Experimental evaluation of shear buckling behaviors and strength of locally corroded web

In this study, shear loading tests on plate girder specimens were conducted to evaluate the shear behaviors of locally corroded web panels, including their critical shear buckling loads and shear strengths. The shear failure modes were also examined with regard to the corrosion damage in the web panels. For the shear loading tests, a total of five plate girder specimens were fabricated to consider different corrosion heights and mean corrosion depths of a corroded web based on the corrosion pattern of the web of a plate girder bridge. The critical shear buckling loads and shear buckling strengths recorded in the shear loading tests were evaluated and compared with design specifications. From the test results, the steel plate girder with a corroded panel was observed to have a larger shear failure region (tensile field band) than that with the un-corroded web panel, with the failure region of the former moving in the direction of the lower web panel. The shear buckling strength of the former decreased by up to 10% over that of the latter owing to the decrease in the shear resistance as a result of the decreased web thickness.

► Shear buckling loading tests on the locally corroded web girders. ► Examination of shear buckling behaviors of locally corroded web girders. ► Shear buckling value comparisons with design specifications.