ABSTRACT
This chapter presents observations of steel corrosion in four different environments namely acidic solution, simulated soil solution and natural soil and atmosphere. Corrosion is measured by mass and or dimension loss. Test results on effects of corrosion on the tensile properties of steel are provided and discussed, including degradation of yield strength, ultimate strength and failure strain of the corroded steel in different environments. Also provided are test results on degradation of fatigue and fracture toughness of the corroded steel in different corrosive environments. Comparisons of corrosion effects on different mechanical properties in the same corrosive environments are also presented. Test results clearly show that corrosion reduces the mechanical properties of steel to different extents in different environments. The mechanisms of degradation of the mechanical properties of steel due to corrosion are also discussed based on observations of microstructural changes in elemental composition, grain size and iron phase.
