A review of cohesive zone modelling as an approach for numerically assessing hydrogen embrittlement of steel structures.

Simulation of hydrogen embrittlement requires a
coupled approach; on one side, the models describing
hydrogen transport must account for local mechanical
fields, while on the other side, the effect of
hydrogen on the accelerated material damage must
be implemented into the model describing crack
initiation and growth. The present study presents
a review of coupled diffusion and cohesive zone
modelling as a method for numerically assessing
hydrogen embrittlement of a steel structure. While the
model is able to reproduce single experimental results
by appropriate fitting of the cohesive parameters,
there appears to be limitations in transferring these
results to other hydrogen systems. Agreement may be
improved by appropriately identifying the required
input parameters for the particular system under
study.