Two methods of investigation of the influence of hydrogen on the propagation rate of a crack and behavior of fracture of high-strength steels

We present two methods for the investigation of the influence of hydrogen on the propagation rate of a crack and behavior of fracture of high-strength steels. The method for investigation of the influence of electrolytic hydrogenation on a subcritical growth of a crack in high-strength steels is based on the use of simple beam specimens of a certain geometry and on the application of lateral loading in such a way that the stress intensity factor can be constant at the tip of a preliminary induced crack. The method is of great importance for the performance of comparative experiments in evaluating the influence of active media and structural anisotropy of specimens made of high-strength steels with limited sizes on their corrosion crack resistance. Typical examples of the application of the method to investigation of the role of electrolytic hydrogenation in subcritical propagation of cracks and their branching in highstrength steels are given. The method for investigation of heat release under strain and fracture of hydrogenated specimens involves the use of microcalorimetric devices, which allow one to study the influence of hydrogenation on peculiarities of the kinetics of elastic and plastic strains of high-strength steels. We illustrate the efficiency of the method proposed by plotting the “load-elongation” curves and corresponding (in time) characteristics of heat release power in the process of strain and fracture of specimens made of a high-strength steel.