacement rate tensile tests were carried out in a saturated H₂S solution to investigate the effect of hydrogen embrittlement on notched tensile strength (NTS) and fracture characteristics of two ultra-high strength steels (PH 13-8 Mo stainless steel and T-200 maraging steel). Hydrogen permeation properties were determined by an electrochemical permeation method. The results of permeation tests indicated that over-aged specimens showed a lower diffusivity/hydrogen flux and higher solubility than those solution-annealed. The great increase in reverted austenite (irreversible hydrogen traps) together with numerous precipitates at the expense of dislocations (reversible) in the over-aged specimen led to such a change in permeability. Ordinary tensile tests indicated that four tested specimens had roughly the same yield strength level. Hence, the hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of the material could be related to their permeation properties. The uniform distribution of strong hydrogen traps in over-aged specimens instead of weak traps in the solution-annealed impeded the hydrogen transport toward the strained region, thus, the resistance to sulfide stress corrosion cracking was improved in over-aged specimens.     

Quantitative characterization by micro-electrochemical measurements of the synergism of hydrogen, stress and dissolution on near-neutral pH stress corrosion cracking of pipelines

Occurrence of stress corrosion cracking of pipelines under a near-neutral pH condition depends on the synergism of stress, hydrogen and anodic dissolution at the crack tip of the steel. In this work, micro-electrochemical techniques, including localized electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning vibrating electrode technique, were used to characterize quantitatively the synergistic effects of hydrogen and stress on local dissolution at crack-tip of a X70 pipeline steel in a near-neutral pH solution. Results demonstrate that, upon hydrogen-charging, the anodic dissolution of the steel is enhanced. The resistance of the deposited corrosion product layer depends on the charging current density. There is a non-uniform dissolution rate on the cracked steel specimen, with a highest dissolution current density measured at crack-tip. For a smooth steel specimen, the synergistic effect factor of hydrogen and stress is equal to 5.4, and the total effect of hydrogen and stress on anodic dissolution of the steel is 7.7. In the presence of a crack, the hydrogen effect factor, stress effect factor and the synergistic effect factor are approximately 4.3, 1.3 and 4.0, respectively. The total effect factor is up to 22.4, which is very close to the 20 times of difference of crack growth rate in pipelines in the presence and absence of the hydrogen involvement recorded in the field.     

Evaluation of delayed fracture property of outdoor-exposed high strength AISI 4135 steels

Delayed fracture properties of AISI 4135 high strength steels with 1490 and 1310 MPa of tensile strength, represented as B15 and B13, respectively, have been studied by means of slow strain rate test (SSRT) of notched bar specimens after outdoor exposure at rural and coastal areas. The exposed specimens were kept at humid medium before SSRT to reproduce active hydrogen entry influenced by the rust layer and to homogenize hydrogen distribution. The influences of exposure site and exposure time on fracture stress have been investigated. The susceptibility of B15 to delayed fracture was obviously higher than that of B13.     

缺口对GH3536镍基高温合金蠕变性能的影响

针对GH3536镍基高温合金无应力集中和带典型应力集中圆棒试样在160,200,240 MPa应力条件下的高温(750℃)蠕变性能进行了试验和有限元分析,研究了缺口的存在对材料蠕变性能的影响。采用扫描电镜分析了试样断口的形貌,确定了材料的断裂机制。结果表明:缺口的存在对GH3536镍基高温合金试件的蠕变性能影响较大,其降低了试件的最大蠕变应变及在蠕变各个阶段的蠕变速率。缺口对试件的蠕变寿命存在硬化作用,缺口根部轴向应力的再分配和松弛可简单认为是导致缺口对该合金蠕变寿命起硬化作用的影响因素。断口形貌分析表明由于缺口的存在,2种试件的表面形貌虽有不同,但蠕变断裂机理都是由微孔洞不断增大与聚集引起的。     

应力/应变场对插销试验焊接接头氢扩散的影响

采用ABAQUS有限元分析软件及有关焊接接头中氢扩散与集聚的计算模拟技术计算分析了不同外加载荷条件下插销试件的能力、应变场及其对氢扩散与聚集过程的影响。计算结果表明，静载拉伸条件下插销缺口前沿有明显的应力应变集中，随着外加载荷的增加，缺口尖端应力逐渐增大，但应力集中系数逐渐减小；在相同初始氢条件下，随着外加载荷的增加，缺口前沿应力应变集中部位氢的峰值浓度逐渐提高，氢浓度达到峰值的时间也逐渐增长。分析认为，插销缺口附近产生的应力应变集中是导致氢在该区域产生聚集的重要原因。     

Effect of hydrogen on the properties and fracture characteristics of TRIP 800 steels

The paper describes effect of hydrogen on the properties and fracture characteristics of two variants of TRIP 800 C–Mn–Si steels. The effect of hydrogen was studied by means of tensile tests on specimens previously charged by hydrogen. Hydrogen provoked embrittlement in both variants but only for very high hydrogen content. Hydrogen embrittlement manifested itself mainly by a loss of plasticity. Both steel variants were able to absorb a large amount of hydrogen, up to 50 ppm. Concerning fractographic characteristics, steels containing higher hydrogen content displayed transgranular cleavage fracture. In exceptional cases, an irreversible embrittlement was revealed initiating on non-metallic inclusions.     

Evaluation of hydrogen entry into high strength steel under atmospheric corrosion

Hydrogen entry into high strength steels by atmospheric corrosion has been investigated to evaluate their susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. High strength steels were corroded by dry/wet cyclic corrosion after NaCl deposition. The maximum diffusible hydrogen concentration around the surface was successfully obtained by means of thermal desorption analysis after keeping the specimens at high humidity to reproduce enhanced hydrogen entry influenced by the rust layer and to homogenize the hydrogen distribution. Despite decrease in corrosion rate, hydrogen content in specimens did not decrease. Decrease of pH in inner rust layer is responsible for the enhanced hydrogen entry into steel.     

氢及缺口状态对40CrNiMo钢断裂强度的影响

通过对４０ＣｒＮｉＭｏ光滑与三种不同缺口状态的试样进行试验发现，氢对材料强度的影响与外加应变速率的大小有关。在空气中试验，缺口状态对材料断裂强度几乎无影响；而在氢气中试验，则发现缺口根部半径Ｒ的变化对材料断裂强度影响极大；当缺口根部半径一定，仅改变外径Ｄ或缺口处最小直径ｄ所得两种缺口状态对缺口强度的影响不大。     

The effect of grain size and aging on hydrogen embrittlement of a maraging steel

Notched tensile tests were conducted under a slow displacement rate to evaluate the influences of grain size and aging on hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of T-200 maraging steel. In addition, an electrochemical permeation method was employed to measure the effective diffusivity (D_eff) and apparent solubility (C_app) for hydrogen of various heat-treated specimens. The results indicated that the aged (482 °C/4 h) specimens comprised of numerous precipitates led to a raised C_app and a decreased hydrogen diffusivity as compared to those of the solution-treated ones. The solution-treated specimens were resistant to gaseous HE, whereas aged specimens were susceptible to it, implying the strength level was the controlling factor to affect the HE susceptibility of the specimens. Nevertheless, all specimens suffered from sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SSCC) severely but to different degrees. The aged specimens were more likely to form intergranular (IG) fractures in H₂S but quasi-cleavage (QC) in H₂. For the solution-treated specimens, a fine-grained structure was susceptible to HE in H₂S and revealed mainly QC that differed from the IG fracture of the coarse-grained one. The fracture mode of the specimens could also be related to the transport path and / or the supply of hydrogen to the plastic zone of notched specimens in hydrogen-containing environments.     

DUCTILE FRACTURE OF FERRITE NODULAR GRAPHITE CAST IRON UNDER MULTIAXIAL TENSILE STRESS

为研究多轴应力下铁素体球铁延性断裂机制,采用三种不同曲率半径(ρ=2,4,10mm)的缺口圆柱试样进行拉伸试验,并用大弹塑性变形有限元分析法计算试样缺口部位的应力、应变分布。在中断拉伸试样上进行金相观察,跟踪石墨球与基体界面处微空洞的形核和长大。研究结果表明,当石墨球与基体界面处的应力到达650MPa时,微空洞形核,空洞长大和聚合导致延性断裂。     

喷丸对H13钢单边带缺口试样疲劳裂纹扩展行为的影响

喷丸工艺通过改变试件的表面形貌、微观组织及残余应力等表面完整性可以影响裂纹的萌生和扩展;对于存在缺陷的试件,喷丸的作用机制和影响结果有所不同。采用白光干涉仪、SEM、XRD及显微硬度计等对单边带缺口的H13钢薄板试样喷丸前后的表面完整性进行了测定。并借助原位SEM开展了系列裂纹扩展试验,分析了喷丸对试样疲劳寿命、裂纹扩展速率以及疲劳断口特征的影响。研究结果表明,虽然残余压应力诱发裂纹闭合,但由于喷丸后表面粗糙度的大幅提高增强了缺口效应,表面加工硬化使得韧性有所降低,以及残余应力在加载过程中发生松弛等因素,喷丸后单边带缺口试样的裂纹萌生过程缩短,疲劳寿命降低,且裂纹扩展速率的变化较小。喷丸前后疲劳断口形貌均为准解理特征,喷丸后断口近表面处的撕裂棱特征消失。     

The effects of hydrogen on fatigue crack growth behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Mo-2Fe alloys

The fatigue crack growth rates (FCGRs) of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Mo-2Fe alloys were determined in gaseous hydrogen, air, and a soft vacuum. In hydrogen and at a stress ratio of 0.1, the deflected crack path associated with the localized brittle fracture of the α-phase could account for the reduced FCGR of Ti-6Al-4V. At a higher stress ratio of 0.5, hydrogen embrittlement enhanced cracking and alleviated the effect of crack deflections in Ti-6Al-4V specimens, resulting in the FCGR in hydrogen similar to that in air. In contrast, the FCGR of Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Mo-2Fe was insensitive to both the environment and stress ratio.