LAUSR

Abstract This paper reports an experimental and numerical investigation into the cross-section behaviour and resistances of press-braked stainless steel channel sections under combined compression and major-axis bending moment. A testing programme was firstly conducted, including initial local geometric imperfection measurements and major-axis eccentric compression tests on ten press-braked stainless steel channel section stub column specimens. Following the testing programme, a numerical modelling programme was performed, where finite element models were developed and validated against the test results and then adopted to perform parametric studies to generate further numerical data over a wide range of cross-section dimensions and initial loading eccentricities. Based on the obtained test and numerical data, the existing design interaction curves, as given in the European code, American specification and Australian/New Zealand standard, were assessed and shown to result in conservative cross-section resistance predictions for press-braked stainless steel channel sections under major-axis combined loading. The conservatism of the codified design interaction curves stems from the conservative end points (i.e. cross-section resistances under pure compression and pure bending), which are determined without considering the effect of material strain hardening, and the inefficient linear shape, which ignores the effect of stress redistribution. Improved design interaction curves were proposed through the adoption of (i) more accurate end points, which are calculated with a rational exploitation of material strain hardening by continuous strength method and (ii) more efficient nonlinear shape, which allows for the stress redistribution. The proposed design interaction curves were shown to result in substantially more accurate resistance predictions for press-braked stainless steel channel sections under major-axis combined loading than their codified counterparts. The reliability of the proposed design interaction curves was confirmed by means of statistical analyses.