There are many reasons to use structural stainless steel including its attractiveness, corrosion resistance, fire performance, cyclic loading and energy absorption characteristics (e.g. blast, seismic, impact and similar applications). This article introduces several important new resources that were issued in 2017 for engineers designing with structural stainless steel to either AISC Steel Design Guide 27: Structural Stainless Steel or the Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures - Part 1-4: General rules - Supplementary rules for stainless steels (Eurocode EN 1993-1-4).

AISC Webinar for the AISC Design Guide
A live 3-hour webinar on the AISC Steel Design Guide 27: Structural Stainless Steel was recorded in 2014 by Nancy Baddoo and Catherine Houska and is available on AISC’s website. This introduction to the book is an excellent resource for understanding the fundamentals of structural stainless steel selection and structural design relative to other steels.

Structural Stainless Steel Design, Fabrication & Application Resources
The austenitic stainless steels have been most widely used for structural applications, but there is growing use of the higher strength duplex stainless steels. Each stainless steel alloy family provides a wide range of corrosion resistance levels. The property differences between the different stainless steel families and other types of structural steels can be significant. They must be considered during design.

SSINA’s (Specialty Steel Industry of North America) website provides a Comparison of stainless steel alloys identified by alloy designation and UNS (Unified Numbering System used by ASTM) with information on their different High Temperature, Mechanical, and Physical properties. The BSSA (British Stainless Steel Association) website has a Mechanical and Physical Properties section based on the European (EN) alloy numbering system. IMOA has web pages with fabrication information for the Austenitic and Duplex stainless steel families and on Fire and Radiant Heat Transfer.

It is important to note that there are differences between the EN (European Norm) and UNS (Unified Numbering System) chemistry requirements for stainless steel alloy designations.  The specific UNS and/or EN numbers required by a project specification should be listed along with the common names (e.g. 316L or 2205).  These names and numbers appear in standards, code and design guides.

With appropriate selection for the service environment, stainless steel’s unique combination of properties make it a potential solution for solving problems in a diverse range of applications including:

• Structural applications in water treatment, pulp and paper, nuclear, biomass, chemical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and other industries
• Primary vehicular, rail and pedestrian bridge beams and columns; barriers and guard rails; railings; light and signage poles; cable sheathing; and expansion joints
• Coastal flood prevention and waterway gate and barrier structures
• Curtain wall and sunscreen structural supports
• Street furniture, sculptures, monuments and railings
• Seismic retrofits and other structural restoration of buildings, structures and bridges
• Fasteners and anchoring systems in wood, stone, masonry or rock
• Structural members and fasteners in swimming pool buildings
• Explosion-, fire- and impact- resistant safety and security related structures such as walls, gates, bollards, and cable ladders and walkways on offshore platforms and other industrial applications

More information about structural design with stainless steel, including research papers and case studies, can be found on these IMOA and SCI websites:

• Information Centre for Steel in Construction
• Structural Design
• Stainless Steel Selection
• Stainless Steel Specification
• Duplex Stainless Steel Fabrication
• Austenitic Stainless Steel Fabrication

Download a free Stainless Steel Library (zip file, 559 MB) with over 360 pdfs covering building and construction applications, selection, specification, fabrication, sustainability and other common questions.

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IMOA is an AIA continuing education system approved provider with eight 1-hour programs that are registered for both live face-to-face and distance learning credit.

1. Stainless Steel Sustainable Design
2. Bioclimatic Design With Stainless Steel Weather Screens
3. Stainless Steel Structural Design
4. Stainless Steel Specification For Corrosive Applications
5. Deicing Salt: Stainless Steel Selection to Avoid Corrosion
6. Stainless Steel Finish Specification
7. Advanced Stainless Steel Specification and Problem Avoidance
8. Specification of Stainless Steel Finishes and Grades For Corrosive Applications

For more information or to schedule a workshop contact Catherine Houska, 412-369-0377 or email chouska@tmr-inc.com.

IMOA (International Molybdenum Association) is a non-profit industry association, which provides technical information to assist with successful specification of molybdenum-containing materials. Molybdenum is an element. When it is added to stainless steel, molybdenum increases its resistance to corrosion caused by deicing salts, coastal atmosphere and pollution.

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In providing consultation or other assistance with respect to technical issues, any consultation, assistance or material is provided for the general information of the recipient and should not be used or relied upon for any specific application without first securing competent advice. IMOA and their respective employees, consultants and members (i) make no representation or warranty, express or implied, of any kind with regard to such consultation, assistance or material including no representation or warranty of  suitability for any general or specific use; (ii) assume no liability or responsibility of any kind in connection  therewith; and (iii) disclaim any and all liability for any claim that arises therefrom.