1995 Volume 35 Issue 3 Pages 223-233
A critical but non exhaustive review of the aqueous corrosion fatigue mechanisms is proposed with a particular emphasis on the corrosion-deformation interactions, The limits of the classical approaches of corrosion fatigue crack initiation and propagation predictions from the electrochemical point of view are pointed out. It is shown how the cyclic plastic deformation can locally modify the electrochemical reactions and how corrosion (anodic dissolution and/or hydrogen effects) can change the local plasticity and microfracture. The experimental methods to detect the localized corrosion fatigue damage are detailed. The crack propagation mechanisms near the fatigue threshold are underlined, with a particular attention for the anodic dissolution and hydrogen effects and the interaction between corrosion fatigue and stress corrosion cracking. Finally recent numerical simulations of corrosion fatigue damage and lifetime at mesoscopic scales are proposed and trends for future researches are given.
