Hydrogen accelerated fatigue crack growth of friction stir welded X52 steel pipe

Journal Article · Thu Nov 17 00:00:00 EST 2016 · International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.10.153· OSTI ID:1333901

Ronevich, Joseph Allen ^[1]; Somerday, Brian P. ^[2]; Feng, Zhili ^[3]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
2. Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (United States)
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Friction stir welded steel pipelines were tested in high pressure hydrogen gas to examine the effects of hydrogen accelerated fatigue crack growth. Fatigue crack growth rate (da/dN) vs. stress-intensity factor range (ΔK) relationships were measured for an X52 friction stir welded pipe tested in 21 MPa hydrogen gas at a frequency of 1 Hz and R = 0.5. Tests were performed on three regions: base metal (BM), center of friction stir weld (FSW), and 15 mm off-center of the weld. For all three material regions, tests in hydrogen exhibited accelerated fatigue crack growth rates that exceeded an order of magnitude compared to companion tests in air. Among tests in hydrogen, fatigue crack growth rates were modestly higher in the FSW than the BM and 15 mm off-center tests. Select regions of the fracture surfaces associated with specified ΔK levels were examined which revealed intergranular fracture in the BM and 15 mm off-center specimens but an absence of intergranular features in the FSW specimens. In conclusion, the X52 friction stir weld and base metal tested in hydrogen exhibited fatigue crack growth rate relationships that are comparable to those for conventional arc welded steel pipeline of similar strength found in the literature.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Fuel Cell Technologies Program (EE-2H)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000; AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1333901
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1397058
• Report Number(s): SAND--2016-8245J; 646864
• Journal Information: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Journal Name: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy; ISSN 0360-3199
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
42 ENGINEERING
fatigue crack growth rate
friction stir weld
hydrogen assisted cracking
hydrogen embrittlement