Author(s)

J. Toribio & A.M. Lancha

Abstract

This paper analyzes stress corrosion cracking (SCO of precraked samples in the presence of compressive residual stresses generated in the vicinity of the crack tip during fatigue pre-cracking. From the macroscopical point of view, residual stresses improve the SCC behaviour, by delaying either the metal dissolution or the hydrogen entry, thus increasing the fracture load. Microscopically, compressive residual stresses produce a transition topography between the fatigue pre-crack and the cleavage-like (unstable) fracture mode. 1 Introduction During last years the use of precracked samples has become widespread in stress corrosion testing [1], These specimens are quite realistic and favours the localization of the environmental a

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