Structural performance and section classification of austenitic stainless steel welded I-section flexural members

This study investigates the structural performance and section classification of austenitic stainless steel welded I-section flexural members subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading. Finite element models of the stainless steel welded I-section beams were developed using the finite element software ABAQUS, and the validity of the finite element model was verified based on existing experimental research on stainless steel welded I-section member. A comprehensive series of parametric analyses were conducted using the validated finite element model to evaluate the load-bearing capacity and rotation capacity of the stainless steel flexural members under different loading conditions. Additionally, the rationality of the width-to-thickness ratio limits for different section classes, as outlined in the European stainless steel standard EN 1993-1-4 and the Chinese steel structure design standard GB 50017-2017, was assessed. The results indicate that there is a significant correlation between the effect of the width-to-thickness ratio of different components of the section on the section load-carrying capacity and rotation capacity. For austenitic stainless steel welded I-section flexural members, the section classification limits outlined in EN 1993-1-4 are conservative, whereas those in GB 50017-2017 are conservative for certain sections but may be unsafe for others. Furthermore, the loading conditions significantly affect structural performance and should be considered in the section classification. Consequently, an innovative section classification method was proposed, considering the correlation of section components, and new width-to-thickness ratio limits for austenitic stainless steel I-section flexural members were established for various section classes under both monotonic and cyclic loading.