Author(s)

J. Toribio

Abstract

The role of surface residual stresses on hydrogen assisted cracking of high strength prestressing steel is analyzed by using a diffusion- based computer model which includes both the hydrogen transport and the fracture process to predict the life of prestressing steel wires under hydrogen embrittlement environmental conditions. Model results demonstrate that residual stress laws and temperature have a determinant influence on the time to failure of the wires. 1 Introduction High-strength prestressing steel wires are employed in prestressed concrete structures which frequently work in hostile or aggressive environments, thus producing environmentally assisted cracking and reducing the structural lives [1]. There is general agreement that for a wide range of electrochemical conditions (pH and potential), hydrogen can

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