Durability of an Elastic Bar Under Tension With Linear or Nonlinear Relationship Between Corrosion Rate and Stress

Abstract

In this study we investigate the durability of a bar subjected to tension in the presence of corrosion. Various possible relationships are considered between the corrosion velocity and stress. We concentrate on linear, quadratic, purely cubic, and general cubic relationships. Closed-form expressions are obtained for the structure’s durability, which is identified with time to failure, with failure defined as the stress reaching the yield level. Among other things, we evaluate the validity of the assumption that the average diameter of the bar remains constant, as suggested by Dolinskii (1967, “Analysis of Loaded Tubes Subjected to Corrosion,” Khimicheskoe I Neftianoe Mashinostroenie (Chemical and Oil Machinery), 2, pp. 9–10, (in Russian)). We show that in certain circumstances this assumption may lead to an unacceptably large error.