USE OF FUNDAMENTAL MODELING OF ENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING FOR IMPROVED DESIGN AND LIFETIME EVALUATION

This manuscript reviews an approach for improved design and lifetime e valuation for environmental cracking based on fundamental modeling of the underlying, operative processes in crack advance. In outlining thi s approach and its application in energy industries, the requirements for a life prediction methodology will be highighted and the shortcomi ngs of the existing design and lifetime evaluation codes will be discu ssed. Examples will be given of its development and application in a v ariety of cracking systems, such as environmental cracking of stainles s steels and nickel alloys in hot water, and irradiation-assisted stre ss corrosion cracking.