Micromechanics of high temperature hydrogen attack

Hydrogen attack is a material degradation process that occurs at elevated t emperatures in hydrogen-rich environments, such as found in petrochemical i nstallations. Weldments in components such as reactor vessels are particula rly susceptible to hydrogen attack. This paper discusses a multi-scale micr omechanics modelling approach in which the chemico-mechanical damage proces ses at sub-Micron scale are coupled to the macroscopic behaviour through a series of size-scale transitions. A simulation of hydrogen attack in a weld ed reactor serves as an illustration of the approach. Copyright (C) 2001 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Ltd.