MODELING HYDROGEN-INDUCED CRACKING IN STEEL USING A COUPLED DIFFUSIONSTRESS FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS

A computer program, HICFEM, was developed in order to model hydrogen-i nduced cracking (HIC). The purpose of the program is twofold: to asses s fitness-for-future-service of structures with existing HIC damage an d to determine critical hydrogen conditions for new materials designed for sour environments. HICFEM uses a finite element program to carry out a coupled diffusion stress analysis. The boundary conditions are s et by HICFEM. The influence of diffusivity, solubility, (fluctuating) hydrogen input, fracture toughness, and crack radius on crack growth c urves were investigated. A good fit with experimental results was achi eved. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.