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Abstract Structural design formulae for beam-columns require accurate end points (i.e. accurate resistance predictions for pure compression and pure bending), should be of suitable form to capture the interaction between the different components of loading and should take due account of the influence of a moment gradient along the member length. However, existing design rules for stainless steel beam-columns do not fully capture the interaction responses observed in experiments and numerical simulations, and are often tied to inaccurate end points; the adopted equivalent uniform moment factors can also be unconservative in the case of high moment gradients. As a consequence, previous comparisons of stainless steel beam-column experimental and finite element results with codified strength predictions have often revealed a rather high degree of scatter. This prompted the present research, to develop improved design proposals for stainless steel square hollow section (SHS) and rectangular hollow section (RHS) beam-columns under moment gradients. To this end, revised design approaches are proposed firstly through the derivation of more accurate design interaction curves for stainless steel SHS and RHS beam-columns under uniform bending moment and then through the employment of more suitable equivalent uniform moment factors, underpinned by and validated against over 1500 test and numerical data points. The new design approaches are shown to lead to improved (safe-sided, accurate and consistent) resistance predictions for stainless steel SHS and RHS beam-columns under moment gradients over the current codified design rules. Finally, statistical analyses are performed to demonstrate the reliability of the proposed approaches, according to the requirements specified in EN 1990. Highlights • Current codified design rules for stainless steel beam-columns under moment gradients were briefly reviewed. • Shortcomings in the existing design codes were identified, and methodologies for overcoming them were described. • Improved design approach for stainless steel beam-columns under moment gradients was proposed. • Assessment of the new proposal indicates a higher level of design accuracy and consistency. • The reliability of the new proposal has been confirmed by means of statistical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expected failure mode of T-joints between rectangular hollow sections subjected to bending moment with a ratio of the brace width (b 1) over the chord width (b 0) below 0.85 (i.e., β = b 1 / b 0 ≤ 0. 85) is the chord face failure, produced by yielding. This paper presents the development of a numerical model to reproduce this phenomenon, calibrated against experimental laboratory tests, which is then used to carry out a large parametric study, where the influence of the main geometric parameters involved in the joint resistance –the chord width (b 0), the chord thickness (t 0), the chord radius (R 0), the brace width (b 1), the brace height (h 1) and the weld thickness (a)– is assessed for two different materials: S275 carbon steel and EN 1.4301 austenitic stainless steel. The results derived from the parametric study suggested that a different yield line mechanism may develop for higher β -values (β ≥ 0. 45) than that considered in current European and American codes. Hence, a new formulation for estimating the bending resistance of T-joints exhibiting chord face failure modes is presented based on a different yield line mechanism developed in this paper. This formulation includes additional geometric parameters that are dismissed in the current formulation, such as the chord radius and the weld thickness, which are found to have a non-negligible influence on the joint resistance. Moreover, the proposed formulation is adjusted in order to be used for joints with lower β -values without losing accuracy. Additionally, the new proposed formulation is adapted for stainless steel joints by combining it with the Continuous Strength Method (CSM) formulation with promising results. Finally, the soundness and safety of the proposed formulation is statistically demonstrated. • The behaviour of T-joints between tubular members in bending is investigated. • The chord face failure mode in steel and stainless steel connections is investigated numerically. • Equations prescribed in current design provisions for tubular member joints are evaluated. • A new formulation based on an alternative yield line mechanism is proposed and assessed. • The soundness and safety of the proposed formulation is statistically demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focused on stainless steel square and rectangular hollow section (SHS and RHS) slender members loaded by a combination of compressive force and the bending moment. The study presents tests on 20 members, including initial imperfection measurements and material coupon tests. The tests take into consideration uniaxial bending to the major axis. The data obtained from the experimental study were subsequently used for validating an FE numerical model. A comprehensive numerical parametric study was carried out on all three common structural stainless steel groups: austenitic, ferritic and duplex. The cross-section slenderness and the cross-section aspect ratio (h/b), the non-dimensional member slenderness, the material stress–strain diagram (yield strength, ultimate strength, degree of non-linearity) and the ratio between the compressive force and the bending moment were set as the main parameters. Results of the numerical parametric study were compared with some of the existing procedures for stainless steel beam–column design. The main focus is on the proposal developed by Zhao et al., which is the procedure expected to be used in the new EN 1993-1-4. Although the method published by Zhao et al. has shown good prediction ability, a new design approach was proposed and its suitability demonstrated by a reliability study. The method is believed to be more general, as it uses a single formula for all grades of stainless steel, and also covers the effect of the section Class on the interaction between axial force and bending moment. • 20 tests of stainless steel SHS and RHS beam–columns were conducted. • Numerical model was created, validated and used for a numerical parametric study. • Based on the numerical data, existing design procedures were compared. • A new general stainless steel SHS/RHS beam–column design procedure was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an experimental and numerical investigation into the buckling behaviour and resistance of press-braked ferritic stainless steel slender channel section beam–columns under combined compression and minor-axis bending moment. An experimental programme was firstly performed, including material coupon tests, initial global and local geometric imperfection measurements and ten beam–column tests. The experimental programme was followed by a numerical modelling programme, where finite element models were developed and validated against the experimental results and then adopted to conduct parametric studies to generate additional numerical data. Based on the obtained test and numerical data, the existing design interaction curves, as set out in the European code, American specification and Australian/New Zealand standard, were evaluated and found to result in conservative and scattered resistance predictions. An improved design interaction curve, anchored to more accurate end points and featuring more appropriate shape, was then developed and shown to offer more accurate and consistent resistance predictions for press-braked ferritic stainless steel slender channel section beam–columns over the codified design interaction curves. Statistical analyses were also performed to confirm the reliability of the new proposal. • The behaviour of press-braked ferritic stainless steel slender channel section beam–columns was studied. • Ten beam–column tests were conducted. • FE models were developed to validate against the test results and then used to conduct parametric studies. • The codified design interaction curves were evaluated, revealing conservatism. • A new improved design interaction curve was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the second part of the study on the structural behaviour of stainless steel circular hollow sections subjected to combined axial load and bending moment. A series of numerical parametric studies is presented, using the validated finite element (FE) models from the companion paper, with the aim of generating further structural performance data over a wider range of stainless steel grades, cross-section slendernesses and combinations of loading. The considered parameters include the outer cross-section diameter, the ratio of outer cross-section diameter to thickness and the initial loading eccentricity. Both the experimentally and numerically derived section capacities were compared with the strength predictions determined from the current European code, the American specification and the Australian/New Zealand standard, allowing the applicability of each codified method to be assessed. The comparisons revealed that the current design standards generally result in unduly conservative and scattered strength predictions for stainless steel circular hollow sections under combined loading, which can be primarily attributed to the neglect of strain hardening in the determination of cross-section resistances and to the use of linear interaction formulae. To overcome these shortcomings, improved design rules are proposed through extension of the deformation-based continuous strength method (CSM) to the case of circular hollow sections subjected to combined loading. Comparisons between the proposals and the test and FE results indicate a high level of accuracy and consistency in the predictions. The reliability of the proposed approach was confirmed by means of statistical analyses according to EN 1990. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation into the structural performance of stainless steel circular hollow sections (CHS) under combined compression and bending moment has been performed and is fully reported in the present paper and its companion paper. The experimental programme employed four CHS sizes made of austenitic stainless steel, and included material tensile coupon tests, four stub column tests and twenty combined loading tests. The initial loading eccentricities for the combined loading tests were varied to provide a wide range of bending moment-to-axial load ratios. In conjunction with the testing programme, a numerical modelling programme was performed to simulate the experiments. The developed FE models were shown to be capable of replicating the key test results, full experimental curves including the post-ultimate range and deformed failure modes. Upon validation of the FE models, a series of parametric studies were conducted in the companion paper, aiming at extending the current test data pool over a range of cross-section sizes and combinations of loading. The experimental data, together with the generated parametric study results, were analysed and employed to evaluate the applicability of the codified provisions given in the European code, American specification and Australia/New Zealand standard for design of CHS under combined loading. Improved design rules were also sought through extension of the deformation-based continuous strength method (CSM) to the case of stainless steel CHS under combined loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of initial dent depth on the response of pipes subjected to cyclic bending loads with relatively large magnitudes is investigated experimentally. The initiation and propagation of the resulting cracks in the damaged region of the pipe are found to cause fatigue failure, augmented by the progressive accumulation of the cross-section ovalization during the cyclic loading. The empirical formula proposed by Kyriakides and Shaw [1] is modified based on the experimental results, in order to predict the number of cycles causing the local instability of pipe's cross-section. Moreover, it is shown that the experimental curve of the ovalization and the number of cycles necessary to produce buckling can be divided into three stages: initial, secondary and tertiary stages. Finally, an empirical equation, similar to the Bailey–Norton creep relationship, is proposed for simulating the initial and secondary stages of the aforementioned curve. The results produced by the proposed empirical relationship are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental and numerical studies on hot-rolled stainless steel channel sections subjected to combined compression and minor-axis bending moment have been conducted and are fully reported in the present paper. The testing programme included initial local geometric imperfection measurements and ten minor-axis eccentric compression (combined loading) tests. The numerical modelling programme comprised a validation study, where finite element models were developed and validated against the test results, and a series of parametric studies, where the developed finite element models were adopted to generate further numerical data over a wide range of cross-section dimensions and loading combinations. The experimentally and numerically obtained data were used to assess the accuracy of the design interaction curves for hot-rolled stainless steel channel sections under minor-axis combined loading, as given in the European code and American specification. The assessment results generally reveal that the design interaction curves provided in the main body of the two design codes lead to unduly conservative and scattered failure load predictions, mainly owing to the conservative end points (i.e. the cross-section compression and bending resistances), which are calculated without considering material strain hardening. The appendix of each design code also provides an alternative method that uses the continuous strength method to account for material strain hardening in calculating the end points of the design interaction curve, and is shown to result in much more accurate and consistent predictions of failure load for hot-rolled stainless steel channel sections under combined compression and minor-axis bending moment. • The behaviour of hot-rolled stainless steel channel sections under minor-axis combined loading is studied. • Ten eccentric compression tests on hot-rolled stainless steel channel section stub columns are conducted. • FE models are developed and validated against the test results and then used to conduct parametric studies. • The codified design interaction curves are assessed, indicating conservatism. • The CSM-based codified design interaction curves are shown to yield higher accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural fire response of slender austenitic stainless steel I-sections in weak-axis flexure is studied experimentally for the first time. The presented experimental programme comprised local geometric imperfection measurements for all the test beams, room temperature material tests, a reference room temperature weak-axis bending test and a series of elevated temperature weak-axis bending tests. The experimental setup, procedure and measured responses of the test specimens are fully described. The results demonstrate that, despite the studied cross-section being slender, considerable inelastic strength reserves were displayed. Such behaviour has previously been observed in steel I-sections in weak-axis flexure at room temperature. The test results are used to assess the accuracy of existing fire design provisions in predicting the weak-axis bending moment resistances of slender stainless steel I-sections. Significantly improved capacity predictions were achieved through the application of a plastic effective width method in which the beneficial influence of the partial spread of plasticity is captured. • Inelastic behaviour of slender stainless steel I-sections in weak-axis flexure in fire is studied. • A series of elevated temperature weak-axis bending tests are carried out. • A reference room temperature weak-axis bending test is also described. • Existing fire design provisions are assessed against fire test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper investigated the bending strength of girth-welded stainless steel circular hollow sections by numerical method. At first, finite element simulation of girth welding process was carried out to obtain the weld-induced residual stresses and deformations employing sequentially coupled three-dimensional thermo-mechanical finite element formulation. Then, nonlinear finite element analysis in which the moment versus end-rotation response, the ultimate moment resistance and the failure mode of the girth-welded circular hollow sections under pure bending were explored incorporating the residual stresses and depressions along with the initial global geometric imperfections was performed. Feasibility of adopting the current codified provisions (Eurocode 3) for stainless steel circular hollow sections in bending as the cross-section slenderness limit for girth-welded stainless steel circular hollow section flexural members was also examined. Results showed that the flexural behavior of girth-welded stainless steel circular hollow sections always involves local buckling near the girth weld on the compression side, which significantly affects the moment versus end-rotation behavior. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the Class 3 slenderness limit of 280 from Eurocode 3 for stainless steel circular hollow sections in flexure may be applied to girth-welded stainless steel circular hollow sections subjected to bending. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The global buckling behaviour of hot-rolled stainless steel channel section beam–columns under combined compression and minor-axis bending moment has been studied based on testing and numerical modelling and reported in this paper. A testing programme was conducted on ten hot-rolled austenitic stainless steel channel section beam–columns, with five buckling towards webs and the other five buckling towards flange tips. This was followed by a numerical modelling programme, in which finite element models were firstly developed and validated against the test results and then used to perform parametric studies to generate further numerical data over a wide range of cross-section dimensions, member effective lengths and loading combinations. The test and numerical results were adopted to assess the current design interaction curves given in the European code and American guide, both of which were found to result in inaccurate and scattered failure load predictions. The inaccuracy of the codified design interaction curves stems from the inaccurate end points (i.e. the member resistances under pure compression and pure bending) and the inappropriate shape. To address these shortcomings, a new design interaction curve was developed firstly through the adoption of more accurate end points and secondly through the derivation of a more proper shape. The proposed design interaction curve was shown to yield accurate and consistent failure load predictions for hot-rolled stainless steel channel section beam–columns. The reliability of the new proposal was also confirmed by means of statistical analyses. • The buckling behaviour of hot-rolled stainless steel channel section beam–columns is studied. • Ten beam–column tests were conducted. • FE models were firstly developed and validated against the test results and then adopted to perform parametric studies. • The codified design interaction curves were assessed, indicating inaccuracy. • A new design interaction curves was proposed, with the accuracy and reliability demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an in-depth experimental and numerical investigation into the behaviour and resistances of press-braked stainless steel channel sections under combined compression and bending moment about the minor principal axis. The experimental programme adopted two press-braked stainless steel channel sections and included initial local geometric imperfection measurements and ten eccentrically loaded stub column tests. The loading eccentricity was varied to achieve a range of ratios of compression load to minor-axis bending moment. Two types of failure mode, namely 'C'-orientation failure (indicating that failure specimens bent towards the web) and 'reverse C'-orientation failure (signifying that failure specimens bent towards the flange tips), were observed upon testing. The experimental programme was followed by a numerical modelling programme; finite element models were developed and validated against the test results and then adopted to perform parametric studies to generate further numerical data over a wide range of cross-section dimensions and initial loading eccentricities. The obtained test and numerical data were then adopted to assess the accuracy of the current codified design rules for press-braked stainless steel channel sections under combined compression and minor-axis bending, as given in the European code, American specification and Australian/New Zealand standard. The assessment results revealed that the codified design rules yield excessively conservative and scattered resistance predictions, owing to the neglect of the favourable material strain hardening of stainless steel and the beneficial stress redistribution within channel sections under combined loading. Improved design rules featuring more efficient interaction curves, anchored to more accurate end points (i.e. cross-section resistances under pure compression and pure bending), were then proposed. The new design proposals were shown to yield more accurate and consistent resistance predictions over the existing design rules. Statistical analyses were also conducted to confirm the reliability of the new design proposals. • The behaviour of press-braked stainless steel channel sections under minor-axis combined loading was studied. • Ten eccentrically loaded stub column tests were carried out about the minor principal axis. • FE models were developed and validated against the test results and then used to conduct parametric studies. • The codified design interaction curves were assessed based on the test and FE data, indicating inaccuracy. • New design interaction curves were proposed and shown to substantially improve the resistance predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reports an in-depth testing and numerical modelling programme, to study the post-fire local buckling behaviour and residual resistances of austenitic stainless steel circular hollow section (CHS) stub columns under combined compression and bending moment. The testing programme employed twelve austenitic stainless steel CHS stub column specimens and included heating and cooling of the stub column specimens, post-fire material testing and post-fire combined loading tests. The testing programme was followed by a numerical modelling programme, where finite element models were developed and validated against the test results and then employed to perform parametric studies to generate additional numerical data. It is worth noting that there are currently no design standards established specifically for stainless steel structures after exposure to fire. In this study, the relevant design rules (i.e. cross-section interaction curves) for stainless steel CHS under combined loading at ambient temperature, as set out in the European, American and Australian/New Zealand standards and given in the continuous strength method, were assessed for their applicability to austenitic stainless steel CHS under combined loading after exposure to fire, based on the obtained test and numerical data. The results of the assessments revealed that all the codified design cross-section interaction curves have certain shortcomings, including the lack of rational exploitation of material strain hardening and the use of linear interaction, and thus yield excessively high degrees of conservatism and scatter when used for austenitic stainless steel CHS under combined loading after exposure to fire. The continuous strength method was shown to lead to accurate and consistent post-fire residual resistance predictions for austenitic stainless steel CHS under combined loading, due principally to the rational consideration of material strain hardening. Finally, the reliability of the continuous strength method was confirmed by means of statistical analyses. • The post-fire local buckling behaviour of stainless steel CHS under combined loading was investigated. • A total of twelve post-fire combined loading tests were conducted. • FE models were developed and validated against the test results and then used to perform parametric studies. • The applicability of the codified and CSM design cross-section interaction curves was assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an in-depth experimental and numerical investigation into the behaviour of laser-welded stainless steel channel sections under combined compression and bending moment about the major axis. Two laser-welded austenitic stainless steel plain channel sections were considered in the experimental investigation, and for each channel section, four eccentrically loaded stub column tests were conducted under various initial loading eccentricities. The experimental results were then adopted in a numerical investigation for the validation of finite element models, by means of which parametric studies were conducted to generate further structural performance data over a wider range of cross-section sizes and initial loading eccentricities. Both the obtained experimental and numerical results were carefully analysed and then used to evaluate the accuracy of the current codified design rules for welded stainless steel channel sections under combined compression and major axis bending. The evaluation results generally revealed that the codified design rules yield excessively conservative and scattered resistance predictions, owing to the neglect of the favourable material strain hardening of stainless steel and the beneficial stress redistribution within channel sections under combined loading. An improved design approach has been proposed through extension of the deformation-based continuous strength method (CSM) to the case of laser-welded stainless steel channel sections under combined compression and major axis bending. Quantitative evaluation of the new design approach was made through comparing the predicted resistances against the experimental and numerical failure loads, with the results revealing that the new design approach yields a much higher level of design accuracy and consistency than the current codified design rules. Finally, statistical analyses have been conducted to confirm the reliability of the new design approach according to EN 1990. • The local buckling behaviour of stainless steel channel sections under major axis combined loading was studied. • An experimental programme, including 8 eccentrically loaded stub column tests, was carried out. • FE models were developed and validate against the test results, and then used to conduct parametric studies. • The relevant design provisions in EN 1993-1-4 and AISC 27 were assessed, indicating conservatism. • A new CSM-based design approach has been developed, and shown to yield a high level of accuracy and consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Austenitic stainless steels offer a suitable combination of high ductility, adequate toughness, considerable strain hardening and good fire resistance, making them excellent construction materials, especially for structures subjected to accidental loading such as seismic and/or fire events. With most of the research over the recent years devoted to the behaviour of single isolated stainless steel members, advances on structural systems are scarce, yet necessary, for the further development of design codes. Hence, an extensive experimental programme on EN 1.4301 austenitic stainless steel frames including tests at different structural levels –material, cross-section, member and frame levels– has been carried out at the Laboratory of Technology of Structures and Materials at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The companion paper presents the tests carried out at cross-section and member level, and the knowledge gained from the planning of the experimental set-up for frame tests, including the adopted loading schemes, auxiliary elements and instrumentation. This paper presents the results of the four tests conducted on austenitic stainless steel frames under static vertical and horizontal loading. The analysis of the test results allowed to investigate the interaction of material and geometrical nonlinearities experimentally, as well as the assessment of the EN 1993-1-4 and EN 1993-1-1 provisions for the global analysis of stainless steel frames, where the influence of material nonlinearity on second order effects is evaluated, and which is currently limited to numerical studies only. • Results on four austenitic stainless steel frame tests are presented. • Evolution of load and moment reactions at column supports is presented. • Influence of material nonlinearity on second order effects is investigated. • Bending moment amplification due to second order effects is assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]