Effect of hydrogen embrittlement on dislocation emission from a semi-elliptical surface crack tip in nanometallic materials

A theoretical model was established to investigate the interaction between hydrogen clusters and edge dislocations emitted from a semi-elliptical surface crack tip in deformed nanometallic materials. The model’s solution was obtained by using the complex method, and the influence of the concentration and location of hydrogen clusters, temperature, crack shape, material constants, and the dislocation emission angle on the critical stress intensity factor (SIFs) corresponding to the first dislocation emission from crack tips was investigated through numerical analysis. The results show that dislocations are easily emitted from the crack tip at high hydrogen concentration, and hydrogen clusters close to the crack tip will hinder the emission of dislocations from its crack tip. When considering the influence of hydrogen cluster, an increase in temperature, an extension of crack length or an increase in crack tip curvature radius can all make the emission of dislocations at the crack tip difficult, thereby reducing the toughness of the material caused by dislocation emission.