Numerical Investigation of the Interaction of Local and Overall Buckling of Stainless Steel I-Columns

Abstract

This report describes research carried out at the University of Sydney to study the interaction of local and overall buckling in stainless steel I-columns. A finite-element model was constructed using the commercially available ABAQUS software package, taking into account the specific material properties of stainless steel: nonlinear stress-strain behavior, anisotropy, and enhanced corner properties as a result of cold working. The model was verified against the experimental data presented in the companion paper and yielded good predictions of the behavior and ultimate capacity of the test specimens. The finite-element model was subsequently used in parametric studies, which covered the practical ranges of overall and cross-sectional slenderness values. The current Australian/New Zealand, North American, and European design guidelines for stainless steel were assessed using the available experimental and numerical data. It is demonstrated that the current design standards fail to appropriately account for the local overall interaction effect in stainless steel I-columns.