A self-induced stress model for simulating hydride formation at flaws

Formation of hydride at stress concentrations occurs in some materials as part of a stable cracking mechanism called delayed hydride cracking (DHC). As hydrogen combines with matrix material to become hydride, transformation strain is accommodated by local redistribution of stress. Since stress gradients drive hydrogen diffusion, this self-induced stress alters the conditions for subsequent hydride growth, and conditions required to fracture …