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A cohesive zone framework for environmentally assisted fatigue

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

del Busto, S 
Betegón, C 
Martínez-Pañeda, Emilio  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1562-097X

Abstract

We present a compelling finite element framework to model hydrogen assisted fatigue by means of a hydrogen- and cycle-dependent cohesive zone formulation. The model builds upon: (i) appropriate environmental boundary conditions, (ii) a coupled mechanical and hydrogen diffusion response, driven by chemical potential gradients, (iii) a mechanical behavior characterized by finite deformation J2 plasticity, (iv) a phenomenological trapping model, (v) an irreversible cohesive zone formulation for fatigue, grounded on continuum damage mechanics, and (vi) a traction-separation law dependent on hydrogen coverage calculated from first principles. The computations show that the present scheme appropriately captures the main experimental trends; namely, the sensitivity of fatigue crack growth rates to the loading frequency and the environment. The role of yield strength, work hardening, and constraint conditions in enhancing crack growth rates as a function of the frequency is thoroughly investigated. The results reveal the need to incorporate additional sources of stress elevation, such as gradient-enhanced dislocation hardening, to attain a quantitative agreement with the experiments.

Description

Keywords

Hydrogen embrittlement, Cohesive zone models, Hydrogen diffusion, Finite element analysis, Fatigue crack growth

Journal Title

Engineering Fracture Mechanics

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0013-7944
1873-7315

Volume Title

185

Publisher

Elsevier BV