Abstract
Detection of early-stage corrosion on slender steel members is crucial for preventing buckling failures of steel structures. An active photoacoustic fiber optic sensor (FOS) system is reported herein for the early-stage steel corrosion detection of steel plates and rebars using surface ultrasonic waves. The objective of this study is to investigate a potential method for detecting surface corrosion/rust of steel rods using numerically simulated surface ultrasonic waves. The finite element method (FEM) was applied in the simulation of propagating ultrasonic waves on steel rod models. The pitch-catch mode of damage detection was adopted, in which one source (transmitter) and one sensor (receiver) were considered. In this research, radial displacements at the receiver were simulated and analyzed by short-time Fourier transform (STFT) for detecting, locating, and quantifying surface rust located between the transmitter and the receiver. From our time domain and frequency domain analyses, it was found that the presence, location, and dimensions (length, width, and depth) of surface rust can be estimated by ultrasonic wave propagation.
Highlights
Slender steel members, such as steel rods and bars, are widely used structural components in civil infrastructure
The time domain radial displacement (u(t)) of each model at receiver R was collected from six finite element (FE) simulation cases
Comparison of u(t) and U(t, f ) between intact and corroded steel rod models was made to study the effects of surface rust on u(t) and U(t, f )
Summary
Slender steel members, such as steel rods and bars, are widely used structural components in civil infrastructure (e.g., prestressed tendons and cables, steel rebars, temporary support structures, and traffic signs). Unlike other construction materials, such as bricks and lumber, steel is vulnerable to corrosion. Steel corrosion can take place when certain environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pH, oxygen, moisture, chloride ions) are met. Premature failures of steel structures can occur if one or more critical members are corroded. Corrosion of steel members reduces the effective cross-sectional area of the member by replacing steel (ferrite) with rust (ferrite oxides). Structural stiffness and bearing capacity of corroded steel members are reduced. In order to detect early-stage corrosion of steel members, localized miniature sensors must be installed on their surface. Corrosion of slender steel members increases the likelihood of their instability (buckling) due to the change in boundary conditions at the support or within each member
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