Perforation Corrosion Performance of Various Materials Using Mini-Door Test Specimens Correlated With Vehicle Road and Laboratory Test Results

The mini-door design was evaluated as a way to minimize typical testing shortcomings. Due to size and configuration, many types of materials can be realistically tested under similar conditions (processing and testing) in a shorter time span and at lesser cost, compared to using full-size door panels or vehicles. The mini-door configuration was evaluated by Proving Ground road and laboratory tests. The matrix results include a “statistical rank ordering/grouping” of the materials from several tests, along with correlation to other road and laboratory tests. The use of the mini-door as a material development and testing tool dramatically reduces typical testing shortcomings (i.e., time, correlation, cost, statistical validity, test sample size restrictions, etc.).