CORROSION – BUCKLING INTERACTION OF 6061-T4 AL ALLOY FIXED – PINNED COLUMNS – EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

Compression buckling experimental tests was carried out for long and intermediate
columns made of 6061-T4 AL- alloy. Two different soil corrosion time were adopted i.e.30
days and 60 days using 27 samples. The experimental analysis revealed that increasing the
corrosion time negatively affects the mechanical properties of metals such as the specimens
of 60 days corroded have 1.68% reduction in ultimate strength, also increasing the corrosion
time reduces the critical load such as the maximum reduction was 4.24% in critical buckling
load for 60 days corrosion time. Perry-Robertson theory was applied to the experimental
data and it was found that the above theory can satisfactory predicted the critical buckling
load (Pcr) with a factor of safety equal to 1.2. The ratio of corroded Pcr to dry Pcr was
always less than unity. This indication explains the effect of pitting corrosion on buckling
behavior of 6061-T4 AL- alloy