Objective To accurately assess the ultimate strength of hull girder, the elastic shakedown characteristics of hull stiffeners under cyclic loading are considered.

Methods Based on the results of nonlinear finite element numerical simulation, the average stress- average strain relationship of the stiffened plate element in the Rahman’s Beam-Column Method is corrected with full consideration of the elastic shakedown state, the type of stiffened plate and the failure mode. A correction method applicable to the average stress-average strain relationship of the stiffened plate in the elastic shakedown limit state is proposed, and a program for the Smith method of ultimate strength of hull girders based on the elastic shakedown limit state is compiled and compared with the results of nonlinear finite element numerical simulations.

Result The results show that the proposed method can effectively evaluate the ultimate strength of hull girder under elastic shakedown limit state, and it is more efficient than the nonlinear finite element method.

Conclusion The Smith method for the ultimate strength of hull girders based on the elastic shakedown limit state contributes to accurate and efficient evaluate the ultimate strength of hull girders.