Reliability analysis of stainless steel CHS columns exposed to flexural buckling.

In accordance with several studies, structural resistance of stainless steel members determined by utilizing flexural buckling curves for estimation of ultimate limit state, as proposed by current European standard, does not fulfill the required safety level of failure probability for some material grades and cross-sectional geometries. Several design provisions have been already recommended. The goal of this study is to verify and optimize certain provision suitable for analysis of circular hollow cross-section (CHS) members of various geometries and several stainless steel material grades. Numerical finite element simulations along with the first order reliability method (FORM) have been conducted utilizing the statistical values of input parameters (material, geometrical and initial imperfections) based on recent statistical research published in literature. The proposed design provisions of buckling curves are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]