Low-Cycle Fatigue Behaviors of Pre-Corroded Q345R Steel under Wet H2S Environments

Abstract

Low cycle fatigue (LCF) behaviors of pre-corroded Q345R steel under different corrosion environments were investigated where both concentration of H2S solution and pre-corrosion time served as two environmental factors. Low cycle fatigue tests were conducted at room temperature in air after the specimens were pre-corroded in H2S solution. The low cycle fatigue behaviours of pre-corrosion test material, such as strain-life relationships and cyclic stress-strain responses were investigated and compared. Results show that environmental factors had little effect on the cyclic stress response while it had much effect on the fatigue life. And pre-corrosion time had more significant effect on low cycle fatigue life of test material than the solution concentration of H2S. Furthermore, the fracture surfaces of the fatigue samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the fracture mechanisms were discussed under different environmental conditions.