Mechanically assisted corrosion fatigue

Mechanically assisted degradation can consist of the following types of corrosion erosion-corrosion, water drop impingement corrosion, cavitation erosion, erosive and corrosive wear, fretting corrosion, and corrosion fatigue (CF) (Fig. 1.14). Erosion-corrosion consists of the corrosion process enhanced by erosion or wear. Fretting corrosion consists of the wear process enhanced by corrosion. CF consists of the combined action of fluctuating or cyclic stress and a corrosive environment. 

Table 14-1 shows a summary of some available statistics for both destructive events and nondestructive breaks, the latter include all the cases of fractures discovered in time or which could become destructive and all those minor fractures, probably not potentially destructive, that required intervention because of their size. The principal causes of the reported fractures are fatigue (mechanical, thermal or corrosion assisted) associated with pre-existing fabrication defects, generally corresponding to structural discontinuities such as appendages, penetrations, etc. 

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