Abstract
AbstractThe effect of an aqueous chloride environment upon the development and growth of short fatigue cracks from smooth specimen surfaces has been studied under fully reversed torsional fatigue loading conditions. Crack initiation and growth has been monitored using a plastic replication technique enabling a full history of cracking characteristics to be recorded. Corrosion fatigue conditions were achieved by complete immersion in a 0.6 M NaCl solution, of nominal pH value 6.0, with specimens corroding at the free corrosion potential. Variations to these conditions were obtained by the addition of concentrated hydrochloric acid enabling test solution pH values to be altered, typically pH values of 3.5 and 2.0 were obtained. Further information regarding the effects of the environment on the early stages of crack development were obtained by conducting two stage alternate immersion type testing conditions. Evaluation of these effects through previously established Elastic‐Plastic Fracture Mechanics models shows that the environment plays a major role during the early stages of microstructure‐dominated crack growth particularly as cracks approach major barriers to propagation and at decreasing levels of applied shear stress.
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