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Influence of galvanization on the corrosion fatigue performance of high-strength steel

This paper introduces a systematic methodology providing insights to the corrosion fatigue behaviour of highstrength
steel C-ring specimens, through the development of an appropriate, fully automated, corrosion fatigue
device. The apparatus is capable of adjusting the cyclic load and frequency applied on the specimens,whilst being
submerged in a corrosive solution. A 3.5% NaCl solutionwas used as the corrosive mediumfor the purpose of this
investigation, for both galvanized and uncoated specimens, as to quantify the effect of the coating on their fatigue
response. The experimental processwas simulated through Finite ElementModelling (FEM) to determine in-situ
stress fields and elucidate crack propagation. The applied galvanizing process facilitated a prolongation of the corrosion
fatigue endurance of the tested high-strength steel, allowing it to withstand a fourfold increased number
of cycles to failure,when compared to the uncoated samples under identical conditions. The fractured surfaces of
the specimens indicate a different failure mechanism for galvanized and uncoated high-strength steel.