An approach to the evaluation of stress-corrosion of high strength steels

Experiments have been conducted on high strength prestressing and bridge wires (zinc-coated) to assess their susceptibility to stress-corrosion cracking (SCC). The wires were subjected to various stress levels and corrosive environments. Loss of ductility and reduction in the ultimate strength of these materials are determined. A criterion is then proposed to evaluate the susceptibility to stress-corrosion by means of an index based on the observed mechanical properties of the wires. Further experiments were carried out on another high-strength bridge wire to validate the proposed approach.Based on the experimental and field observations, the proposed method could be applied to select the type of wire used in pre- or post-tensioned concrete construction or in other applications to ensure better protection against SCC.