The uncorroded-part fallacy

Abstract

Abstract This paper deals with the collapse load of corroded parallel steel units, such as sets of corroded strands alone, or embedded in a concrete core. It is shown that what is relevant is the distribution of the damage between the units, and not the total area loss due to corrosion. The paper also shows that assuming that the area loss is related to the limit load loss is misleading, and potentially dangerous.

Keywords

• Corrosion
• Strands
• Pitting
• Preloaded concrete
• Polcevera Viaduct
• Collapse