Cold-formed austenitic stainless steel SHS brace members under cyclic loading: Finite element modelling, design considerations

This study presents a numerical investigation into the hysteretic behavior of cold-formed austenitic stainless steel square hollow section (SHS) brace members using a commercial finite element (FE) analysis software ABAQUS/Standard. The initial/post buckling and fracture life of SHS brace members are comprehensively investigated through parametric studies with FE models incorporating ductile fracture model, which is validated against the existing laboratory test results collected from the literature. It is found that the current predictive models are applicable for the initial buckling strengths of SHS brace members under cyclic loading, while result in significant inaccuracy in predictions for the post-buckling strength and fracture life. The modified predictive model is therefore proposed and the applicability was then confirmed through excellent comparisons with test results for cold-formed austenitic stainless SHS brace members.