Tensile failure of stainless-steel notched bars under hydrogen charging

Hydrogen embrittlement on 316L stainless steel notch samples shows that their macromechnical behavior remains ductile and multicracking occurs in the area surrounding the notches. The effect of hydrogen damage on tensile failure load are stated by the Notch Extension Model (NEM) and the Notch Cracking Model (NCM). According to NEM, the hydrogen effect is the same as a geometric enlargement of the notch. In NCM, the notch root behaves as a macroscopic crack due to the concentration of a high intensity damage at the notch root.