Fasteners are typically low cost items; however, their failures may result in catastrophic and costly consequences. A recent case of bolt failure that has received enormous media attention was associated with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the second busiest bridge in the nation. While investigations continue on the primary causes of bolt failures, corrosion was recognized as the foremost contributor. Corrosion is a naturally occurring phenomenon, the direct cost for which is a staggering $558 billion in the U.S. – approximately 3.1% of the U.S. GDP (2015). …