Structural behaviour of stainless steel stub column under axial compression: a FE study

This paper presents a Finite Element (FE) study on Lean Duplex Stainless Steel stub column with built-up sections subjected to pure axial compression with column web spacing varied at different position across the column flanges. The thicknesses of the steel sections were from 2 to 7 mm to encompass a range of section slenderness. The aim is to study and compare the strength and deformation capacities as well as the failure modes of the built-up stub columns. The FE results have been compared with the un-factored design strengths predicted through EN1993-1-4 (2006) + A1 (2015) and ASCE8-02 standards, Continuous Strength Method (CSM) and Direct Strength Method (DSM). The results showed that the design rules generally under predict the bearing capacities of the specimens. It’s been observed that the CSM method offers improved mean resistance and reduced scatter for both classes of cross-sections (i.e. slender and stocky sections) compared to the EN1993-1-4 (2006) + A1 (2015) and ASCE 8-02 design rules which are known to be conservative for stocky cross-sections.