An analysis on spatial properties of corroded surface of weathering steel by different environmental conditions

This study examined the spatial characteristics of the corroded surface of weathering steel by different environmental conditions to evaluate the applicability of two accelerated corrosion tests. Two types of weathering steel were subjected to the two accelerated corrosion tests for 28, 84, and 168 days. The same materials were also exposed at two separate locations for 180 and 365 days of atmospheric exposure tests. The corrosion behavior of the weathering steel was investigated by spatial statistical analysis. The analysis suggested that the spatial properties of the corrosion of weathering steel experimented in the early stage of both accelerated corrosion tests were close to those obtained in the atmospheric exposure tests. Furthermore, the corroded surfaces experimented under the ISO 16539 Method B accelerated corrosion test demonstrated a closer resemblance to the corroded surfaces of weathering steel in real corrosion environments compared to those derived from the Cyclic Corrosion Test Method A.