Initiation and Evolution of Microcracks During Corrosion Fatigue of BCC Stainless Steels

Abstract

The corrosion fatigue damage of metals and alloys is generally described in terms of surface dissolution-effects and/or hydrogen reduction reactions which are enhanced by the cyclic strain. In order to analyse the surface interactions between electrochemical damage and mechanical damage which control corrosion fatigue, it is necessary to compare quantitatively the evolution of the surface roughness during fatigue both in air and in the corrosive solution. Thus, the influence of the corrosive solution must be considered on both the nucleation of microcracks and the evolution of these microcracks into macrocracks leading to propagation and final failure.