The environmentally small/short crack growth effect: current understanding

摘要

The key factors that impact on the evolution of stress corrosion and corrosion fatigue cracks in the small crack regime are highlighted and a detailed description is given of the mechanistic basis of the environmentally small/short crack effect. Stress corrosion and corrosion fatigue crack growth rate measurements in the small and short crack regime, principally on steels, are then reviewed and the results discussed in the context of current understanding of the controlling processes.