• Materials science and engineering

Course unit

Last updated: 12/01/2024

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Course Director(s):

WOLSKI Krzysztof BOSCH Cédric

General Description:

ECTS number : 3

Damage under an aggressive environment is a part of physical metallurgy describing the origins of damage and cracking of metallic alloys with their consequences on structural strength. We will recall various causes of intrinsic damage of alloys (segregations, precipitations, work hardening) which can lead on the one hand to the shift of the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature and on the other hand to intergranular brittleness. The specific role of the aggressive environment will be described thereafter.

Thus the course will be structured in three parts:

  • The first part is devoted to the reminders on the interactions between alloys and aqueous solutions. Starting from the basic notions of electrochemistry, various types of corrosion (generalized, pitting, crevice) will be described. Particular emphasis will be placed on the passivity and protective character of passive films on stainless steels.
  • The second part will focus on damage and cracking problems in the oil and gas industry. The phenomena of hydrogen embrittlement, stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue will be presented both from a phenomenological and physical point of view with associated models.
  • The third part will focus on damage and cracking problems in the nuclear industry. Particular operating conditions in pressurised water will be described. The stress corrosion cracking of alloy 600 and its replacement by alloy 690 will be treated.

This course is also intended to make students aware of the need to take into account the cost of operating industrial facilities from the design stage.

Key words:

Corrosion Stress corrosion cracking Hydrogen embrittlement Corrosion problems in energy production

Number of teaching hours

20

Fields of study

Materials Science

Teaching language

English

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the unit, the student will be capable of: Classification level Priority

Learning assessment methods

Percentage ratio of individual assessment Percentage ratio of group assessment
Written exam: 100 % Project submission: %
Individual oral exam: % Group presentation: %
Individual presentation: % Group practical exercise: %
Individual practical exercise: % Group report: %
Individual report: %
Other(s): %

Programme and content

Type of teaching activity Content, sequencing and organisation
Lecture

8 slots of 1.5 hour

Industrial seminars

4 slots of 1.5 hour

Written exam

1 slot of 2 hour