Experimental study on the coupling effect of sulfate corrosion and loading on the mechanical behavior of steel and H-section beam

Described herein is the coupling effect of corrosion and loading on mechanical properties of steel and H-section beam. Indoor sulfate accelerated corrosion over steel under stress state was carried out. The results indicate that nominal strength of corroded steel decreased with increasing corrosion rate, loading would result in higher corrosion rate. The load-displacement curve of corroded steel changed obviously, accompanied with the shortage or even absence of yield plateau and decreased curvature in softening stage. The bearing capacity of corroded beam was affected by both corrosion rate and loading ratio. The load of corroded beam decreased with increasing corrosion time or loading ratio when loading ratio or corrosion time kept unaltered, respectively. The load-displacement curve of corroded beam can be divided into elastic stage, yield hardening stage and load degradation stage. The established BP neural network model can predict ultimate bearing capacity of corroded beam under coupling effect of sulfate and loading.