A SUMMARY REPORT OF AN ESIS WORKING PARTY ON FRACTURE CONTROL GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY ASSISTED CRACKING OF LOW-ALLOY STEELS

This paper provides guidelines for obtaining and using Environmentally Assisted Cracking (EAC) test data for low alloy steels, which are use d in a wide range of industrial applications. Both fracture mechanics and non-fracture mechanics tests are considered, but the emphasis is o n using fracture mechanics as part of an overall strategy-a fracture c ontrol plan-to prevent or control EAC in service. Prevention is the us ual strategy, but the control of crack growth is possible for thick-wa lled components. Fracture control planning can, for low and medium str ength steel structures, be directed to both preventing and controlling EAC in service.