Notch effects in corrosive failure

Abstract

Notches act as stress raisers in any application. There are a few other detrimental effects of notches when an environment is involved. For a simple corrosive environment, the notch chemistry and electrochemistry are significantly different from that of the bulk environs. When hydrogen embrittlement is a possible failure mode, the presence of notch has an added significance, in defining the hydrogen transport and distribution. This article discusses the notch effects in general as it pertains to corrosive failure and hydrogen embrittlement in specific. The comparative studies on different notch geometries reveal the importance of notch dimensions in the defining the extent and morphology of cracking in the presence of hydrogen. A rationalization has been attempted involving notch hydrogen availability.