Abstract
Fatigue crack propagation rates in SAE 51100 steel tempered at 550°C have been investigated mainly in aerated and deaerated 3%NaCI solutions under sinusoidal, triangular, and square stress waveforms with open circuit and imposed cathodic potentials of −800 and −1100 mV with respect to Ag|AgCl saturated KCI electrode at frequencies of 1 and 10 Hz and in most instances at a stress ratio of 0·1. Most of the fatigue crack growth rates in aqueous solutions may be explained by a major contribution from dissolution and a partial contribution by hydrogen embrittlement, except with the cathodic potential of −1100 mV (Ag|AgCl) in which instance the hydrogen embrittlement is thought to be the major contributor.
MST/810
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