Shear strength reduction of trapezoidal corrugated steel plates with artificial corrosion pits

To investigate the ultimate shear strength reduction of trapezoidal corrugated steel plates (TCSPs) under corrosive condition, TCSPs with artificial corrosion pits (ACP) were taken as the research objects, and nonlinear shear buckling analysis was conducted by numerical simulation and experimental verification based on finite element method (FEM). The formula of the ultimate shear strength reduction coefficient η is proposed using the typical parameters influencing ACP, including ACP range Rr, ACP depth Rd, and equivalent corrosion rate γ. Fifteen specimens were designed with different ACP parameters, including Rr, Rd, and ACP diameter dp, and the shear buckling load test of TCSPs was performed. Results show that the distribution pattern of ACP has no effect on the shear strength of TCSPs, and the error between random distribution and array distribution is less than 1.5%. The ultimate shear strength reduction of TCSPs is related to Rr, Rd, and γ. The influence of ACP parameters on the shear strength of TCSPs is similar in different initial geometric defect modes. The proposed formula for calculating the strength reduction of TCSPs is in good agreement with the FEM and experiment results.