About Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC)

Hydrogen induced cracking (HIC), Hydrogen Blistering, and Stress-Oriented Hydrogen-induced Cracking (SOHIC) are failure mechanisms which are commonly found in oil and gas production, refining, and gas processing where steel equipment is exposed to H2S-containing (sour) service environments. In low-strength plate and pipe steels, the primary cracking processes are hydrogen blistering and hydrogen-induced cracking. These processes are characterized by the recombination of atomic hydrogen to form molecular hydrogen at internal sites; such as laminations, non-metallic inclusions, regions of anomalous microstructures, and other weak interfaces. The internal hydrogen pressure at these internal sites causes the propagation and growth of cracks through the material. Under conditions of applied or residual tensile stress, these cracks can become aligned in the through thickness direction (commonly referred to as stress-oriented hydrogen-induced cracking - SOHIC) potentially resulting in loss of load or pressure-containing ability of steel equipment. These types of wet H2S cracking generally are contrasted from sulfide stress cracking (SSC), a form of hydrogen embrittlement cracking in higH2StrengtH2Steels or high hardness weldments resulting from the presence of atomic hydrogen in the metal lattice (i.e., solid state).

Volumetric Projection
A-Scan (RF Wave Form)

Typical AUT Software

Weld Blister Blisters Stepwise cracking I.D. cracking SOHIC Blister Blister Stepwise cracking from Blister to Blister Stepwise cracking to I.D. Blister Stepwise cracking SOHIC Blister Blister Blister Blister Blister Blister Blister Blister Blister Blister Blister
C-Scan Plan View
B-Scan (Cross-sectional View)

O.D. Surface I.D. Surface

Blister Blister Blister

C-Scan Plan View

A-Scan (RF Waveform) Shearwave response from blister top and edges (Cracking)

Tray attachemnt weld

0-Degree Data 45-Degree Shearwave Data

Utilizing the multi-channel pulse-echo technique and with the aid of Volumetric Projection, we can merge both 0 and shearwave data simultaneously. The 0 data is used to detect the component thickness and potential hydrogen induced blistering or laminar type indications. The shearwave data is used to detect potential I.D. cracking and cracking which may propagate from hydrogen blisters. The use of shearwaves can also detect stepwise cracking which are cracks that interlink blisters with the I.D. surface or from blister to blister.
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AUT Solutions 211 Quail Cir. West Bend, WI. 53090 USA Phone : 262-353-5517 262-353-5517 www.autsolutions.net ops@autsolutions.net

B-Scan Image (Cross-sectional View)

C-Scan Image (Plan View) of 0 degree data

C-Scan Image (Plan View) of 45 degree shearwave data