Re: Lack of long term investment in decaying infrastructure?
There is such a thing as corrosion fracture. This is where corrosion causes pits in the metal surface, and those defects form the focal points of cracks. This then reduces the metal fatigue rating of the structure. I imagine that the supporting cables for the telescope are subject to considerable varying forces, due to the effects of wind. The rust retarding products I have looked into, such as grease, have a limited lifetime. The product I worked on only needed three year's working life, and a single application of rust retarding grease provided that.
If the cables are stainless steel, then maybe corrosion is not the problem. It could just be metal fatigue.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
