Modeling pitting corrosion in stainless steels: A comprehensive review

Pitting corrosion is a highly localized and aggressive degradation process that threatens the long-term reliability of stainless steels in service. Although pitting corrosion modeling has been reviewed previously, the rapid development of advanced numerical methods in recent years calls for an updated and comprehensive perspective. This work presents a chronological and critical analysis of the evolution of pitting corrosion models, ranging from early stochastic descriptions to recent multiphysics and mesh-free frameworks. Level-set, arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian, and phase-field formulations are examined in detail, along with stochastic and hybrid models. Emphasis is placed on the mathematical formulation, physical assumptions, and predictive capabilities of each method. Recent advancements, including peridynamics, flow-coupled models, and microstructure-sensitive approaches, are discussed in the context of their ability to capture complex morphological evolution and multi-pit interactions. Beyond presenting a state-of-the-art overview, this review notes the value of revisiting past frameworks in a structured chronological way. Understanding the trajectory of model development is crucial not only for recognizing methodological progress but also for avoiding the repetition of earlier limitations. By consolidating advances across multiple generations of models, this work provides both a reference point for current research and a perspective to guide future directions in the predictive simulation of localized corrosion.