Objective To accurately assess the ultimate strength of a hull girder, this study analyzes the elastic shakedown characteristics of hull stiffeners under cyclic loading.

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

Result The results show that the proposed method can effectively evaluate the ultimate strength of a hull girder in the elastic shakedown limit state with greater efficiency than the nonlinear finite element method.

Conclusion The application of Smith’s method for the ultimate strength of hull girders based on the elastic shakedown limit state can contribute to the accurate and efficient evaluation of the ultimate strength of hull girders.