Residual stress influence on material properties and column behaviour of stainless steel SHS

• Residual stress contribution to material nonlinearity shown.
• FE study of residual stress influence on stainless steel SHS compressed members.
• Residual stress influence study considered different material non-linearities.
• Material non-linearity affects significantly the sign and magnitude of the residual stress influence.
• For stainless steel SHS, residual stresses may have a positive influence.

The paper describes the influence of forming-induced residual stresses in stainless steel SHS (Square Hollow Sections) on both the material itself and the behaviour of compressed members. The residual stress contribution to the stress–strain diagram concerning the initial modulus of elasticity and non-linearity is shown by the comparison of as-delivered and stress-relieved material. An analytical model covering the influence of residual stresses on material behaviour was developed and verified numerically. The FE study using the Abaqus software determines the influence of residual stresses in compressed members both on local and global buckling. Finally, the study on behaviour of member includes the influence of a varying degree of material non-linearity as an independent parameter representing the behaviour of various steels in long and stub columns with residual stresses.