In-plane structural response and design of duplex and ferritic stainless steel welded I-section beam–columns.

In this paper, the in-plane behaviour and design of duplex and ferritic stainless steel welded I-section beam–columns fabricated through the welding of individual hot-rolled stainless steel plates are explored. Finite element models able to replicate the structural response of stainless steel I-section members are created and validated against experimental results from the literature. Using the validated finite element models, extensive numerical parametric studies are performed, the results of which are utilised to investigate the accuracy and reliability of existing design provisions for duplex and ferritic stainless steel I-section beam–columns. Scope for improvement is revealed, prompting the development of new beam–column design rules that are compatible with those provided for carbon steel members in EN 1993-1-1. The new proposals are shown to offer improved accuracy and consistency over existing design provisions for duplex and ferritic stainless steel I-section members under combined axial compression and bending, and are recommended for inclusion in the upcoming revision to EN 1993-1-4. The reliability of the proposed design rules, with a partial safety factor γ M 1 = 1. 1 , is demonstrated. • Behaviour and design of duplex and ferritic stainless steel welded I-section beam–columns are investigated. • Finite element models able to mimic the behaviour of stainless steel beam–columns are developed. • Accuracy of existing beam–column design methods is investigated. • New design rules for duplex and ferritic stainless steel welded I-section beam–columns are proposed. • Proposed beam–column design rules lead to more accurate results relative to the existing design methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]