Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a failure mechanism resulting from the combination of a tensile stress (which could be residual stress) and an environment to which the alloy is chemically susceptible.

A component may fracture by SCC at relatively mild stress levels, including those resulting from residual stress, and in relatively mild environments. Minor variations in an environment, either chemically or temperature related, can lead to cracking, hence the need to understand and thereby minimise residual stress in a product.

Test

This test detects residual stresses in wrought copper alloy (eg brass) products that might result in failure due to stress corrosion cracking (SCC).