Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/3290
Date of Award
6-2026
Degree Name
MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department/Program
Civil and Environmental Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Long Wang
Advisor Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Advisor College
College of Engineering
Abstract
Pitting corrosion primarily reduced the ductility of A304 stainless steel rather than significantly lowering its ultimate strength. This study investigated the mechanical behavior of stainless steel affected by pitting corrosion through experimental tensile testing and finite element analysis. Stainless steel dogbone specimens were corroded for different exposure times, laser scanned to characterize pit morphology, and tensile tested to determine elastic modulus, ultimate strength, and rupture strain. Experimental results showed that ultimate strength remained relatively consistent across corrosion times, while rupture strain decreased more noticeably, indicating that corrosion had a greater effect on ductility than peak strength. Finite element models were developed in Abaqus CAE 2024 using statistically generated pit geometries based on laser scan data and Pearson III distributions. Elastic models showed that pits produced localized stress concentrations near pit edges, especially when pits were deep, narrow, or closely spaced. Ductile damage models showed that increasing corrosion time reduced displacement and strain before fracture, while maximum stress remained relatively similar. The models also indicated that clustered pits can cause earlier fracture than deeper but more isolated pits. This research shows that finite element analysis can help evaluate the mechanical effects of pitting corrosion and that pit spacing, density, and distribution should be considered when assessing corroded stainless steel members.
Included in
Civil Engineering Commons, Other Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons, Structural Engineering Commons