Thermal Elasto-Viscoplastic Damage Behavior of Structural Members in Hot-Dip Galvanization

Continuum damage mechanics is applied to the prediction of the initiation of cracks on structural members in hot-dip galvanization. The elastoviscoplastic constitutive equation considering damage, in which most material parameters are temperature-dependent, is employed in the three-dimensional finite element analysis of the structural behavior in hot-dip galvanization. The material constants concerning damage are determined by the comparison of the finite element solutions with the bending test results for the stiffened plates in molten zinc in order to consider the effect of zinc-embrittlement of the material. Numerical study is conducted for the possibility of cracking near the holes for bolts on pylon members in hot-dip galvanization.