Finite element simulation of hydrogen blistering of steel 16MnR serving in wet H₂S environment

With respect to the unpredictability problem of the steel cracking induced by the MnS inclusion under the wet H₂S environment, the by hydrogen blistering (HB) caused by the hydrogen diffusion into and accumulation in side the MnS inclusion in the steel 16MnR was numerically simulated using the finite element program ABAQUS, The hydrogen concentration histories and the HB morphology were obtained. The critical hydrogen concentration and pressure as well as the fracture failure time by the HB were predicted. The results show that the diffusion of the hydrogen into and its accumulation inside the interface between the MnS and the substrate in the wet H₂S environment create a high hydrogen pressure, which causes the plastic deformation and crack propagation in the material, results in the HB. The more the MnS inclusion, the longer the inclusion shape, the higher the hydrogen concentration, the greater the HB susceptivity is. The simulated results provide a reference for the predictive maintenance of the steel equipments serving in the hydrogen environment.