“…Nomenclature: Principal symbols: a, crack size; E, Young modulus; K mat , fracture toughness; K N mat , apparent fracture toughness; K IEAC , crack propagation threshold in EAC; K N IEAC , apparent crack propagation threshold in EAC; L, material critical distance; L EAC , material critical distance in EAC; W, specimen width; ρ, notch radius; σ U , ultimate tensile strength; σ Y , yield stress; σ 0 , inherent strength; σ 0EAC , inherent strength in EAC Principal abbreviations: EAC, environmentally assisted cracking; FEs, finite elements; HE, hydrogen embrittlement; PM, point method; TCD, theory of critical distances In order to avoid catastrophic failures but at the same time not to carry out premature repairs or replacements, which entails a high economic cost, it is necessary to study the behaviour of materials in aggressive environments. 2 Many structural integrity assessments assume crack-like defects, whereas in practice, defects may present a finite radius at their tip (eg, corrosion defects, mechanical damage, and fabrication defects). In such cases, they are referred to as notches, whose assessment as crack-like defects generally leads to overconservative results.…”