The assessment of stress corrosion damage in austenitic stainless steel by measurements of cracks formed during constant strain rate and constant load tests in 1M HCl

The penetration of transgranular stress corrosion cracks occurs at a constant rate during uniaxial tensile-type tests, on 304S 12 stainless steel, in 1M HCl, at ambient temperature. Over a range of loads in constant load, and for constant strain rates of 10⁻⁶ s⁻¹ and below, measurements from interrupted tests show a common mode of growth and penetration rate. These results, together with the values of crack initiation periods, may be correlated to quantify and predict stress corrosion damage.