A Contribution to Understanding the Role of Residual Stresses on API 5L Steels Hydrogen Embrittlement

Abstract

Materials, when loaded in aggressive environments, as high strength low alloy pipeline steels used in Oil and Gas industry, are subjected to hydrogen embrittlement due to the environment conditions. The pipeline susceptibility is related to, among others factors, residual stresses; and causes several losses of mechanical properties. In this context, due to the increasingly frequent need to avoid catastrophic failures leading to irreparable losses to humans and the surrounding environment, massive investments are made to improve mechanical properties and to understand the mechanisms that lead to damages caused by hydrogen. The actual bibliography about the residual stresses influence is very scarce and there is not always an unanimity between researchers. This study, aims to offer an approach about how the residual stress can affect the embrittlement level, as well as better understanding about the mechanism and factors that facilitate the dissolution of hydrogen on crystalline lattice.