On The Role of Environment on Tensile Response and Fracture Behavior of A High Strength Alloy Steel

Abstract

In this paper, the influence of exposure to an aggressive environment and concomitant degradation due to corrosion on tensile properties and fracture behavior of a high strength alloy steel in the fully annealed condition is presented and discussed. Cylindrical specimens, conforming to the specifications detailed in American Society for Testing and Materials standard (ASTM E8), were prepared for purpose of this study. A test method (GMW14872), developed by General Motors (Michigan, USA), for purpose of inducing controlled corrosion on the exposed surface, using a spray technique, was used for stimulating accelerated corrosion in an environmental chamber. This was done with the intent of establishing the influence of damage resulting from an exposure to aggressive environment on short-term mechanical properties of the chosen alloy steel. The deformed and failed samples of the chosen alloy steel were examined in a scanning electron microscope with the objective of establishing the conjoint influence of severity of environment, exposure time, nature of loading and intrinsic microstructural effects on tensile response and fracture behavior.