VDA-Recommendations
Testing of the susceptibility of advanced high strength steel sheets to hydrogen-induced cracking - Step Load Test
This document describes the step load test (SLT) for testing and evaluating the susceptibility of sheet steels to hydrogen-induced brittle fracture ("hydrogen embrittlement"). In the SLT, a mechanical load is applied in corrosive surroundings to simulate exemplary conditions during the vehicle manufacturing process (press shop, body shop, and paint shop) and the life cycle of the vehicles (operating loads and corrosion).