A NOTE

ON STRESS CORROSION

CRACKING

RATES-F

S. MOSTOVOY, H. R. SMITHS. R. G. LINGWALL and E. 1. RlPLING

Materials Research Laboratory, Inc., Glenwood, III., U.S.A.
Abstract-The
dependence of cracking rate, ii, on applied stress intensity factor, K,,, was measured in either
salt water, or distilled water for the following steels: 300M, 250 grade maraging and the 9 Ni-4 Co-O.45 C.
all heat treated to tensile strengths between 200 and 250 ksi.
For each of these there was a range of K, values over which B was constant. Crack division or branching
would be expected to occur under this loading condition.
Similar plateaus have been reported for glass, ceramics and adhesive joints.

INTRODUCTION
THE INTERESTin using precracked specimens to evaluate susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking, SCC, is apparent from the large number of papers recently published on
the effect of environment on slow crack growth[2-1 I]. Because such crack extension
generally occurs at stresses far below the net section yield stress, this phenomenon can
be described by the techniques of fracture mechanics; and, indeed, the concepts of this
discipline must be used, since the behavior of the crack has been shown to depend on
the stress intensity factor at its tip rather than on net section stresses [ 1.21.
In order to describe environmen~lly
assisted slow cracking, two characteristics of
the phenomenon must be considered: the apparent threshold stress intensity factor
below which crack growth does not occur, which value is identified as KIscc, and the
dependence of the cracking rate, i, on the applied stress intensity factor, K,. The
literature on stress corrosion crack growth rates has recently been reviewed by Johnson
and Paris (31. For two steels the relationship between i and Ka was reported to be linear.
Johnson and Willner[4] showed such a dependence for I-I-1 1 steel in both water and
fully humidified argon, and Steigerwald and Benjamin{51 confirmed this for AISI 4340
in distilled water. Studies by Peterson et al. on 4340in 3-b% NaCl solution also
showed a linear relation between i and K, for K, values between 20 and 40 ksi-a
but a increased faster than linearly when K, approached K,,[6].
On the other hand, data collected on Ti-8ALt MO-I V in 3-4% NaCl solution
]21 showed a distinct plateau in crack growth rates, i.e. a regime in which increases in
K, did not produce a corresponding increase in i, Fig. 1. Studies of the influence of
water on SCC of glass by Irwin[7] and of glass and sapphire by Wiederhorn[8] also
showed evidence of an i plateau. This was especially pronounced in some of the
Wiederhorn data, Figs. 2 and 3. Mostovoy and Ripling[9] found a similar pattern in
examining the SCC characteristics of adhesives, Fig. 4, although the behavior was not
found in all the adhesive systems that were studied.
tPresented at the Third National Symposium on Fracture Mechanics. Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.,
August 25-27, 1969.
$BoeingCompany,Seattle,
Wash. 98124, U.S.A.
291

292

S. MOSTOVOY

29

Specimen

No

ef al.

I A
0

1st test
27
28
26
25

2nd
Specimen

test
No. 2

Specimen

No.

I0

IS? test

2nd

test

Crack

Fig.

growth

IO

1000

100
rate,

1. Crack growth rate of Ti-SAL1

&a/At.

XXI

p ln/sec

MO-I V in 34% aqueous

NaCl solution

(2).

This difference between steels on the one hand, and titanium, glass, ceramics and
plastics on the other, suggests that the studies on the former were either conducted over
a range of K, levels that did not embrace the plateau, or else the plateau was too narrow
to be seen in the scatter of data. In particular, if the plateau occurs at low levels of K,,
near KIscc, it might not be found by the use of remotely loaded specimens such as the
center cracked specimens used by Johnson and Willner or the single cantilever beam
used by Peterson et al. Specimens used for generating i vs. K, data must have their

/
06

/
0.7

Applied
(proportional

08
crack

0.9
extension
to

K 1,

I
I 0

I ,I

force
kg

Fig. 2. Crack growth rate of glass in humidified

Nitrogen
gas[l].
(The applied force can be
converted
to K, in units of N/m3* by multiplying
by 744 x 105.) The relative humidity for each
set of runs is given on the right hand side of the diagram.

Stress corrosion

cracking

Apphed
crack
(proportIonal

Fig. 3. Crack

growth

rate in sapphire[S].

Crack

exterwon
to K).

propagation

293

plates

force
kg

on the (1011) rhombohedral

plane.

3002x-

#303
o
l

00:
80 60 -

Increasing
Decreasing

# 313
A Increosrng
A Decreasing

4030 zo-

IO Es6432-

I0

OB060403-

0 12
0
0 IO

6
020

F o*

s,

Fig. 4. Interface

(IF) crack

I
O-40

O-30

I
0 50

I A
060

c 70

lb/in.

growth rate in an epoxy adhesive in liquid

center of bond (adhesive layer).

water[9].

COB means

294

S. MOSTOVOY

eta/.

initial machined notch sharpened. Generally, this is done by fatigue, although Johnson
Willner used SCC. In either case, it is difficult to collect data at values of K, much
lower than the maximum K, used for sharpening the notch with remotely loaded specimens. For these, KGincreases with i at constant load, so that when crack growth occurs.
& increases (at a rate depending on the specimen shape). If the plateau is narrow. i.e.
only exists over a small range beyond KIscc, the lowest value of K,, that is used might
exceed the equivalent i plateau range.
The problem of increasing K, with a is avoided by the use of either certain constant
load. crack-line specimens, or by the use of a constant displacement with any of the
common specimen types. For most of these specimen types and loading procedures.
however, I(, continuously changes with a. The tapered DCB specimen, the characteristics of which have been previously described [ IO], is unique in that K is a function of the
load P only and independent of a. Hence, crack growth can be observed using a fixed
K, value obtained with a fixed load until one is certain that the value of a is an equilibrium one. For these reasons the tapered DCB specimen was used in this study.
and

MATERIALS

AND PROCEDURE

Materials
The SCC susceptibility of three steels: a 300 M, a 250 grade maraging steel and a
9Ni-4Co-,4X
steel, all vacuum remelted were evaluated. All materials were supplied
as 9 x 9 x 1 in, slices of forged billets. The 250 marag~ng steel was supplied in the solution treated condition; and the 300 M and 9Ni-4Co-.45C
steels in the soft condition.
Although the testing program was begun on nominally one-inch thick plate, most of the
as-received plates were cut in two since it was found that valid plane strain toughness
values could be obtained on less than one-half inch thick specimens. The plates were
machined to the m = 4 or m = 3 in.- contoursf shown in Fig. 5. All machining, with the
exception of the final face grooving, was done prior to heat treatment. After heat treating, the final 20-30mils was removed from the grooves. The heat treating procedures
are specified in Table 1.
Test procedure
The specimens were pre-cracked in fatigue, and, in all cases, the maximum I& was
less than 0*0012E, and also less than K,J2, as tentatively specified in ASTM-E-24
committee. Fatigue cracking procedures were only important in establishing KIC since
the fatigue cracks were extended some distance by SCC, beyond the fatigue crack,
prior to collecting K, vs. i data.
After fatigue cracking, the plane strain fracture toughness, K,,, was evaluated by
applying a continuously increasing load to the specimen so that the test time was 1-2
min. It was possible to measure valid K,, values on all of the specimens.
Subsequent to fracture toughness testing, specimens were refatigued and exposed
to stress corrosion cracking. Static loads were applied by means of a standard commercial creep machine. A stainless steel container replaced the furnace in the creep
machine and a specially designed gage was used to monitor displacement vs. time which
could be converted to cracking rate data. The environment, in most cases, was a 34%
NaCl-distilled
water solution and the specimen was electrically separated from
the container by the use of insulated loading pins. Typically, a test consisted of applying
tm numbers describe the specimen contour (see[lO]).

Stress corrosion cracking plates

295

Table 1

Material

Austenitizing or
solution treatment

Tempering or aging

300 M

1550 & 25F I hr

Quence in oil at 150F

9Ni-4Co-.45C

1550-1600 I hr. Air cool

1475-1525F 1 hr. Quench
in salt at 457 -C 10F. Hold
for 6 hr Air cool

Maraging 250

1600 f 25F 1hr. Air cool

900 -t 10F 3 hr

7075-T6

890? 25F 1 hr
Quench in cold water

250 -c5F 24-38 hr

SO-+ 10F 2 hr a.c.

a static load, which was equivalent to a selected value of K,, and observing crack
motion (if it occurred)
of the order of 100 mils. If no motion occurred, the load was
left on for a time period that predicted cracking rates less than 0.01 p-in./sec. for the
recorder sensitivity selected. After this period, the load was increased or decreased to a
new value of K, and the procedure repeated until the crack either travelled over the
completely usable portion of the specimen or ran out of the face groove. Each time
K, was changed, the sensitivity on a displacement gage was also changed such that one
mil of crack extension on the specimen always represented one inch of pen travel on the
chart. From considerations
of constant dC/da on this specimen, the relationship
between i and 6 was
.
iiEb
a=-

where
E = Youngs modulus
b = Specimen thickness
in = 5.45 form = 4 specimens
= 4.75 form = 3 specimens
P = load.
A remote reading displacement gage was developed for these tests since it was
necessary to keep the active element (an LVDT) out of the water. Earlier attempts to
use a submerged clip gage having resistance foil gages as the active element were
unsuccessful because of the difficulty of protecting the gages from water for long periods
of time.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Crack growth rate data as a function of applied stress intensity factor were collected
in a 3-i% NaCl-distilled water solution, Figs. 6-8. The most conspicuous feature
of these curves is the presence of a plateau, i.e. a regime over which a was independent
of K,, much like that found in titanium and the non-metallics discussed in the Introduction. In those cases where more than one specimen was used, Figs. 6 and 8, the scatter

S. MOSTOVOY

296

Sawcut
at

(a)

etal.

V-wing

beginning

to
of

runout

tappered

portion

m=3

B= + in.to lin.
2D=25

Fig. 5. Dimensions

400
300
200

of contoured

DCB specimens.

Specimen

Speclrnen

d.

Specimen

to50%of

(a) m = 4, (b) m = 3.

r
100 80

60

40

30

0
:
\

zi
.O

20 -

IO -

20

K,
Fig. 6. Crack

growth

40

60

kslfi

rate of 300M steel (F,, = 233 ksi) in 3-t% aqueous

NaCl sohHion.

Stress corrosion cracking plates

297

_I

4030-

II
/'

20*

I.0 -

2
e

Data

OEI06-

03

_
.o

02-

i
I

1%

0.4r
a

from bend specimen

(see fig 10)

I
:

Olooa-

1::

&i

ts

1"

L;
001

'20

:,
.
40

CdJ

K0

I
60

60

IO

ksi J%

Fig. 7. Crack growth rate of 250 grade maraging steel (F,, = 246 ksi) in 3-$% aqueous NaCl
solution.

was quite broad; however, within a single specimen, the scatter was modest suggesting
that it was due to either material or heat treat variation.
The cracking rate for the ma~ging steel at the plateau is between one and two
orders lower than it is for either the 300 M or 9-4-.45 steel, and KIscc is much higher
for the former than for the latter. This rate difference is consistent with the data presented in[6]; in determining KISCCby loading single cantilever beam specimens to different
values of initial K, and noting the time to fracture, it was found that it required one to
two orders of time longer to reach a condition of no growth in a 2 15 ksi yield strength
maraging steel than in a 225 ksi yield strength 300 M.
--_
I

0
0

Specimen I
Specimen 2

IB
I

Specimen 3

400
300
200
t

(G

I .E

100
80
60

0,

60

80

100

ksifi

Fig. 8. Crack growth rate of 9Ni-4Co-.45C

(F,, = 200 ksi) steel in 3-t% aqueous NaCl
solution.

298

S. MOSTOVOY

eral.

In addition to the fact that the cracking rate for the mat-aging steel is much lower at
the plateau than it is for the other two steels, i for all three of the steels is far less than
it is for titanium in salt water or for glass or ceramic in a high humidity (see Figs. l-3)
but of the same order as that for the adhesive (see Fig. 4) in water or high humidity.
For one steel, the 300 M, i vs. K measurements were also made in distilled water to
compare the latter with the 3-$ per cent NaCl solution. These results, shown in Fig. 9.
identify a plateau at about the same level as found for the salt solution indicating that
distilled and salt water are equally aggressive in producing SCC.

Fig. 9. Crack growth rate of 300 M steel in distilled water.

Too little data were available above the i plateau in this study to suggest an i
dependence of Ka for values close to &,. However, where data were available (see
Fig. 7), the curve does have a positive slope, and over this regime the K, vs. i curve
may be linear as discussed in the Introduction. It is difficult to suggest a single SCC
mechanism that would lead to one regime over which si is independent of K, and a
second one in which they are linearly related so that one suspects that the cracking
mechanism in the plateau and above it are different.
The occurrence of the plateau in SCC is much like the il independence of K, that
occurs at very high, limiting crack velocities. In the case of the limiting velocity, crack
division or branching occurs as described by Clark and Irwin [ 111. Indeed, a tendency
toward this behavior is expected in any crack extension process in which i is not dependent on K,. Furthermore, crack branching is expected only when i is independent of K,
because only then can adjacent cracks with unequal K values extend competitively.
The test results described above were obtained on face grooved specimens. Even
with this, however, it was sometimes difficult to maintain the crack in the desired plane
of extension. Although any DCB specimen poses some problems in crack direction, it
is particularly difficult in SCC. Examination of the fractured surfaces suggested that
this might result from crack division. Because of the side-groove, however, the amount

a = 0. 289

f
Fatigue
Crack

Ka = 39 ksi-E.

a = 0. 324

t
Stress
Corrosion
Crack
K

= 42 ksi-G

--l

a = 0. 340

Ka = 44 ksi-6.

I
a

Ka = 45 ksi-6.

0. 350
1

Fig. 10. Branch cracking in maraging steel.

[Facingpage

2981

Stress corrosion cracking plates

299

of branching was limited. To be certain that crack division was associated with the a
plateau, a smooth sided four-point bend specimen was exposed to salt water at a K,
within the region of the plateau. As shown by the photograph in Fig. 10, the large
gradient of the bend specimen did not prevent development of crack division.
CONCLUSIONS
Stress corrosion cracking of high strength steels in salt water exhibits a regime over
which the crack extension rate, a, is independent of the applied stress intensity factor.
K,. Although this plateau has not been previously reported for steels. other investigations had found it in titanium, glass, ceramics and plastics. The occurrence of a plateau
implies that cracking rates are controlled by some diffusion, or transport mechanism.
When cracks extend at very high speeds (near their limiting velocities) crack division occurs over the regime in which a is independent of K,. This suggests that an i
independence of K, is a necessary. but may not be a sufficient condition for branch
cracking. Branch cracking was also observed in SCC under the test conditions where i
was independent of K,. Thus, for both low and high velocity cracking, crack division
is associated with cracking rates which are not dependent on applied K.
Acknowledgements-This
research was supported by the Advanced Research Projects Agency Order No.
878 of the Department of Defense and was monitored by the Naval Research Laboratory under Contract
No. NOOOl4-66-CO365. The many helpful suggestions made by Professor G. R. Irwin are also gratefully
acknowledged.

REFERENCES
P. C. Paris, The fracture mechanics approach to fatigue. Proc. lffrh Sagamore Co&, p. 107. Syracuse
University Press (1965).
H. R. Smith, D. E. Piper and F. K. Downey, A study of stress corrosion cracking by wedge-force
loading. Engng Fructure Mech. 1, I23 ( 1968).
H. H. Johnson and P. C. Paris, Sub-critical flaw growth. Engng Fructure Mech. 1.3 (1968).
H. H. Johnson and A. M. Willner, Moisture and stable crack growth in high strength steel. Appl. Mater.
Res. 4.34 (1965).
E. A. Steigerwald and W. D. Benjamin, Stress corrosion cracking mechanisms in martensitic high
strength steels. 3rd Quarfer Progr. Rep., Cont. No. AF 33(615)-3651. Air Force Materials Laboratory
t 1967).
161 M. H. Peterson, B. F. Brown, R. L. Newbegin and R. E. Groover, Stress corrosion cracking of high
strength steels and titanium alloys in chloride solutions at ambient temperature. Corrosinn. 23. 142
(1967).
[71 G. R. Irwin, Moisture assisted slow crack extension in glass plates. NUVU/Rrs. Lb. Memo. Rep. No.
1678 (1966).
PI S. Wiederhorn, Moisture assisted crack growth in ceramics. Int. J. Fruct. Me&. 4, 171 (1968).
[91 S. Mostovoy and E. J. Ripling, Inffuence of water on stress corrosion cracking of epoxy bonds. J. uppi.
p&n. Sci. (in press).
IlO1 S. Mostovoy, P. B. Crosley, and E. J. Ripling. Use of crack-line-loaded specimens for measuring planestrain fracture toughness. f. Mater. 2.66 1(I 967).
illI A. B. J. Clark and G. R. Irwin. Crack-propagation behaviors. Exp. Mech. SESA 6,32 I (1966).
(Receiced 12Muy 1969)