Corrosion Science, Vol. 35, Nos 1-4, pp. 521-530, 1993 0010-938X/93 $6.00 + 0.

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Printed in Great Britain. © 1993 Pergamon Press Ltd

FACTORS INFLUENCING STRESS CORROSION

CRACKING OF HIGH STRENGTH PEARLITIC STEELS

J. TORIBIO,* A . M . L A N C H A t a n d M . ELICES~

*Department of Engineering, University of La Corufia, E.T.S.I. Caminos, Pol. Sab6n, P.12-14, 15141
Arteixo, La Corufia, Spain
tSpanish Center for Nuclear Technology Research, C.I.E.M.A. T, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040
Madrid, Spain
~:Department of Materials Science, Polytechnical University of Madrid, E.T.S.I. Caminos, Ciudad
Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Abstract--In this paper the main variables which affect stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of high strength
pearlitic steels are analysed from the fracture mechanics point of view. To this end, slow strain rate tests
(SSRTs) and constant strain tests (CSTs) under various mechanical and electrochemical conditions were
carried out on pre-packed and notched samples of two high strength pearlitic steels, thus allowing a study
of the influence of electrochemical variables such as the pH of the solution and the electrochemical
potential, mechanical variables as the maximum stress intensity factor during fatigue pre-cracking (in pre-
cracked samples) and the displacement rate applied to the sample ends, and geometric variables as the
notch geometry (in notched samples) which determines the stress state in the vicinity of the notch tip and
therefore controls the environmentally induced fracture process.

INTRODUCTION
HIGH-STRENGTHpearlitic steels are widely used as structural materials in prestressed
concrete structures. However, they can suffer stress corrosion cracking (SCC) due to
both the mechanical loading and the chemical environment. 1-3 One of the most
promising techniques for studying that phenomenon---either anodic dissolution or
hydrogen embrittlement--is the performance of slow strain rate tests (SSRTs) on
pre-cracked or notched specimens. 4-6 This technique has advantages over others,
although it is not yet fully understood, and the influence of some factors remains
unexplained. In addition, when testing pre-cracked or notched samples, the local or
effective strain rate in the vicinity of the crack or notch tip---and not the displacement
rate applied to the sample ends--is the variable which governs the process.
In this paper, the main variables which affect SCC of high strength pearlitic steels
are analysed from the fracture mechanics point of view. It studies the influence of
electrochemical variables such as the pH of the solution and the electrochemical
potential, mechanical variables as the maximum stress intensity factor during fatigue
pre-cracking (in pre-cracked samples) and the displacement rate applied to the
sample ends, and geometric variables as the notch geometry (in notched samples).

EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
Slow strain rate tests (SSRTs) on pre-cracked samples were performed on a commercial eutectoid
pearlitic steel, supplied in bar form of 12 mm diameter, whose chemical composition and mechanical
properties appear in Tables 1 and 2, respectively (steel 1). The specimens were transverse pre-cracked
rods (Fig. la), with a crack depth a = 4.0 _+ 0.2 mm. The crosshead speed or applied displacement rate was
8.3 x 10 8 ms i based on previous experience. 2 The aggressive environment was an aqueous solution of
1 g 1-1 Ca(OH) 2 plus 0.1 g 1 i NaC1 plus HCI in different amounts (pH = 12.5, 8 and 4 were chosen). All

521
522 J. TORIBIO, A . M . LANCHA a n d M . ELICES

TABLE 1. CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS OF BOTH STEELS (wt % )

Steel C Mn Si P S

1 0.74 0.70 0.20 0.016 0.023

2 0.85 0.60 0.26 0.010 0.030

TABLE 2. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BOTH STEELS

Young's modulus 0.2% proof stress U.T.S. Elongation under U.T.S.

Steel (GPa) (MPa) (MPa) (%)

1 195 725 1300 8.0

2 199 600 1151 6.1

tests were carried out at constant potential, covering a broad range from E = -100 mV(SCE) (anodic) to
E = -1200 mV(SCE) (cathodic), as described elsewhere.7 To evaluate the influence of the pre-cracking
procedure, four series of pre-cracked specimens were prepared, with the following maximum fatigue pre-
cracking loads; Kmax = 0.28, 0.45, 0.60 and 0.80 KIC, where K1c = 53 MPa m 1/2 for such a material (steel
1). Pre-cracking was carried out with a minimum stress intensity factor (Kmin) near the zero level.
To analyse the effect of the maximum fatigue pre-cracking load on the threshold stress intensity factor
for crack propagation, constant strain tests (CSTs) were carried out on 3.85 × 7.70 x 100.00 mm prismatic
samples of the same steel. The same aqueous solution as described in previous paragraph was used (the pH
now being fixed at the value 12.5). Two electrochemical potentials were imposed: E = -1200 mV(SCE)
and E = -600 mV(SCE), corresponding to cathodic and anodic conditions, respectively. Load was
applied by means of a three-point bend device with a distance between supports of 61.60 ram. Load on the
sample and crack length were measured during the test, as described elsewhere .8 Two different maximum
fatigue pre-cracking loads were used (Kma x = 0.25 and 0.50 Kic ).
The experimental SSRT plan on notched samples was also performed on a commercial eutectoid
pearlitic steel supplied in bar form of 12 mm diameter (steel number 2), whose chemical composition and
mechanical properties appear in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. The specimens were round notched samples
of the four geometries sketched in Fig. l(b), with the following dimensions:

(b)

(a)
B

FATIGUE
PRECRACK - i
zES3x._j

/
NOTCH - -

I
FI6. 1. (a) Pre-cracked specimens for SSRT; (b) notched specimens for SSRT.
 SCC of pearlitic steels 523

Sample R/D A/D

A 0.03 0.10
B 0.05 0.39
C 0.36 0.10
D 0.40 0.39

where R is the notch radius. A the notch depth and D the diameter of the sample (D = 11.25 for all
specimens, after machining). A broad range of displacement rates between 10-1° and 2.10 -6 m s i was
imposed, to study the transient (time-dependent) effect of the environment on the metal under different
stress triaxiality conditions (different geometries). The aggressive environment was also an aqueous
solution of I g 1-1 C a ( O H ) 2 plus 0.1 g 1- ~ NaCI with pH value of 12.5 maintained constant for all tests. The
electrochemical potential was - 1 2 0 0 mV(SCE) (cathodic). constant for all tests, to promote hydrogen
embrittlement.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 2 offers the experimental SSRT results on pre-cracked specimens. There
are two regions of potential in which the effect of the environment reduces the failure
loads. The region of higher potentials [above -600 mV(SCE) for pH 4, -800
mV(SCE) for pH 8 and -900 mV(SCE) for pH 12.5] is called anodic regime, whereas
that of lower potentials is the cathodic regime. In the former, the main mechanism is
anodic dissolution; in the latter, hydrogen embrittlement. However, a hydrogen
embrittlement mechanism can also occur under nominally anodic conditions.
The effect of the maximum fatigue load during precracking is also similar for the
three pH values: the SCC (anodic dissolution or hydrogen embrittlement) increases
as the fatigue load decreases. This fact demonstrates the very important role of
residual stresses in SCC processes; those residual stresses---compressive type--are
generated in the vicinity of the crack tip during fatigue pre-cracking of the samples.
In the case of anodic dissolution, those residual stresses modify the local strain rate at
the crack tip, thus changing the balance between the creation and rupture of oxide
film. For hydrogen embrittlement processes, compressive residual stresses delay the
hydrogen ingress.
Figure 3 offers the CST results on pre-cracked bend specimens, as a plot of crack
growth rate vs stress intensity factor applied on the sample. Results for E -- -1200
mV(SCE) (cathodic regime: hydrogen assisted cracking-HAC) are plotted in Fig.
3(a). For Kmax = 0.25KIc, the threshold stress intensity factor for hydrogen assisted
cracking is K I H A C = 0.35K1c. Below this value no crack propagation is observed. For
K .... = 0.50K1c, the threshold stress intensity factor is K I H A C = 0 . 5 8 K 1 c , clearly
different from the previous one.
CST results for E = -600 mV(SCE) (anodic regime: SCC) appear in Fig. 3(b).
For Kmax = 0.25K1c, the threshold stress intensity factor for SCC is Ktscc =
0.75Ktc. For Kmax = 0.50KIc, the threshold is so high that even for K I = 0.95Kic no
propagation can be detected, which means that the environmentally assisted crack-
ing process is negligible in this case, thus emphasizing the very important role of
fatigue pre-cracking conditions.
Figure 4(a) shows the experimental results for notched specimens, in a plot giving
the ratio of the failure load in solution to that in air for each geometry vs the
crosshead speed or testing displacement rate. The common characteristic for all
geometries is that test severity depends on the applied displacement rate: the damage
524 J. TORIBIO,A.M. LANCHAand M. ELICES

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 SCC of pearlitic steels 525

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526 J. TOPaBIO, A.M. LANCHAand M. ELICES

-1
(a) 10

I pH=12.5
I
E=-I200mV SCE
Kma x = 25% KIc
[-
< Kma x = 50% KIC
ee NO P R O P A G A T I O N

[-

.<

~A
A
° o

t
]• i I i I [ I i
20 30 ~0 50 60 70 80 90 100

STRESS I N T E N S I T Y F A C T O R (% KIC)
F~G. 3. CST results on pre-cracked bend specimens: crack growth rate vs stress intensity
factor for different values of maximum fatigue load during pre-cracking (Kmax) and
E = -1200 mV(SCE) (a); E = -600 mV(SCE) (b).

produced by the aggressive environment (hydrogen embrittlement in this case since

it is a cathodic regime) rises as the displacement rate lowers, because there is a longer
period of time for the hydrogen to diffuse.
In Fig. 4(b), the dimensionless failure load in solution is represented as a function
of the global strain rate, which is that defined on the notched geometry at a distance L
= 4D, far enough from the notch tip. Global strain is defined as the displacement of
two points placed symmetrically at a distance L = 4D, divided by a reference length
of the geometry (the diameter D) to get a dimensionless variable. Global strain rate
is different from the crosshead speed, since the former is calculated over the notched
sample, whereas the latter is measured at the testing grips, including the compliance
of the testing machine.
 SCC of pearlitic steels 527

(b)

E pH=12,5
E= -600mV SCE
[- • Kma x = 25% KIc
-<
• Kma x = 50% Klc
= NO PROPAGATION
[-.,

,<

~6

~7

t t I' t 'ttt';'f't'tr f f ftf

15lo, I I L I 1 I J
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR (% K I C )

FIG. 3. Continued.

Figure 4(c), finally, offers the failure load in solution as a function of the space
and time average of the local strain rate in the vicinity of the notch tip, which is the
relevant variable in hydrogen embrittlement processes, as demonstrated
previously.9 Local strain is defined at the notch tip or its vicinity; x~ is the depth of the
maximum hydrostatic stress point (a characteristic value of each geometry, 9 and the
point ahead of the notch tip towards which hydrogen diffuses), and D* the effective
hydrogen diffusion coefficient in this kind of pearlitic steel (D* = 5 x 10 -11 m2s-1).
It can be observed that most of the results for all geometries fit into the same band
(open and crossed symbols), which emphasizes the relevant role of local strain rate.
This band represents the relationship between the failure load in hydrogen environ-
ment and the local strain rate in the vicinity of the notch tip. Filled symbols
correspond to the asymptotic situation (quasi-static tests), represented by horizontal
dashed lines for each geometry. Thus the critical load in the hydrogen environment
528 J. TORIBIO,A . M . LANCHA and M. ELICES

(a)

o o
0.9 o
0 O O o
x o

0.8 ×
o A
0 o
t~ o o
0.7 × t,
A
0.6 x~ A
B

0.5 x x o D
C

0.4 ........ ~ .....................

10-9 10 -8 10 .7 10 -6 10 .5

C R O S S H E A D S P E E D (m/s)

(b)

0
Oo
0.9 O0 × o o D
O0 D
× ×[]

0.8
g ~
0
c~
0.7 x
r~

0.6

0.5 ×

0.4
10-9 10-7 10 -5 0.001

(c)
0
D OO x
0.9

0.8
0
0.7

0.6 . . . .
xg
A

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0.4
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<< [L > > Xs 2/D"

 SCC of pearlitic steels 529

reaches a limit value, different for each geometry, and independent of the local strain
rate, since the tests are slow enough to allow the stationary condition for the
hydrogen diffusion to be reached: the damage (embrittlement, with loss of failure
load), is maximum and does not increase with the decrease of the strain rate. The
asymptotic values are a decreasing function of the stress triaxiality ahead of the notch
tip of each geometry, as demonstrated previously, 9 and they limit the range of
applicability of the kinematic formulation of the hydrogen embrittlement: for local
strain rates higher than those for the quasi-static test of each geometry, the failure
load of the material in hydrogen environment is a universal function (independent of
geometry) of the local strain rate.
In accordance with previous reasoning, the most adequate notched geometries
for testing hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of high strength pearlitic steels
seem to be those in which the maximum hydrostatic stress point is near the notch tip
(geometries A and C in this work), since in those cases the point towards which
hydrogen diffuses is near the notch tip and the hydrogen embrittlement effect is
clearly detectable, even at not too low strain rates.

CONCLUSIONS
(1) The influence of maximum fatigue precracking load in precracked samples is
very important, since it affects the slow strain rate tests in both anodic and cathodic
regimes. In the first case, by modifying the local strain rate at the crack tip. In the
second case, by inducing compressive residual stresses in the vicinity of the crack tip
and delaying the hydrogen entry.
(2) In constant strain tests on precracked samples, the threshold itself is affected
by the maximum fatigue precracking load.
(3) The slow strain rate tests on notched samples (cathodic regime) showed a
clear influence of the notch geometry through the triaxial stress state in the vicinity of
the notch.
(4) The local strain rate in the vicinity of the notch tip, and not the externally
applied displacement rate, is the variable which governs the SCC process.
(5) The most adequate notched geometries for analysing hydrogen embrittle-
ment processes seems to be those in which the maximum hydrostatic stress point is
near the notch tip.

Acknowledgements--The authors would like to thank Mr J. Monar, Nueva Montafia Quijano Company,
Santander, Spain, for providing the steel used in the experimental programme. One of the authors (J.
Toribio) wishes to express his gratitude to the Colegio de lngenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos,
Demarcaci6n de Galicia, Spain, for the financial support of technical trips during the final stages of this
work.

REFERENCES
1. M. ELICES, in Fracture Mechanics of Concrete: Structural Application and Numerical Calculation (eds
G. C. S1H and A. DITOMASSO),p. 226. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht 0985).
2. R. N. PARKINS,M. ELICES, V. SANCHEZ-GALVEZand L. CABALLERO,Corros. Sei. 22, 379 (1982).

Fro. 4. SSRT results on notched specimens: ratio of the failure load in solution to that in air (F¢/ko) as a
function of: (a) crosshead speed or testing displacement rate; (b) global strain rate; (c) average local strain
rate in the vicinity of the notch tip. In the latter case, filled symbols and horizontal dashed lines correspond
to quasi-static tests.
530 J. TORIBIO, A.M. LANCHAand M. ELICES

3. R. N. PARKINS, M. ELICES and V. SANCHEZ-GALVEZ,Proc. 3rd FIP Syrup., Madrid (1981).

4. R. N. PARKINS, in Stress Corrosion Cracking--The Slow Strain Rate Technique, A S T M STP 665 (eds G.
M. UGIANSKYand J. H. PAYER), 5--25 (1979).
5. C. D. KIM and B. E. WILDE,in Stress Corrosion Cracking--The Slow Strain Rate Technique, A S T M
STP 665 (eds G. M. UGIANSKYand J. H. PAYER),97-112 (1979).
6. J. C. SCULLY, in Stress Corrosion Cracking--The Slow Strain Rate Technique, A S T M STP 665 (eds G.
M. UGIANSKYand J. H. PAYER), 237--253 (1979).
7. J. TORIBIO, A. M. LANCHAand M. ELICES, Corrosion 47,781 (1991).
8. J. TORmIO, A. M. LANCHAand M. EL1CES, Scripta Metall. Mater. 25, 2239 (1991).
9. J. TORIBIOand M. ELICES, Corros. Sci. 33, 1387 (1992).