Weathering steel, particularly Q370qENH, is widely used in bridge construction in China due to its exceptional corrosion resistance and low maintenance costs. However, further study is needed on accelerated corrosion simulation methods and the corrosion mechanisms of weathering steel bridges in medium corrosivity environments (e.g., C3 level). Therefore, this study focuses on the accelerated corrosion methods, corrosion characteristics of Q370qENH and the relationship between accelerated and atmospheric corrosion. Firstly, the wet-dry salt spray corrosion test is employed to accelerate the atmospheric corrosion of Q370qENH, with test parameters defined based on relevant research and standards. Subsequently, scanning electron microscopy, 3D scanning and X-ray diffraction techniques are used to analyse the morphology and composition of Q370qENH at different stages of accelerated corrosion, exploring the rust layer formation mechanism. Additionally, the weight loss method is applied to assess the amount and rate of accelerated corrosion, leading to the establishment of a predictive model for accelerated corrosion over time. Furthermore, an atmospheric exposure test field has been established in Changsha (C3 level), based on which a predictive model for atmospheric corrosion of Q370qENH is developed. The relationship between accelerated and atmospheric corrosion is derived by comparing the two predictive models.
WangYLiJZhangL, et al.Structure of the rust layer of weathering steel in A high chloride environment: a detailed characterization via HRTEM, STEM-EDS, and FIB-SEM. Corros Sci2020; 177: 108997.
2.
ZhouLYangS. Investigation on crack propagation in band-like rust layers on weathering steel. Constr Build Mater2021; 281: 122564.
3.
SarrafRMandenoWHicksS. Weathering Steel - Design Guide for Bridges in Australia. 2017.
4.
McConnellJRShentonHWMertzDR. Performance of uncoated weathering steel bridge inventories: methodology and gulf coast region evaluation. J Bridge Eng2016; 21: 04016087.
5.
KrivyVUrbanVKreislovaK. Development and failures of corrosion layers on typical surfaces of weathering steel bridges. Eng Fail Anal2016; 69: 147–160.
6.
PaulettaMBattocchioERussoG. A weathering steel elastomer joint for the connection between new and existing bridges. Eng Struct2015; 105: 264–276.
7.
McConnellJShentonHWMertzDR, et al.National review on use and performance of uncoated weathering steel highway bridges. J Bridge Eng2014; 19: 04014009.
8.
UrbanVKrivyVKreislovaK. The development of corrosion processes on weathering steel bridges. Procedia Eng2015; 114: 546–554.
9.
GuoXZhuJKangJ, et al.Rust layer adhesion capability and corrosion behavior of weathering steel under tension during initial stages of simulated marine atmospheric corrosion. Constr Build Mater2020; 234: 117393.
10.
ChenAHXuJQLiR, et al.Corrosion resistance of high performance weathering steel for bridge building applications. J Iron Steel Res Int2012; 19: 59–63.
11.
ZuoMFChenYLMiZL, et al.Effects of Cr content on corrosion behaviour and corrosion products of spring steels. J Iron Steel Res Int2019; 26: 1000–1010.
12.
LiDLFuGQZhuMY, et al.Effect of Ni on the corrosion resistance of bridge steel in a simulated hot and humid coastal-industrial atmosphere. Int J Miner Metall Mater2018; 25: 325–338.
13.
ZhangY. Study on corrosion fatigue behavior of weathering steel and high performance steel. Chengdu: Southwest Jiaotong University, 2020, in Chinese. https://doi.org/10.27414/d.cnki.gxnju.2020.002453.
14.
GarcíaKEMoralesALBarreroCA, et al.New contributions to the understanding of rust layer formation in steels exposed to a total immersion test. Corros Sci2006; 48: 2813–2830.
15.
GkatzogiannisSWeinertJEngelhardtI, et al.Correlation of laboratory and real marine corrosion for the investigation of corrosion fatigue behaviour of steel components. Int J Fatigue2019; 126: 90–102.
16.
GB/T 714-2015. Structural steel for bridge. China. 2015 (in Chinese).
17.
TownsendHE. Estimating the atmospheric corrosion resistance of weathering steels. Outdoor Atmos Corros2002; 1421: 292.
18.
G101-01. Standard guide for estimating the atmospheric corrosion resistance of low alloy steels. ASTM. 2001. https://doi.org/10.1520/g0101-01.
19.
GB/T 19291-2003. Corrosion of metals and alloys—General principle for corrosion testing. China. 2013 (in Chinese).
20.
GB/T 20854-2007. Corrosion of metals and alloys—Accelerated testing involving cyclic exposure to salt mist. dry and wet condition, China. 2007 (in Chinese).
21.
GB/T 19292.1-2018. Corrosion of metals and alloys—corrosivity of atmospheres—part 1: Classification. determination and estimation, China. 2018 (in Chinese).
22.
LuoSLiuMLinX. Corrosion fatigue behavior of S135 high-strength drill pipe steel in a simulated marine environment. Mater Corros Werkstoffe Und Korrosion2019; 70: 688–697.
23.
OcalMSadelerR. Corrosion fatigue behavior of Al-5Mg coated AISI 316L stainless steel in sodium chloride environments under bending load. Anti-Corros Methods Mater2019; 66: 34–39.
24.
OuyangXSLuoXYWangJ. The fatigue properties and damage of the corroded steel bars under the constant-amplitude fatigue load. J Vibroeng2019; 21: 988–997.
25.
ZhangLLJiangLZZhangZY, et al.Study on tensile properties of q235nh after corrosion, Steel Constructi (Chin Eng)2022; 37: 1–7(in Chinese).
26.
LiHFJiaXWangHB, et al.Study on corrosion behavior of q345qdnh weathering steel in simulated industrial marine atmosphere. Steel Construct (Chin Eng)2023; 38: 16–24(in Chinese).
27.
WangPChengXZhangZ, et al.Roles of grain refinement in the rust formation and corrosion resistance of weathering steels. Corros Sci2023; 224: 111561.
28.
XieSLiHZhangY, et al.Study on corrosion performance and corrosion product composition of weathering steel and high-performance steel in simulated C3 environment. Mater Corros Werkstoffe Und Korrosion2024; 75: 750–762.
29.
GB/T 10125-2021. Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres—Salt spray tests. China. 2021 (in Chinese).
30.
JiangFHirohataMLiuJ, et al.Application of accelerated cyclic test with synthetic ocean water salt-deposition process to the evaluation on corrosion characteristics of weathering steel. Corros Eng Sci Technol2022; 57: 280–289.
31.
GB/T 38269-2019. Corrosion of metals and alloys—Accelerated cyclic corrosion tests with exposure to synthetic ocean water salt-deposition process—Dry and wet conditions at constant absolute humidity. China. 2019 (in Chinese).
32.
WangHMHuangFYuanW, et al. Corrosion behavior of a novel Cu-Mo weathering steel in an artificial marine atmosphere. J Chin Soc Corros Protect2023; 43: 507–515(in Chinese).
33.
LiLChenYQZhongB, et al. Corrosion behavior of weathering bridge steel containing niobium in simulated industrial atmospheric environment. Corros Protect2022; 43: 22–27+78 (in Chinese).
34.
SajiVS. Progress in rust converters. Prog Org Coat2019; 127: 88–99.
35.
de la FuenteDAlcántaraJChicoB, et al.Characterisation of rust surfaces formed on mild steel exposed to marine atmospheres using XRD and SEM/micro-Raman techniques. Corros Sci2016; 110: 253–264.
36.
AlcántaraJChicoBDíazI, et al.Airborne chloride deposit and its effect on marine atmospheric corrosion of mild steel. Corros Sci2015; 97: 74–88.
37.
FanYLiuWLiS, et al.Evolution of rust layers on carbon steel and weathering steel in high humidity and heat marine atmospheric corrosion. J Mater Sci Technol2020; 39: 190–199.
38.
NishimuraT. Rust formation mechanism on low alloy steels after exposure test in high Cl- and high SOx environment. Materials (Basel)2017; 10: 199.
39.
McMurtreyMDMillsDEBurnsJT. The effect of pit size and density on the fatigue behaviour of a pre-corroded martensitic stainless steel. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct2019; 42: 3–18.
40.
ChenZJafarzadehSZhaoJ, et al.A coupled mechano-chemical peridynamic model for pit-to-crack transition in stress-corrosion cracking. J Mech Phys Solids2021; 146: 104203.
41.
DekkerRvan der MeerFPMaljaarsJ, et al.A level set model for stress-dependent corrosion pit propagation. Int J Numer Methods Eng2021; 122: 2057–2074.
42.
Al BadranMS. Structural reliability analysis of corroded steel girder bridge. 2013.
43.
MikiCIchikawaAKusunokiT, et al.Proposal of new high performance steels for bridges (BHS500, BHS700). Doboku Gakkai Ronbunshu2003; 738: 1–10.
44.
WangJChenJJXieY, et al.Evaluation of environmental factors related with atmosphere corrosivity in Hunan province by atmospheric corrosion monitoring technique. J Chin Soc Corros Protect2021; 41: 487–492 (in Chinese).
45.
ZhangTZhangSHeYT, et al.Atmospheric environment demarcation of China based on corrosion of aeronautic metallic materials. Equipment Environ Eng2020; 17: 1–9 (in Chinese).
46.
DravnieksACataldiHA. Industrial applications of a method for measuring small amounts of corrosion without removal of corrosion products. Corrosion1954; 10: 224–230.
47.
FreedmanATroscinskiEDravnieksA. An electrical resistance method of corrosion monitoring in refinery equipment. Corrosion1958; 14: 29–32.
48.
LegatA. Monitoring of steel corrosion in concrete by electrode arrays and electrical resistance probes. Electrochim Acta2007; 52: 7590–7598.
