A numerical study on fatigue strength degradation due to pitting corrosion of S355 structural steel in a marine environment

This study investigates the influence of pitting corrosion on the fatigue strength of S355 steel, commonly used in offshore wind support structures. A short crack microstructural model is employed to estimate the degraded fatigue strength, effectively capturing the physics of the problem with minimal input parameters. Material characterization tests provide the key mechanical properties of S355 steel. A parametric analysis is used to examine the effects of pit shape, size, and aspect ratio. A generic relationship is identified between degraded fatigue strength and pit size for various pit aspect ratios. A sensitivity analysis reveals that the pit aspect ratio significantly influences fatigue strength, with sharper pits leading to greater reductions. The threshold stress intensity factor has a moderate effect, while in-air fatigue strength and grain size have minimal impacts. A case study is performed to evaluate the fatigue strength degradation of S355 steel exposed to the North Sea environment. Findings indicate that the most severe degradation occurs in the initial years of exposure, with the degradation rate declining over time. The results align well with experimental data, offering a robust framework for assessing structural integrity in a marine environment.