Behavior of Stainless-Steel Hot-Rolled Channel Section Beam-Columns: Testing, Modeling, and Design

This paper presents a testing and numerical modeling program on the global stability and resistance of stainless steel hot-rolled channel section beam-columns under combined compression and minor-axis bending. The testing program comprised material tests, imperfection measurements, and 18 beam-column tests. Following the testing program, systematic numerical simulations were conducted; finite-element models were developed to simulate the test observations and conduct parametric studies to obtain more numerical data. The obtained experimental and numerical results were analyzed and used to perform a design analysis, in which the accuracy of interaction curves prescribed in the US and European design codes for stainless steel hot-rolled channel section beam-columns was assessed comprehensively. The results of the design analysis generally revealed that both the US and European interaction curves yield unduly inaccurate and scattered resistance predictions due to the use of inappropriate curve shape and inaccurate end points. A new design interaction formula is proposed using a more appropriate curve shape and more-accurate end points. The new interaction curve was shown to be capable of offering greatly improved design accuracy and consistency compared with the US and European curves.