| dc.description.abstract | Welding is commonly used for connecting steel components in steel bridge fabrication and construction. Welding processes change the microstructures, properties of surrounding steel and its surface texture. In this study, an investigation of corrosion behavior of steel bridge welds was performed under simulated corrosive environments in the laboratory. Four electrochemical tests: a) open circuit potential, b) Rp/Ec Trend, c) electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and d) potentiodynamic polarization, were identified and conducted to gain fundamentals to weldment corrosion in two commonly used bridge steels (A572 and A588). In addition, three coating systems (3-coat, Calcium sulfonate alkyd, and metallizing coating) in steel bridges were deposited on the bridge steels. Test results revealed that the bridge steel welds exhibit higher corrosion initiation over base metals, regardless the types of steel or coating. The protective coating systems can delay the corrosion initiation at the welds, thus enhancing the corrosion resistance of bridge steel welds. | en_US |
