Experimental investigation of cold-formed stainless steel RHS columns

The paper describes an experimental investigation into the column strengths of cold-formed stainless steel rectangular hollow sections (RHS). A series of tests consisting of four cross-section sizes was compressed between fixed ends. The tests were performed over a range of column lengths, such that column curves were obtained for each series of tests. The failure modes of the columns involved local buckling, overall flexural buckling and interaction of local and overall buckling. The test strengths are compared with the design strengths predicted using the American, Australian/New Zealand and European specifications for cold-formed stainless steel structures. The design strengths were calculated using the material properties obtained from tensile coupon tests and stub column tests. The reliability of these design rules is evaluated using reliability analysis. It is concluded that the design strengths predicted by the three specifications are generally conservative. The reliability analysis shown that the design strengths predicted by the Australian/New Zealand Standard are generally more reliable than the design strengths predicted by the American and European specifications.