Prediction of the kinetics of crack propagation and the residual durability of vessels in gaseous hydrogen

We propose an experimental–theoretic approach to the prediction of the kinetics of crack propagation and determination of the residual durability of vessels in gaseous hydrogen. Kinetic diagrams of hydrogen cracking (KDHC) of VNL-1М (05Kh13N8M3) cast martensitic steel under various pressures of the hydrogen atmosphere and various concentrations of hydrogen preabsorbed at high temperatures are constructed. The threshold values of stress intensity factors are established. The residual durability of a pipeline and a high-pressure gas cylinder are calculated. It is established that, as the hydrogen pressure and concentration increase, the threshold value of the stress intensity factor decreases in the first section of a KDHC and the rate of subcritical propagation of a crack increases in the second section.