Pitting　corrosion　is　a　local　and　severe　form　of　corrosion,　resulting　in　degradation　of　the　mechanical　properties　for　structural　members　and　security　risks　for　the　whole　structures　caused　by　sudden　accident.　A　simplified　analytical　method　for　the　quantitative　evaluation　of　the　mechanical　properties　of　steel　members　with　pitting　corrosion　resistance　was　proposed　by　equivalent　elastic　modulus.　Based　on　experimental　data,　an　analytical　method　was　proposed　to　calculate　the　mechanical　properties　of　members　with　pitting　corrosion.　In　this　method,　some　assumptions　about　the　pitting　depth,　diameter　and　distribution　were　put　forward.　Considering　the　influence　of　the　coating　life,　the　relationship　of　corrosion　status　between　in　laboratory　and　in　ocean　atmosphere　was　established　according　to　the　same　corrosion　rate.　Based　on　axial　compression　FEM　model,　the　equivalent　elastic　modulus　of　structural　members　with　pitting　corrosion　was　obtained.　Through　curve　fitting,　practical　method　was　proposed　to　obtain　the　mechanical　properties　of　members　in　ocean　atmosphere.　A　numerical　example　demonstrated　the　validity　of　the　proposed　method　using　equivalent　elastic　modulus　to　analyze　the　mechanical　properties　of　pitting　corrosion　members.　The　calculated　results　indicate　that,　with　the　same　corrosion　rate,　the　equivalent　elastic　modulus　of　pitting　corrosion　members　is　lower　than　that　of　uniform　corrosion　members.　©　2016,　Editorial　Board　of　Journal　of　Harbin　Institute　of　Technology.　All　right　reserved.