Modification to a testing assembly to enable strain-life measurements in pressurized hydrogen gas

Strain-controlled fully reversed fatigue testing, or strain-life provides critical information on material lifetime and damage response. Strain-life data in hydrogen gas environments is missing the literature could provide valuable insights into effects mechanical response of metals such as steel. We adapted existing hydrogen-gas-environment mechanical-testing equipment, which had been designed only for tensile loads, to accommodate large compressive loads needed perform testing. The considerations these adaptations are discussed. Successful testing were acquired from a 4130 pressure vessel