Fuzzy Logic as a Powerful Tool to Predict Corrosion

(1) Corrosion in very simple terms, can be defined as the degradation process of materials, mainly metals that will lead into the loss of their mechanical integrity and strength. The immediate result of losing mechanical integrity in structures such as pipelines, for instance, can be the leakage of the fluid inside the pipe. This can have significant adverse effects on health, safety and environment. (2) Fuzzy logics can be defined as a measuring tool for the probability of uncertainty. In other words, fuzzy logics can make it possible to predict the behaviour of systems for which binary logics fail. About 350,000 research papers with the key word “Fuzzy” have been published. Fuzzy logics and calculus, despite its relatively short life of about 40 years, have been used in a wide range of applications from weather-forecasting to white appliances. Using fuzzy logics in such applications will brand them as “smart” because of great flexibilities it gives to such appliances to deal with changes in the environment (such as change of temperature in a room for a smart air condition device or change of shades and colours for a smart camera). (3) By considering important environmental parameters, a fuzzy algorithm can be developed. The fuzzy logic approach is able to calculate the risk of corrosion with more accuracy because it has more flexibility to calculate more possibilities with acceptable probabilities for a complex system like systems in which corrosion takes place. In this chapter, after a very brief review of corrosion and its importance, the reasons why Fuzzy calculus is the best way to tackle corrosion are explained. In addition, an example of a Fuzzy approach towards a corrosion problem is also given as a general guideline that can assist model-makers. Moreover, the steps to be taken to construct a Fuzzy model for corrosion studies are also discussed.