Keywords: buckling, fire resistance, columns, finite element, modelling, rectangular and square hollow sections, stainless steel.

A finite element model for the analysis of concentrically loaded cold-formed stainless steel rectangular and square hollow section columns fixed at both ends at elevated temperatures was developed in this study using the finite element package ABAQUS. The effects of local and overall geometric imperfections have been taken into consideration in the finite element model using the approach proposed by Ellobody and Young [1]. The material properties of stainless steel at elevated temperatures have been carefully incorporated in the model using the stress-strain relation developed by Chen and Young [2]. The finite element model was verified against the results of the column tests conducted by Young and Lui [3] and good agreement between the experimental and numerical results has been achieved. A parametric study covering a total of 327 columns was then carried out. Each column was assigned a distinct combination of section dimensions, plate thickness, column length and temperature. Both the ultimate loads and the failure modes of the columns as predicted by the finite element analysis (FEA) were recorded. The effects of each of the above factors on the column strength were studied. The data obtained from this study is useful for development of any new design rules for fixed-ended stainless steel tubular columns at elevated temperatures.

1

E. Ellobody, B. Young, "Behavior of cold-formed steel plain angle columns", Journal of Structural Engineering, 131(3), 457 - 466, 2005. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(2005)131:3(457)

2

J. Chen, B. Young, "Stress-stain curves for stainless steel at elevated temperatures", Engineering Structures, 28(2), 229 - 239, 2006. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2005.07.005

3

B. Young, W.M. Lui, "Tests of cold-formed high strength stainless steel compression members", Thin-Walled Structures, 44(2), 224 - 234, 2006. doi:10.1016/j.tws.2006.01.006

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