A Critical Review of Existing Hydrogen Diffusion Models Accounting for Different Physical Variables

Abstract

The present paper offers a continuum modelling of trap-affected hydrogen diffusion in metals and alloys, accounting for different physical variables of both macroscopic nature (i.e., related to continuum mechanics, e.g., stress and strain) and microscopic characteristics (material microstructure, traps, etc.). To this end, the model of hydrogen diffusion assisted by the gradients of both hydrostatic stress and cumulative plastic strain,stress-and-strain assisted hydrogen diffusion, proposed and frequently used by the authors of the present paper (Toribio & Kharin) is analysed in addition to other well-known models such as those proposed by (i) McNabb & Foster, (ii) Oriani, (iii) Leblond & Dubois, (iv) Sofronis & McMeeking, (v) Krom and Bakker, showing their physical and mathematical differences and similarities to account for different physical variables.