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A strain-based fracture model for stress corrosion cracking of low-alloy steels

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Abstract

The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of 4135 steel under different heat treatments is analyzed in an attempt to relate microstructural characteristics with macroscopic measurements of SCC resis-tance, especially the very impressive improvements associated with changes from intergranular (IG) to transgranular (TG) fracture paths. Considering that local hydrogen embrittlement at the crack tip causes SCC processes, a local cracking criterion, based on a critical strain depending on hydrogen concentration, is assumed to control the process. Stress corrosion cracking is viewed as a discontin-uous series of unstable crack extensions through the locally embrittled regions. The model developed on this basis explains the macroscopic behavior observed at the threshold situation and partially at stage II propagation and clarifies the role of the metallurgical variables in each of the types of fracture detected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, University of Cantabria, 39005, Santander, Spain

    F. Gutiérrez-Solana (Professor), J. González (Associate Professor) & J. M. Varona (Professor)

  2. Department of Materials Science, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    A. Valiente (Professor)

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  1. F. Gutiérrez-Solana
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  2. A. Valiente
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  3. J. González
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  4. J. M. Varona
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Gutiérrez-Solana, F., Valiente, A., González, J. et al. A strain-based fracture model for stress corrosion cracking of low-alloy steels. Metall Mater Trans A 27, 291–304 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02648407

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