A generalised, multi-phase-field theory for dissolution-driven stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement

Abstract

We present a phase field-based electro-chemo-mechanical formulation for modelling mechanics-enhanced corrosion and hydrogen-assisted cracking in elastic-plastic solids. A multi-phase-field approach is used to present, for the first time, a general framework for stress corrosion cracking, incorporating both anodic dissolution and hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms. We numerically implement our theory using the finite element method and defining as primary kinematic variables the displacement components, the phase field corrosion order parameter, the metal ion concentration, the phase field fracture order parameter and the hydrogen concentration. Representative case studies are addressed to showcase the predictive capabilities of the model in various materials and environments, attaining a promising agreement with benchmark tests and experimental observations. We show that the generalised formulation presented can capture, as a function of the environment, the interplay between anodic dissolution- and hydrogen-driven failure mechanisms; including the transition from one to the other, their synergistic action and their individual occurrence. Such a generalised framework can bring new insight into environment-material interactions and the understanding of stress corrosion cracking, as demonstrated here by providing the first simulation results for Gruhl's seminal experiments.

References in corpus (10)

• A phase field formulation for dissolution-driven stress corrosion cracking
• A phase field model for elastic-gradient-plastic solids undergoing hydrogen embrittlement
• Abaqus2Matlab: A suitable tool for finite element post-processing
• Strain gradient plasticity-based modeling of hydrogen environment assisted cracking
• An assessment of phase field fracture: crack initiation and growth
• Strain gradient plasticity modeling of hydrogen diffusion to the crack tip
• A mechanism-based multi-trap phase field model for hydrogen assisted fracture
• The role of plastic strain gradients in the crack growth resistance of metals
• Non-local plasticity effects on notch fracture mechanics
• Mode I crack tip fields: strain gradient plasticity theory versus J2 flow theory

Cited by in corpus (5)

• A phase field-based framework for electro-chemo-mechanical fracture: crack-contained electrolytes, chemical reactions and stabilisation
• A continuum electro-chemo-mechanical gradient theory coupled with damage: Application to Li-metal filament growth in all-solid-state batteries
• Numerical Modeling of Stress Corrosion Cracking in Steel Structures with Phase Field Method
• Crack propagation in anisotropic brittle materials: from a phase-field model to a shape optimization approach
• A finite element implementation of a large deformation gradient-damage theory for fracture with Abaqus user material subroutines