Modelling of stress-corrosion cracking by using peridynamics

We present for the first time a numerical multiphysics peridynamic framework for the modelling of adsorbed-hydrogen stress-corrosion cracking (SCC), based on the adsorption-induced decohesion mechanism. The material is modelled at the microscopic scale using microstructural data. First-principle studies available in the literature are used for characterizing the process of intergranular material strength degradation. The model consists of a polycrystalline AISI 4340 high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) thin, pre-cracked steel plate subjected to a constant displacement controlled loading and exposed to an aqueous solution. Different values of stress intensity factor (SIF) are considered, and the resulting crack propagation speed and branching behaviour are found to be in good agreement with experimental results available in the literature.