Cohesive zone modelling of anodic dissolution stress corrosion cracking induced by corrosion product films

Abstract

Damage mechanics based on the cohesive zone model were applied to study the anodic dissolution stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in flat and U-shaped edge-notched specimens. The simulation results show that corrosion product films (CPFs) facilitate crack initiation in SCC due to the CPF-induced stress and CPF rupture. In the flat specimen, SCC susceptibility increases with the CPF thickness and CPF Young’s modulus, while it decreases with CPF fracture strength. For the U-shaped edge-notched specimen, the normalised threshold stress intensity factor KISCC/KIC decreases with the CPF thickness and notch depth.