Deformation behaviour of corroded plates subjected to blast loading

Numerical results for simply supported rectangular steel plates subjected to blast loading are presented. The effects of geometric and material non-linearities are considered. Finite element analysis with ABAQUS software is used to determine the deformation of corroded plates subjected to blast loads. The results for the cases of triangular pulse pressure representative of gas explosion overpressure on unstiffened plates are validated using published data. Thorough parametric studies are performed to study the effects of influential parameters, including aspect ratio of plates, degree of pitting and corrosion patterns. The results show that a reduction in the dynamic load carrying capacity of 8% can occur due to corrosion in plates with 50% degree of pitting. Also it is shown that the mid-point deflection increases with an increase in the applied impulse, and degree of pitting, however, decreases with increasing plate aspect ratio. Corrosion pattern has significant effect on reduction of load carrying capacity. Maximum reduction occurs when pits are concentrated at the centre of plate. The region between core diameter and the edges of the plate is less dangerous.