An Experimental Study on Environmental Assisted Cracking of Structural Steel in 3.5 wt NaCl Solution

摘要

Sensitivity of ST52 steel for environmental assisted cracking (EAC) is experimentally investigated by slow strain rate tests (SSRT). An experimental set up is introduced and tensile test specimens are prepared according to ASTM E8. The strain rate, duration of cathodic protection (CP) and NaCl content are the test variables. Stress versus strain curves are plotted, and characteristic parameters are determined. Hence EAC sensitivity indexes are calculated. Fracture morphologies and SEM analysis are presented. The study reveals that CP process accelerates the EAC sensitivity of ST52 steel which are in 3.5 wt% NaCl media.