Study on the Mechanical Properties of Corroded Steel Strands at Deflection Angles

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance changes in steel-stranded hangers under complicated loads in moist or corrosive environments. First of all, corrosion tests were carried over three time periods (360 h, 720 h, 1080 h) on glossy and galvanized steel strands and different levels of corrosion were obtained. Subsequently, tensile tests were carried out on strands with different degrees of corrosion (including no corrosion) at different deflection angles. The test results showed that the ultimate bearing capacity of the uncorroded steel strand at the deflection angle decreased by 21.8%, while the ultimate bearing capacity of the glossy strand with the longest corrosion time decreased by 27.1%. For the same corrosion time, the ultimate bearing capacity of the glossy steel strand decreased at a higher rate than that of the galvanized steel strand. In addition, numerical simulations show that the angle of deflection reduces the ultimate bearing capacity of the steel strand. It is also found that both deflection angle and corrosion pit depth have a positive correlation on the maximum stress of the pit, and that the stress of the pit is highest near the fixed end. This study provides meaningful guidance for the design and maintenance of bridge hangers, which can extend the service life of the hangers.