ABSTRACT
Environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) is a common problem in a variety of industries. In the petroleum industry, for example, EAC is pervasive. Offshore platforms are susceptible to corrosionassisted fatigue. Equipment in refineries and petrochemical plants are exposed to a myriad of aggressive environments that lead to stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement. Similar problems exist in other settings, including fossil and nuclear power plants, pulp and paper plants, ships, bridges, and aircrafts. Environmental cracking can occur even when there are no visible signs of corrosion.
