Experimental study on residual stresses in cold rolled austenitic stainless steel hollow sections

Abstract

This paper focuses on the residual stresses in cold rolled austenitic stainless steel hollow sections. A series of residual stresses tests were carried out. Eight cross sections were tested, including four rectangular hollow sections and four circular hollow sections. The fabrication route of the test specimens was measured and introduced. Sectioning method modified with T rosettes strain gauges was used to reveal the residual stresses, including the longitudinal and transverse bending and membrane residual stresses. Totally, residual stresses of 160 points were recorded. Plane stress condition assumption was used in processing the residual strains. Test results indicate that the dominated residual stress was the longitudinal bending residual stress for RHS, and longitudinal and transverse bending residual stress for CHS. The magnitudes of all the other types of residual stress were less than 50 MPa. Residual stress distribution models were proposed based on the test data, and compared with test data available in literatures. Comparisons show the residual stresses in cold formed section highly depend on manufacturing processes and material types.