Q235 steel is widely used in engineering and construction. Therefore, it is important to identify the damage mechanism and the acoustic emission (AE) response of the material to ensure the safety of structures. In this study, an AE monitor system and an in situ tensile test with an optical microscope were used to investigate the AE response and insight into the damage process of Q235 steel. The surface of the specimen was polished and etched before the test in order to improve the quality of micrographs. Two kinds of AE responses, namely a burst and a continuous signal, were recorded by the AE monitor system during the test. Based on the in situ test, it was observed that the damage of Q235 steel was induced by the crystal slip and the inclusion fracture. Since the crystal slip was an ongoing process, continuous AE signals were produced, while burst AE signals were possibly produced by the inclusion fracture which occurred suddenly with released higher energy. In addition, a great number of AE signals with high amplitude were observed during the yielding stage and then the number and amplitude decreased.

This study investigates the corrosion characteristics of Q235 steel and 16Mn steel in the sulfur-containing alkaline solution. The composition and the morphology of the corrosion products were analyzed by XPS and SEM respectively. The electrochemical behavior of Q235 steel and 16Mn steel was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization curve and EIS. The results indicated that the corrosion rate of Q235 steel is greater than 16Mn steel in the early corrosion. Pitting and selective corrosion appeared on the surface of the two steels, and the surface product layer was granular and defective. XPS and EDS indicate that the structurally stable iron oxide is formed on the surface of the two steels. Electrochemical results show the corrosion kinetics of Q235 steel and 16Mn steel are simultaneously controlled by the charge transfer and ion diffusion, and the formation mechanism of corrosion products was clarified.