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A Nanoscale Study of Dislocation Nucleation at the Crack Tip in the Nickel-Hydrogen System

  • Symposium: International Symposium on Stress Corrosion Cracking in Structural Materials
  • Published:
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Abstract

Strengthening and embrittlement are controlled by the interactions between dislocations and hydrogen (H)–induced defect structures that can inversely affect the deformation mechanisms in materials. Here we present a simulation framework to understand fundamental issues associated with H-assisted dislocation nucleation and mobility using Monte Carlo (MC) and molecular dynamics (MD). In order to study the interaction between H and dislocations and its effect on material failure, we extensively examined mode I loading of an edge crack using MD simulations. The MD calculations of the total structural energy in the nickel (Ni)–H system shows that H atoms prefer to occupy octahedral interstitial sites in the fcc Ni lattice. As H concentration is increased, the Young’s modulus and the energy required to create free surface decreased, resulting in H-enhanced localized plasticity. The MD simulations also indicate that H not only facilitates dislocation emission from the crack tip but also enhances dislocation mobility, leading to softening of the material ahead of the crack tip. While the decrease in surface energy suggests H embrittlement, the increase in local plasticity induces crack blunting and prohibits crack propagation. The mechanisms responsible for transitioning from a ductile to brittle crack behavior clearly depend on the H concentration and its proximity to the crack tip. Enhanced plasticity will occur within a general field of H atoms that results in lower stacking fault and surface energies, yet H interstitials on preferential slip planes can inhibit dislocation nucleation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors recognize Dr. A.K. Vasudevan, Office of Naval Research, for providing his insights and valuable suggestions. This material is based upon the work supported by the Department of Energy and the National Energy Technology Laboratory under Award No. DE-FC26-02OR22910 and the Office of Naval Research under Contract No. N00014-09-1-0661. This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. References herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Such support does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Energy of the work or the views expressed herein.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Starkville, MS, 39759, USA

    K. N. Solanki (Assistant Professor (Research) & D. K. Ward (Postdoctoral Fellow)

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    D. J. Bammann (Professor)

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  1. K. N. Solanki
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  2. D. K. Ward
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  3. D. J. Bammann
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Correspondence to K. N. Solanki.

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Manuscript submitted February 19, 2010.

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Solanki, K.N., Ward, D.K. & Bammann, D.J. A Nanoscale Study of Dislocation Nucleation at the Crack Tip in the Nickel-Hydrogen System. Metall Mater Trans A 42, 340–347 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-010-0451-8

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