A continuum model for damage evolution simulation of the high strength bridge wires due to corrosion fatigue

Continuum damage model and simulation algorithm are developed to simulate the corrosion fatigue process of high strength bridge cable steel wires. The developed model can be used to predict the damage curves during the corrosion fatigue process based on the concept of continuum damage mechanics (CDM). The algorithm can be used to simulate the corrosion fatigue damage evolution process of bridge wires from local damage to failure. As case study, the developed model and algorithm have been applied to simulate corrosion fatigue damage evolution of bridge wires under cyclic tensile in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at 6 Hz, and the numerical prediction results are compared with experimental results. It shows that the developed model and algorithm are reasonable and can be used to study and describe corrosion fatigue damage evolution of bridge wires.