Effect of mechanical loading on the galvanic corrosion behavior of a magnesium-steel structural joint

Highlights: • The role of mechanical deformation on the galvanic corrosion behavior was examined using a novel modeling framework. • A noticeable increase in the peak pit depth was observed due to the onset of plastic deformation. • A transition in the pit growth behavior was observed upon accumulation of sufficient plastic strain ahead of the advancing pit at the interface. - Abstract: Here a time dependent numerical model aimed to investigate the role of mechanical deformation on the corrosion behavior of galvanic joint is developed. The influence of mechanical loading on the corrosion behavior of the AE44 (Magnesium alloy) and mild steel galvanic joint immersed in a 1.6 wt% NaCl solution is explored across a wide range of combined mechanical and electrochemical conditions. It is shown that the onset of plastic deformation during mechanical loading greatly accelerates the galvanic corrosion behavior. The overall numerical approach developed here provides a robust framework for understanding the role of mechanical deformation on the corrosion behavior.