Multiphysics modelling of Stress Corrosion Cracking by using peridynamics

For the first time, a novel numerical multiphysics bond-based peridynamic framework for modeling Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) is presented. Only a particular type of SCC hydrogen-based mechanism, namely hydrogen-enhanced decohesion, is considered. The material is modelled at the microscopic scale, considering microstructural data. The model consists of an AISI 4340 steel thin pre-cracked plate subjected to a constant fixed-grips loading and exposed to 0.1 NH2SO4 aqueous solution. Mechanical loads with different magnitudes are considered and the resulting crack propagation initiation times are found to be in good agreement with both experimental and numerical results available in literature. Despite the relative simplicity of the model, the findings look promising, meaning that the model here described can serve as a valuable starting point for future research.