Integrated corrosion assessment of high-strength galvanized steel wires using corrosion appearance, surface information, and fatigue strength

Corrosion significantly affects the fatigue performance of high-strength galvanized steel wires used in cable-supported bridges.This study quantitatively evaluated the relationship between "Corrosion Appearance," "Surface Information," and "Fatigue Strength" to understand the impact of corrosion on wire durability.Experimental results indicated that when the red rust ratio reached 27%, the fatigue strength decreased by approximately 30-33%.The presence of red rust induced crevice corrosion, leading to stress concentration and promoting fatigue crack initiation, ultimately reducing fatigue life.Additionally, corrosion led to a reduction in the wire's cross-sectional area, with an average decrease of 0.63% and a maximum decrease of 3.37%.As corrosion progressed, penetration into the steel interior increased, with corrosion depths averaging 0.11 mm and reaching a maximum of 0.21 mm.These changes contributed to further degradation in durability and fatigue resistance.