The configuration of steel structures is sufficiently flexible that there are usually a number of ways to detail members and connections to meet primary objectives for strength and stiffness mandated by design Standards and operational goals. However, holistic consideration of performance objectives extends far beyond strength and stiffness. Durability and its impact on whole-of-life costs is increasingly a significant consideration in any value-engineered solution. The response of structures to time and environment therefore becomes a primary consideration. Designing and detailing the structure to maximise corrosion resistance and the outcomes for any corrosion protection applied will provide a fundamental foundation for durable cost effective structures.
This edition of Steel Construction Journal provides background on corrosion mechanisms as a foundation for then presenting the design choices the engineer has to enable beneficial outcomes as regards corrosion resistance and the balance between cost effectiveness (initial and whole-of-life) and durability of the structures designed. As a toolkit to inform design, the concepts and guidance provided are invaluable and easily integrated into the day-to-day engineering process.
Steel Construction journal, vol. 47, no. 2, May 2015.
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