Testing and Numerical Modelling of Austenitic Stainless Steel CHS Beam-columns

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive experimental and numerical study of the global stability of stainless steel CHS beam-columns. The experimental investigation included material coupon tests, initial geometric measurements, two column tests, and ten beam-column tests. The test results were employed in a parallel numerical simulation programme for the validation of finite element models, by means of which a series of parametric studies were carried out to generate further structural performance data. The experimentally and numerically derived data were used to assess the accuracy of the current design provisions given in the European code, American specification, Australian/New Zealand standard, and other recent proposed approaches. Generally, all the existing design methods were shown to yield a high degree of scatter in the prediction of beam-column strengths, with both conservative and over-predicted capacities. The scatter was attributed mainly to inaccurate predictions of the column buckling and bending end points of the design beam-column interaction curves and inaccurate interaction factors.