Cables　are　always　a　critical　and　vulnerable　type　of　structural　components　in　a　long-span　cable-stayed　bridge　in　normal　operation　conditions.　This　paper　presents　the　surface　characteristics　and　mechanical　performance　of　high-strength　steel　wires　in　simulated　corrosive　conditions.　Four　stress　level　(0MPa,　300MPa,　400MPa　&　500MPa)　steel　wires　were　placed　under　nine　different　corrosive　exposure　periods　based　on　the　Salt　Spray　Test　Standards　ISO　9227:1990.　The　geometric　feathers　of　the　corroded　steel　wire　surface　were　illustrated　by　using　fractal　dimension　analysis.　The　mechanical　performance　index　including　yielding　strength,　ultimate　strength　and　elastic　modulus　at　different　periods　and　stress　levels　were　tested.　The　uniform　and　pitting　corrosion　depth　prediction　model,　strength　degradation　prediction　model　as　well　as　the　relationship　between　strength　degradation　probability　distribution　and　corrosion　crack　depth　would　be　established　in　this　study.　©　2013　SPIE.