Influence of Total Strain Amplitude on Hydrogen Embrittlement of High Strength Steel

AbstractThis study aims at evaluating the influence of fatigue strain range on hydrogen embrittlement of resulfurized high strength steel on low-cycle fatigue tests. Previously, samples were charged with hydrogen (H) under different conditions. The presence of H causes softening effects on the cyclic behavior and a reduction in fatigue life of samples in comparison with uncharged samples. The explanation of this behavior is based on quantitative analyses of fracture surfaces as well as the microstructure by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, enthalpy changes, associated with the main H trapping sites, were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).This study has enhanced the understanding of the variables that most influence the fatigue behavior of this type of steel charged with hydrogen