Simulation and cross-section resistance of stainless steel SHS and RHS at elevated temperatures

This paper investigates the structural response and design of stainless steel square and rectangular hollow sections (SHS and RHS) at elevated temperatures. Finite element models able to replicate the behaviour of stainless steel SHS and RHS members at elevated temperatures are developed and verified against the results from physical experiments, which are then used to perform extensive numerical parametric studies to generate a broad range of benchmark structural performance data on the behaviour of stainless steel SHS and RHS at elevated temperatures. In total, 13860 cold-formed and hot-rolled austenitic, duplex and ferritic stainless steel SHS and RHS with a wide range of cross-section properties and subjected to various loading conditions at different elevated temperature levels are considered. A cross-section design method for stainless steel SHS and RHS under different loading conditions at elevated temperatures is proposed, considering the recent design recommendations in [1] for the local buckling assessment of stainless steel plates at elevated temperatures which will be included in the upcoming version of the European structural steel fire design standard EN 1993-1-2. Relative to the current local buckling assessment rules of EN 1993-1-2, the higher accuracy, safety and reliability of the new proposals in the estimations of the ultimate cross-section resistances of stainless steel SHS and RHS at elevated temperatures are demonstrated.