The effect of specimen size, shape, and orientation on dry deposition to galvanized steel surfaces

Abstract

Galvanized steel specimens varying in size, shape, orientation angle and previous exposure history (weathered specimens) were exposed at Research Triangle Park, NC, in the absence of natural precipitation. The soluble corrosion products were assumed to represent the effects of dry deposition of airborne substances. The statistical analysis of their variability in relation to atmospheric conditions suggested that these substances included sulfur dioxide, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and calcium (presumably from coarse particles). The specimen characteristic most influencing inferred dry deposition was previous exposure history. Deposition of gases depended on surface condition (wetness), wind speed, temperature, and to a lesser extent, orientation angle. Deposition of particles depended on orientation angle. Loss of soluble zinc from specimens varied with specimen size to the −0.2 power, even though Reynolds numbers based on average wind speeds and specimen length were well below those classically expected to produce turbulent flow.