Finite Element Method Simulation for Analyzing the Hydrogen Evolution Behavior of the SM490 Surface in Various NaCl Solutions

The objective of this study was to predict the hydrogen content entering steels during immersion in NaCl solutions, using finite element method (FEM) simulations. FEM simulation models were constructed by appropriately defining the boundary conditions for electrochemical reactions, diffusion coefficients of chemical species, and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The simulated polarization curves for carbon steel in various NaCl solutions were in good agreement with experimental results, indicating the high accuracy of the simulation models in representing actual phenomena.