Hydrogen Embrittlement and Notch Tensile Strength of Pearlitic Steel: A Numerical Approach

This paper offers a numerical approach to the problem of hydrogen embrittlement and notch tensile strength of sharply notched specimens of high-strength pearlitic steel supplied in the form of hot rolled bars, by using the finite element method in order to determine how the notch depth influences the concentration of hydrogen in the steady-state regime for different loading values. Numerical results show that the point of maximum hydrostatic stress (towards which hydrogen is transported by a mechanism of stress-assisted diffusion) shifts from the notch tip to the inner points of the specimen under increasing load, with numerical evidence of an elevated inwards gradient of hydrostatic stress “pumping” hydrogen inside the sample.