Abstract

The present work presents the behavior of carbon steel and galvanized steel against atmospheric corrosion after 3 years of exposure at seven locations around the region of Valparaiso, Chile. Results show a relation between corrosion rates and environmental and meteorological conditions, categorized as CX for the Quintero zone, and C3 and C2 in the remaining six zones. Corrosion rate behaviors and material toughness losses were modeled using power functions and neural networks, found to be a function of environmental exposure time. Losses were greater for carbon steel in coastal and industrial environments, reaching 70 to 80%. This effect was reduced in galvanized steel, not exceeding 15% over the same period of exposure. The relationship between corrosion rate and loss of toughness of both materials was modeled using neural networks.