A study of the effect of hydrogen on the fatigue behaviour of metals

Abstract

Hydrogen Embrittlement is a phenomenon in which the presence of hydrogen can lead to various detrimental effects on the mechanical properties of the material. These effects include reduction in ductility, delayed fracture under constant loading, increase in fatigue crack initiation and growth rates, and subcritical cracking even below the threshold fracture toughness of the material. Fatigue is one of the most common modes of material nature during the operation of components during their service life. Hence it is very important to study the effect of hydrogen on the fatigue behaviour of steel and find methods for their prevention. This paper deals with the study of hydrogen on various types of fatigue in materials, various factors that affect the susceptibility to HE in fatigue, the effect on the microscopic morphology of the fatigue crack generated and the methods suggested for the prevention of HE in fatigue.