In-Depth Investigation of Web Corrosion’s Influence on Bearing and Shear Capacity in Steel Girders

Corrosion at steel girder ends is caused by deicing salts, water, and other environmental debris, leading to a loss of cross-sectional area and a reduction in structural resistance against shear and bearing. This study investigates the effect of corrosion-induced section loss on the residual strength of steel girders through full-scale experimental testing. Six girders with different end configurations, including unstiffened, partially stiffened, and fully stiffened ends, were tested to evaluate failure mechanisms and strength reduction. Observed failure modes included shear buckling, web local crippling, and shear rupture, with web local crippling found to be more sensitive to section loss, particularly in girders without full-depth stiffeners. Residual strength estimates for unstiffened girders aligned well with equations proposed by prior research, developed through parametric studies that considered individual corrosion parameters. In contrast, current methods for estimating shear strength reduction remain limited, demonstrated through the comparison of experimental results with current methods. Girders with partial-depth transverse connection plates exhibited enhanced resistance to web local crippling. These results underscore the importance of girder end configuration and corrosion characteristics in evaluating residual strength and highlight the need for improved methods that account for detailed corrosion topology and end restraint conditions.