Flexural buckling behaviour and design of duplex and ferritic stainless steel I-section columns

Abstract

In this paper, the flexural buckling behaviour and design of duplex and ferritic stainless steel I-section columns fabricated through the welding of individual hot-rolled stainless steel plates are investigated. Finite element models able to mimic the structural response of stainless steel I-section columns are developed and validated against experimental results from the literature. Employing the validated finite element models, extensive numerical parametric studies are performed for the purpose of comprehensively assessing the behaviour of duplex and ferritic stainless steel I-section columns, considering various member slendernesses and cross-section proportions. The accuracy, safety and applicability of the existing column design provisions provided in the European, North American and Australian & New Zellandian structural stainless steel design standards and guides, some of which are only recommended for the design of cold-formed stainless steel columns, are assessed for the design of welded duplex and ferritic stainless steel I-section columns. Modifications to the column design method given in the current European structural stainless steel design standard EN 1993-1-4 are proposed. The higher accuracy of the modified column design method of EN 1993-1-4 relative to the column design methods in the existing structural stainless steel design standards and guides is illustrated in addition to its safety and high level of reliability.