Computation of Ultimate Compressive Strength of Plate with Two-Side Randomly Distributed Corrosion Wastage

Over the past decades there have been many losses of the merchant vessels due to either accidents or exposure to large environmentally induced forces . The potential for the structural capability degrading effects of both corrosion and fatigue induced cracks are of profound importance and must be both fully understood and reflected in vessel's inspection and maintenance programme. The present study is focused on the ultimate strength characteristics of plates with uniform corrosion wastage under axial compressive loads. Numerical collapse simulations are performed on the steel plates, applying a series of ANSYS non-linear finite element analyses on such plates under axial compressive loads. Both material and geometric nonlinearities are taken in to account . In order to capture post buckling and strength characteristics of the plates, the thickness is changed systematically from 10 mm to 20 mm and years of exposure is changed from 5 to 20 by 5 years offset. Some different randomly distributions of thickness wastage are considered. To simulate plate initial out – of- plane imperfection, the hungry – horse mode was used . Buckling post-buckling , ultimate strength characteristics of the plates are investigated in details. The insights developed will be very useful for the damage – tolerant design of plated structures with corrosion damage