Deterioration of Steel Structures

There are six major types and causes of steel structure deterioration in the
marine environment:
• Corrosion
• Abrasion
• Loosening of structural connections
• Fatigue
• Overloading
• Loss of foundation material
Top 2 Causes of Damage to Steel Structure 
Cause # 1. Corrosion of Steel Structure and Preventive
Measures:

Steel structures are often affected by corrosion. Prevention of corrosion should begin with the design.
Corrosion of any construction is basically dependent upon its design. Obviously, this will increase the cost
of construction. But it is economical to choose an alternative which may be expensive in fabrication but
cheaper in maintenance. Ultimate economy would be the total economy inclusive of cost in use.

The general conception that a steel structure can be protected by painting or other surface treatment is
valid provided it is adequately designed from the point of view of corrosion. On the other hand the most
efficient and cheapest way to avoid corrosion is often to design the structure in proper way, not favouring
corrosion attacks.
The design, in general, should take care of basic prerequisites which are the location where the structure would be
built, its desired life, its accessibility to maintenance, degree of severity of corrosive agent in the environment and
the type of corrosion expected (pitting, crevice corrosion, fatigue, stress corrosion, galvanic corrosion, erosion, etc.
The design should take care of choice of a construction material and suitable treatment or other corrosion protection
method for carrying design work properly.

Choice of surface treatment or other protections:

Most constructions require some sort of surface treatment — both for aesthetic reasons and as a protection against
corrosion. This should be selected taking into consideration whether the structure would be painted, asphalt coated,
rubber coated or metalised.
Cause # 2. Joints and Fasteners:
Joints of various materials may lead to creation of crevices, heterogeneous micro-
structures and occurrence of galvanic effects. Extra care should be taken for such
joints and fasteners.
Nuts, bolts, screws, welds and solders should, therefore, be more noble than the joined
members of the structures. Welded joints are preferred, whenever feasible, to lap
joints, as these often cause formation of crevices and hollow spaces.
How do you repair damaged or corroded steel?
1.Welding
2.Epoxy
3.Rust removers and protective coating

While steel remains as one of the most durable materials used in construction, there are times that 
steel products in the Philippines can also get damaged or corroded due to a number of factors,
such as wear and tear and exposure to various substances.
Should this happen to the steel that is present in your structures, it is best to have them repaired as
soon as possible, as you would want to avoid emergencies and incidents that would affect the 
structural integrity. Repairing steel can be done in many forms, which is why it is best to find
the best methods to make sure that you would be able to provide the best fix.
How to Repair Steel
The process of repairing steel might seem simple, but there are a number of safety procedures to
follow, along with specific steps that require the right tools to accomplish. Here are some of these
methods, and how they help repair and strengthen steel products from the Philippines.

Broken Steel
Broken steel can refer to steel that has cracked, or has completely broken off. Both pose safety and
structural hazards that can compromise the whole structure. There are a number of ways to repair
these issues, all of which provide a proper fix with the right application. Depending on the situation,
here are some effective repair methods you should try out:
Welding – The most basic form of repairing steel, welding is the simplest and most practical
approach, as the goal is to reattach broken steel sections together by welding them again. This is
also the most common form of steel repair, as it is able to provide the best solution for a number of
situations where steel damage is present. Welding is done in a mostly straightforward fashion, as the
welder only needs to use the welding tool and weld along the broken sections.
Along with welding pieces back together, another approach is to add a small steel section to
reinforce the broken or cracked section to strengthen the section even further.
Epoxy – For smaller steel sections, an effective and handy approach to repairing steel is by
using epoxy specialized in reconnecting and reinforcing broken and cracked steel sections.
The procedure is done by creating the epoxy mixture, which then leads to the application
of the epoxy into the damaged section. The final step is to polish the section with epoxy
using sandpaper, which would then be smoothened even further with a grinder.
This process works in ensuring that steel would be repaired and reinforced even without
the need to do some welding. This is a convenient and quick process that works best for
quick repairs for smaller steel parts and sections.
Corroded Steel
Along with broken steel sections, corroded steel is also a situation that poses a
number of safety hazards that would compromise your steel structure. Rust can
not only ruin the surface of your steel but it can also weaken it, leading to cracks
and broken sections that need to be repaired immediately. Rust is damage that
gets worse as time goes by which is why these repair procedures would work
best to fix your steel.
Rust removers and protective coating – Should your steel sections appear that
they are experiencing early signs of rust, it is best to act upon it as soon as
possible, and use rust removing solutions. These chemicals would be able to
remove any signs of rust on your steel section, which can then be cleaned after,
returning to its former state.
A good preventive measure that can help protect your steel sections and parts
from rust is by applying protective coatings such as rust-resistant paint or
solutions. These solutions help add an extra layer that provides extra protection
against elements that cause rust, prolonging the life of your steel parts and
sections.
Important Safety Notes
When repairing damaged and rusted steel sections, it is best to follow certain 
safety routines and procedures to make sure that no people involved would be harmed
during the repair process. Here are some important safety notes to take into mind:
Test your repair equipment beforehand – Before beginning any repair procedure, it
is important to make sure that all of the necessary equipment is working properly.
Faulty and unresponsive equipment will only cause more safety hazards that will do
more harm than good.
Wear the right gear – Along with having the right tools and equipment, it is important
to wear the proper gear before proceeding with the repair process. This would protect
your body from high temperatures or harmful substances that may cause harm.
 
Key Takeaway
Broken and corroded steel pose a high amount of hazards that would not only harm your building’s 
structural integrity but also cause more safety hazards. By following these repair processes and safety
procedures, you would be able to repair your steel structures in no time.