External stress corrosion cracking (SCC) was first reported on underground pipelines in the mid-1960's and this mode of failure continues to be an integrity threat to the pipeline industry. In response to this threat, the industry has funded research to reproduce the cracking in the laboratory, to gain a better understanding of the controlling factors, and to develop means to mitigate cracking. This paper reviews the history of the development of the test techniques used in these laboratory studies. Techniques discussed include the slow strain rate technique, the tapered tensile test technique, constant displacement rate and cyclic load techniques with pre-cracked compact type specimens, and several electrochemical test techniques.

Subject
Environmental cracking, External stress corrosion cracking, Piping, Intergranular stress corrosion cracking, Crack initiation, Pipelines, Stress cracking, Constants, Crack velocity, Steel, Carbonate stress corrosion cracking, Stress corrosion cracking, Electrolytes
Keywords:
stress corrosion cracking, underground pipelines, SCC test techniques, slow strain rate, fracture mechanics, electrochemistry
© 1999 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1999
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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