Corrosion is often not uniform along the length of a member and is usually confined to the middle or ends of the member. In the case of piles, corrosion may be severe above the waterline and mild or absent below. This area of ​​maximum corrosion is often further away from the sections of maximum anchorage and shear forces, but rebar may be uniform throughout the member.

Corrosion in steam generation systems causes many problems in refineries, gas plants and petrochemical plants. Corrosion in boilers is a function of the concentration of oxygen, carbon dioxide and ammonia and the way these species are controlled, and in some cases is caused by the presence of hydroxide and chloride anions or high concentrations of chelating chemicals in the boiler water.