The nonlinear analysis of ship plating with flat bar stiffners has been carried out by the finite element method based on the load incremental approach. The large deflection analysis has been done by using the Lagrangian description. The elastoplastic analysis has been performed by adopting the flow theory of plasticity and the von Mises yield condition. The layered elements are used to show the process of yielding through the plate thickness in the elasto-plastic analysis. The following results are obtained; 1) According to the large deflection analysis, it is shown that the small deflection theory to the plate is applicable in the range of the lateral deflection-the thickness ratio $w/h{leqq}0.3$ and ship plating in the range of $w/h{leqq}0.5$. 2) By means of the elasto-plastic analysis, it is found that the maximum load-carrying capacity of the plate increases as much as 1.8 times of the initial yield load in the case of the simply supported condition and 2.2 times in the clamped condition. It is also shown that the maximum load-carrying capacity of ship plating increase as much as 4.3 times in the simply supported condition and 4.2 times in the clamped condition. This method would be applied and extended to solve combined nonlinear problems which involve both material nonlinearity and geometric nonlinearity.