Forms of Mechanically Assisted Degradation

Mechanically assisted degradation of metals is defined as any type of degradation that involves a corrosion mechanism and a wear or fatigue mechanism. This article provides a discussion on the mechanisms of five forms of degradation: erosion, fretting corrosion, fretting fatigue, cavitation and water drop impingement, and corrosion fatigue. It describes the factors affecting the severity of fretting corrosion. The article also illustrates the relationship between corrosion fatigue and stress-corrosion cracking.