• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2012

The hydrogen embrittlement of high strength steel for automobiles was evaluated by small punch (SP) test. The test specimens were fabricated to be 5 series, having various chemical compositions according to the processes of heat treatment and working. Hydrogen charging was electrochemically conducted for each specimen with varying of current density and charging time. It was shown that the SP energy and the maximum load decreased with increasing hydrogen charging time in every specimen. SEM investigation results for the hydrogen containing samples showed that the fracture behavior was a mixed fracture mode having 50% dimples and 50% cleavages. However, the fracture mode of specimens with charging hydrogen changed gradually to the brittle fracture mode, compared to the mode of other materials. All sizes and numbers of dimples decreased with increasing hydrogen charging time. These results indicate that hydrogen embrittlement is the major cause of fracture for high strength steels for automobiles; also, it is shown that the small punch test is a valuable test method for hydrogen embrittlement of high strength sheet steels for automobiles.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2023

Hydrogen embrittlement of a pipe is an important factor in hydrogen transport. To characterize hydrogen embrittlement, tensile and fracture toughness tests should be conducted. However, in the case of hydrogen-embrittled materials, it is difficult to perform tests in hydrogen environment, particularly at low temperatures. It would be useful to develop a methodology to predict the fracture toughness of hydrogen-embrittled materials at low temperatures using more efficient tests. In this study, the fracture toughness of API X52 steels in hydrogen at low temperatures is predicted from numerical simulation using coupled finite element (FE) damage analyses with FE diffusion analysis, calibrated by analyzing small punch test data.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.78-83
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• 2003

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of hydrogen embrittlement od Zr-2.5Nb CANDU pressure tube. The test were performed at three hydrogen contents for transverse tensile and CCT specimens while the test temperatures were changed (RT to 300$^{\circ}C$). The specimens were directly machined from the tube retaining original curvature using electric discharge machine. Both the transverse tensile and the fracture toughness tests showed the hydrogen embrittlement clearly at RT but this phenomenon was disappeared while the test temperature arrived over 250$^{\circ}C$. From the fracture toughness test, it was found that fracture toughness dJ/da was increased up to 200$^{\circ}C$ and then decreased.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.93-98
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• 2000

Unpredictable failures can occur due to the DHC (delayed hydride cracking) or the degradation of fracture toughness by hydride embrittlement in CANDU pressure tube which can result from the absorption of hydrogen or deuterium in the high temperature coolant. To investigate the hydride embrittlement of CANDU Zr-2.5Nb pressure tube, the transverse tensile test and the fracture toughness test were performed from room temperature to $300^{\circ}C$ using three different specimens which have an AR (As Received), 100, and 200 ppm hydrogen. As the amount of absorbed hydrogen was increased, the transverse yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength were also increased. In addition, as the test temperature became higher they were decreased linearly. While, at room temperature, the hydrogenbsorbed specimens represented the embrittlement which resulted in sudden decreasing of fracture toughness, the fracture characteristics became ductile such as AR specimen at high temperatures. Through the observation of fracture surface using SEM, it was found that the stress state of mixed mode could be related to the fissure which was believed to decrease the global fracture toughness.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.182-190
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• 2001

A marine structural material was well known to have high tensile strength, good weldability and proper corrosion resistance. Cu-containing high strength low alloy(HSLA) steel was recently developed for their purposes mentioned above. And the steel is free about preheating for welding, therefore it is reported that shipbuilding cost by using it can be saved more or less. However the marine structural materials like Cu-containing HSLA steel are being generally adopted with cathodic protection method in severe corrosive environment like natural sea water but the high strength steel may give rise to Hydrogen Embrittlement due to over protection at high cathodic current density for cathodic protection. In this study Cu-containing HSLA steel using well for marine atructure was investigated about the susceptibility of Hydrogen Embrittlement as functions of tensile strength, strain ratio, fracture time, and fracture mode, etc. and an optimum cathodic protection potential by slow strain rate test(SSRT) method as well as corrosion properties in natural sea water. And its corrosion resistance was superior to SS400 steel, but Hydrogen Embrittlement susceptibility of Cu-containing HSLA steel was higer than that of SS400 steel. However Hydrogen Embrittlement of its steel by SSRT method was showed with pheonomena such as decreasing of fracture time, strain ratio and fracture mode of QC(quasi-cleavage). Eventually it is suggested that an optimum cathodic protection potential not presenting Hydrogen Embrittlement of Cu-containing of HSLA steel by SSRT method was from-770mv(SCE) to - 900mV(SCE)under natural sea water.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.455-463
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• 2003

The aim of this study is to investigate the hydrogen embrittlement of Zr-2.5Nb CANDU pressure tube at room temperature. The transverse tensile and fracture toughness tests were performed at various hydrogen concentrations using transverse tensile specimens and CCT (curved compact tension) specimens. These specimens were directly machined from the pressure tube retaining original curvatures. Based on the results of these tests. the hydrogen embrittlement phenomenon was clearly observed and fracture toughness parameters of Zr-2.5Nb pressure tube materials such as, $K_{J(0.2)}$.$J_{ML}$.dJ/da, were dramatically decreased with the increasement of the hydrogen concentration. From microscopic observation by SEM and TEM, it was also revealed that various shapes dimples, fissures and quasi-cleavage were found at the hydrogen-absorbed materials with hydrides while traditional shape dimples were generally located at the as-received materials Through the comparison of the hydride and fissure lengths with the hydrogen concentration the new evaluation method of hydrogen embrittlement was suggested.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.503-513
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• 2022

As part of eco-friendly policies, interest in hydrogen vehicles is growing in the automotive industry to reduce carbon emissions. In particular, it is necessary to investigate the application of aluminum alloy for light weight hydrogen valves among hydrogen supply systems to improve the fuel efficiency of hydrogen vehicles. In this research, we investigated mechanical characteristics of aluminum alloys after hydrogen embrittlement considering the operating environment of hydrogen valves. In this investigation, experiments were conducted with strain rate, applied voltage, and hydrogen embrittlement time as variables that could affect hydrogen embrittlement. As a result, a brittle behavior was depicted when the strain rate was increased. A strain rate of 0.05 mm/min was selected for hydrogen embrittlement research because it had the greatest effect on fracture time. In addition, when the applied voltage and hydrogen embrittlement time were 5 V and 96 hours, respectively, mechanical characteristics presented dramatic decreases due to hydrogen embrittlement.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.325-331
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• 2022

Hydrogen embrittlement in metals has been a serious issue with regard to structural safety. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the aggregation of hydrogen atoms at the crack tips suppresses the dislocation emission and thus results in cleavage fracture. A series of molecular dynamics simulations were performed considering factors such as the concentration of hydrogen atoms, loading rate, and diffusion coefficient. We investigated the conditions that minimize hydrogen embrittlement. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental results and used to quantify hydrogen embrittlement.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.287-293
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• 2023

This study aims to develop a computational framework based on the finite element method for modeling the hydrogen embrittlement in martensitic steel. The hydrogen embrittlement is a well-known phenomenon, in which the hydrogen penetrates into the surface, flows through the microstructure and finally leads to pre-mature fracture under external or internal stresses. The current numerical model takes into account the effect of hydrogen on the plasticity and failure behavior of martensitic steel under various stress states. This allows for the construction of a failure criterion that accounts for conventional stress states and hydrogen concentration. The developed model is capable of simulating hydrogen diffusion through the lattice based on the distribution of hydrostatic stress. Additionally, it can calculate the hydrogen concentration in trapped sites, such as dislocations, using a local equilibrium assumption, often referred to as Oriani's equilibrium. The developed model parameters are identified through the tensile tests with and without hydrogen environment, and the performance of model can be validated by analyzing fractured automotive part in the hydrogen environment.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2024

Hydrogen embrittlement fracture poses a challenge in ensuring the structural integrity of materials exposed to hydrogen-rich environments. This study advances our comprehension of hydrogen-induced fracture through an integrated numerical modeling approach. In addition, it employs a ductile fracture model named the Gurson-cohesive model (GCM) and hydrogen diffusion analysis. GCM is employed as a fracture model that combines the Gurson model to illustrate the continuum damage evolution and the cohesive zone model to describe crack surface discontinuity and softening behavior. Moreover, porosity and stress triaxiality are considered as crack initiation criteria . A hydrogen diffusion analysis is also integrated with the GCM to account for hydrogen enhanced decohesion (HEDE) mechanisms and their subsequent impacts on crack initiation and propagation. This framework considers the influence of hydrogen on the softening behavior of the traction-separation relationship on the discontinuous crack surface. Parametric studies explore the sensitivity to diffusion properties and hydrogen-induced fracture properties. By combining numerical models of hydrogen diffusion and the ductile fracture model, this study provides an understanding of hydrogen-induced fracture and thereby contributes significantly to the ongoing efforts to design materials that are resilient to hydrogen embrittlement in practical engineering applications.