Locally Delaminating Stress Corrosion Cracking Growth of Strain-Hardened Austenitic Alloys in Hydrogenated High Temperature Water Environments

Locally delaminating cracks, i.e. cracks that grow along the plane that is parallel to the principal applied loading direction, are observed on the fracture surfaces of heavily strain-hardened austenitic alloys after stress corrosion cracking tests in hydrogenated high temperature water environments. These delaminating cracks often occur locally on mixed intergranular-transgranular stress corrosion cracking fracture surfaces. The crack tip stress field is analyzed by finite element analysis. The physical-chemical degradation effect of stress on oxidation kinetics is formulated. The combinations of local oxidation penetration, relatively slow crack growth on the principal plane, and locally high crack tip stress are favorable for the growth of delaminating cracks. These conditions can be satisfied in stress corrosion cracking for austenitic alloys with heavily deformed microstructures and high strengths in hydrogenated high temperature water environments.