Local buckling of partially stiffened type 3CR12 stainless steel compression elements in beam flanges

摘要

This study is the final report of a series of tests on partially stiffened compression elements in beam flanges. Partially stiffened compression flanges with varying widths and varying lip lengths were studied. The effect of the non-linear behaviour of stainless steels on the local buckling and ultimate strength of partially stiffened compression elements in beam flanges were studied. The steel under investigation is Type 3CR12 stainless steel. Lipped channels were placed back to back to form a doubly symmetric lipped I-section. The different plasticity reduction factors suggested in the ASCE and South African stainless steel design specifications for stiffened and unstiffened compression elements are used to compare experimental results with theoretical predictions. It is concluded that the ASCE and South African stainless steel design specifications overestimate the local buckling stress in the beam flanges as well as the ultimate strength of partially stiffened stainless steel beams. The experimental results compare well with the theoretical predictions when the two plasticity reduction factors are used.