Numerical study on remaining strength prediction of corroded Steel bridge plates

Corrosion causes strength deterioration of aged ste el infrastructures and hence careful evaluation of their remaining load-carrying capacities are of high importance in maintenance engineering. To develop a more reliable str ngth estimation technique, only experimental approach is not enough as actual corroded surfaces are differe nt f om each other. However in modern practices, numerical simul ation is being used to replace the time-consuming a nd expensive experimental work and to comprehend on the lack of n wledge of mechanical behavior, stress distributi on, ultimate behavior and so on. Therefore, using of numerical a n ysis method will give important knowledge not on ly for strength estimation but also for subsequent repair and retro fitting plan. The results of non-linear FEM analysi s of many actual corroded plates with different corrosion conditions and comparison of them with the respective tensile coupon tests results are presented in this paper. Further, the f easibility of establishing of an analytical methodo logy to predict the residual strength capacities of a corroded steel me mber with fewer number of measuring points are also di cussed.