Numerical study and design of S35657 stainless steel welded stub columns

• Published in: Journal of constructional steel research 2024-03, Vol.214, p.108473, Article 108473
• Main Authors: Duan, Shengjie, Fan, Shenggang, Shu, Ganping, Jiang, Laizhu, Tong, Jingzhong, Wu, Yiwen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Axial compression; Local buckling; S35657 stainless steel; Stub column; Welded box-section; Welded I-section
• ISSN: 0143-974X; 1873-5983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcsr.2024.108473

As a new type of austenitic stainless steel with high nitrogen and low nickel, S35657 stainless steel has the characteristics of high strength and low price, and it has a good application prospect in the field of construction. To supplement the relevant research on S35657 stainless steel structures and to evaluate the applicability of existing specifications and design methods, a finite element model was established using ABAQUS software and calibrated using existing test results. Furthermore, a series of parametric analyses were carried out, focusing on the effects of width-to-thickness ratio, initial geometric imperfection, and welding residual stress on the local buckling of S35657 stainless steel welded section columns. On this basis, the critical width-to-thickness ratio limit of the compression plate was proposed. Finally, the test results and the simulation results were compared with the calculation results of load-carrying capacities for local buckling in the European code (EN1993-1-4), the American code (SEI/ASCE8–02), the Chinese specification (CECS410:2015), the direct strength method (DSM) and the continuous strength method (CSM). Based on the effective width method and DSM, two new approaches to calculate the load-carrying capacity for local buckling were proposed and demonstrated to obtain reasonable accuracy. •Accurate finite element models were established considering residual stress and defect.•The impacts of different parameters on the local buckling capacity were explored.•The applicability of the current stainless steel design codes for S35657 was evaluated.•Based on the effective width method and the DSM, the corresponding design methods were proposed.