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Abstract: This work deals with the evaluation of the ultimate bending moment of a severely corroded box girder subjected to uniform vertical bending moment through a series of nonlinear finite element analysis. Two models of corrosion degradation have been adopted, one is an average general corrosion thickness reduction, and the other is the real thickness of the corroded plates. New stress–strain relations have been developed to account for the effect of corrosion on the flexural rigidity. To validate the new developed stress–strain relationships, a comparison between the finite element analysis results using the existing stress–strain models, the newly developed ones and the experimental test results of a severely corroded box girder have been conducted. The comparison showed a good agreement and supported the choice of the newly developed stress–strain relationships of corroded structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to analyse the ultimate strength of ageing ship structures based on experimental and numerical assessments. Three experimental ultimate strength tests have been carried out on box girders under vertical bending moment and several effects have been detected due to corrosion. Extensive nonlinear finite element analyses have been performed to compare the numerical and experimental results. The ultimate bending moment of corroded box girders has been compared with existing formulas. A relationship to calculate the equivalent tangent modulus as a function of the total reduction of the cross-sectional area due to corrosion degradation has been proposed. A new stress–strain relationship has been developed, taking into account the residual stresses and the corrosion effect, which may be directly used as a master stress–strain curve for a non-linear finite element analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]