Evaluation of corrosion fatigue life for high-strength steel wires

Corrosion fatigue (CF) is a significant factor in the fracture of high-strength steel wires (HSWs) in bridge cables, which results in decreased safety and higher maintenance costs. The corrosion fatigue life (CFL) prediction of HSWs is still uncertain until now. This study proposes a modified method for conducting CF testing of HSWs, which combines the effects of accelerated corrosion and alternating stress. The CFL data of HSWs is obtained, considering various loading frequencies and stress levels. Subsequently, a probabilistic model for the CFL of HSWs is established, incorporating the stress-life relationship at different loading frequencies. The results indicate that the impacts of loading frequency on the CFL of HSWs under accelerated corrosion conditions can be detected by the modified experimental method. The proposed probabilistic model is well-suited to the CFL data and can provide a quantitative prediction of the CFL of HSWs, considering the effects of loading frequency and stress level. As the loading frequency decreases, the CFL with a specified survival probability also decreases, and the reduction is more pronounced at lower stress levels, especially for lower loading frequencies. Due to the rapid initiation of cracks at higher stress levels, the influences of loading frequency on the CFL become insensitive. This study provides a new perspective on evaluating the CFL of HSWs.