Stability and design of stainless WF shapes in combined compression and bending

Stainless steel is characterized by a non-linear material response, which, unlike regular carbon steel, does not exhibit a typical yield plateau. This is sufficient to invalidate the classical design rules used in steel construction. This paper therefore proposes a different approach to predict the resistance of stainless steel open cross-sections. First, numerical models suited to stainless steel sections are developed and validated against experimental results. The models are then used to perform finite element simulations allowing to consider many stainless steel grades, load cases and geometries. The numerical reference results may then be used to assess the merits of a twostage approach for simple load cases: an approach based on strains for compact sections, and an approach based on local buckling curves for more slender sections. Further, an interaction equation is calibrated for combined load cases. The proposed design approach is shown economical, simple and safe, as well as being an improvement over the performance of existing approaches.

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