Numerical study of stainless steel gusset plate connections

Despite fundamental differences between the mechanical behaviour of stainless steel and carbon steel, design provisions for stainless steel connections in current standards essentially follow the rules for carbon steel with some limited modifications. For the common case of angle section members connected by one leg to a gusset plate, the design rules for net section capacity from EN 1993-1-8 for carbon steel have been adopted for stainless steel connections in EN 1993-1-4 and the SCI/Euro Inox Design Manual without any modification. In this paper, an investigation into net section rupture of stainless steel single angles connected by one leg to a gusset plate with a single row of bolts is investigated. Numerical models for austenitic stainless steel have been developed and validated against existing test results. These models are then used to perform parametric studies. Finally, based on the obtained results, revised design equations for determining the net section capacity of stainless steel angles are proposed and their reliability demonstrated by means of statistical analysis.

► Review of design provisions for stainless steel gusset plate connections in international design standards. ► Validation of sophisticated nonlinear FE models against existing test results. ► Performance of parametric study on different stainless steel connections. ► Development of design guidance suitable for incorporation into international design standards.