Role of Static and Cyclic Deformation on the Corrosion Behavior of a Magnesium-Steel Structural Joint

In this article, a numerical investigation examining the influence of various mechanical loading scenarios on the corrosion behavior of a galvanic joint formed between a magnesium alloy and mild steel was carried out. A wide spectrum of mechanical conditions were examined to facilitate the development of a comprehensive understanding on the effect of mechanical deformation during galvanic corrosion. In general, we found that the onset of nonlinear deformation drastically accelerates the localized corrosion. Furthermore, subjecting the galvanic joint to alternating corrosion and fatigue loading was found to increase the observed localized corrosion drastically. Finally, the simulation results are discussed with respect to the identification and description of the detrimental physical phenomena that undermine the structural integrity of joints subjected to various mechanical loading scenarios.