Phase field modelling to predict hydrogen-assisted failures in elastic-plastic materials
- A. Díaz 2
- E. Martínez-Pañeda 3
- L.B. Peral 12
- I.I. Cuesta 2
- J.M. Alegre 2
- 1 SIMUMECAMAT Research Group. Universidad de Oviedo
- 2 Structural Integrity Research Group (GIE). Universidad de Burgos
- 3 Mechanics of Infrastructure Materials Group. Imperial College London
ISSN: 2792-4246
Year of publication: 2023
Issue: 5
Pages: 169-174
Type: Article
More publications in: Revista española de mecánica de la fractura
Sustainable development goals
Abstract
Prediction of hydrogen-related failures through numerical modelling is still an open field due to the complexity and multiscale nature of the involved phenomena. In the present work, Finite Element approaches for hydrogen embrittlement are summarised and compared, highlighting the advantages of phase field models. Phase field formulation is not only limited to brittle failures but includes a ductile extension and hydrogen effects are modelled through a reduction in a local fracture energy, which is typically based on atomistic calculations of hydrogen-enhanced decohesion but can also be experimentally fitted. The coupled framework includes hydrogen transport and is implemented in the commercial software Comsol Multiphysics. A case study of a single-edge cracked plate is analysed to show the influence of fracture energy or hardening. In addition, hydrogen embrittlement at different concentration levels is captured and strain rate effects are reproduced due to the transient character of hydrogen redistribution.