Experimental studies of press-braked ferritic stainless steel channel sections under combined loading

Abstract

Stainless steel has been widely used in structural applications, owing to its high strength, high stiffness and good corrosion resistance. Given that there are no research for press-braked ferritic stainless steel channel sections under combined loading, a comprehensive experimental programme, including initial local geometric imperfection measurements, 10 minor-axis eccentric compression tests and 10 major-axis eccentric compression tests, was conducted to study the cross-section behaviour and resistance of press-braked ferritic stainless steel slender channel sections under combined loading. The test results, including the load-mid-height lateral deflection curves, failure loads and deformed failure modes, were reported and then used to assess the accuracy and consistency of the current design interaction curve, as given in the European code. The assessment results reveal that the European code leads to conservative and scattered resistance predictions for press-braked ferritic stainless steel slender channel sections under combined loading, owing to the conservative end points and inefficient shape.