Test standards describe many different procedures to simulate and evaluate the reaction of the material to the double effect of mechanical strenght and corrosion attack. Various H2S solutions and chloride content solutions may be used to simulate sour environments.

One of the test methods sets forth the procedure for loading a tensile test specimen placed in a vessel containing the corrosion solution a particular stress level. “ Proof-ring ” is one of the practical and precise instrument to evaluate the resistance to SSC this way.

Another method involves deflecting rectangular specimens in a series by applying a different bending stress through particular instruments, as the four point bending fixture. According to the data obtained by testing multiple test specimens at varying deflections, a critical critical stress factor (S_c)is calculated. Test specimens are immersed in acid solution for 720 hours, then removed, cleaned and inspected in order to determine any crack presence.