What Does
Lateral Loading Mean?
Lateral loading is the continuous and repeated application of a load on an object or structural component in a horizontal direction or parallel to the x-axis. Lateral loading can cause a material to shear or bend in the direction of the force and ultimately lead to the failure of the material.
Corrosionpedia Explains Lateral Loading
Lateral loading causes materials to deteriorate due to shearing. Therefore, the shearing effect on the material is appropriately defined as the force that tends to slide the material along a plane that is parallel to the direction of lateral force or lateral loading, resulting in the weakening of the material.
A material experiencing lateral loading and exposed to a corrosive environment may result in a corrosion failure. The corrosion process begins by weakening the protective top layers, and the repeated horizontal forces, pressures (e.g., due to wind, earthquake, etc.) and strain acting on the material increases the corrosion rate.