Recent research on stainless steel tubular structures

Abstract The paper summarises research undertaken at the University of Sydney during the 1990s on stainless steel tubular members and connections. The tubes were cold-formed from annealed AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel coil strip. Tests were performed on square, rectangular and circular hollow section columns and beams, as well as welded X- and K-joints in square and circular hollow sections. The paper summarises the design rules proposed on the basis of the tests and describes how these rules are being implemented in the first Australian standard for stainless steel structures currently in preparation.