Axial compression behavior of corroded steel angles: Experiment, parametric analysis and design method

 

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of corrosion damage on the axial load capacity of steel angle members using an integrated experimental and numerical methodology. A total of twelve specimens, characterized by varying cross-sectional dimensions, slenderness ratios, and corrosion rates, were subjected to axial compression testing, with accelerated corrosion induced through controlled neutral salt spray exposure. Three-dimensional topographic scanning techniques were utilized to assess the morphology of the corroded surfaces, which were subsequently reconstructed using Fractal Brownian motion theory. 

Parametric studies were conducted to analyze the effects of cross-sectional dimension, non-uniform corrosion layer thickness (UNCLT), width-to-thickness ratio (WTR), slenderness ratio, and corrosion rate on the ultimate load reduction factor of corroded steel angles. The parametric analyses indicated that the WTR is a significant determinant, leading to over a 40% variation in the ultimate load reduction factor among steel angles with identical corrosion rates but differing WTRs. Additionally, the interaction between slenderness ratio and WTR was found to affect the ultimate load of the steel angle considerably, underscoring the necessity for their joint consideration in evaluations of corrosion damage. 

A practical analytical expression was established to forecast the ultimate load reduction factor of corroded steel angles, incorporating corrosion rate, slenderness ratio, and WTR as critical variables. Validation against experimental data and existing literature confirmed the robustness of the proposed method, with prediction errors consistently remaining below 15%. The results offer essential insights for assessing the residual capacity of corroded steel angles in practical engineering.

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