Cold-formed, stainless-steel structural members require different design approaches from those presented in Arts. 8.1 through 8.13 for cold-formed structural members of carbon and low-alloy steels. An exception is the stainless steels of the ferritic type that are largely alloyed with chromium and exhibit a sharp-yielding stressstrain curve. The austenitic types of stainless steel, incorporating substantial amounts of nickel as well as chromium, have stress-strain curves that are rounded, do not show sharp yield points, and exhibit proportional limits that are quite low.
Because of excellent corrosion resistance, stainless steels are suitable for exterior wall panels and exterior members of buildings as well as for other applications subject to corrosive environments.
The Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Stainless Steel Structural Members, ANSI-ASCE 8-90, American Society of Civil Engineers, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191-4400, presents treatments paralleling those of Arts. 8.1 through 8.13, except the primary emphasis is on the load resistance factor design (LRFD) method. The allowable strength design (ASD) method, however, is also mentioned. For detailed information on austenitic grades of stainless steel, see ASTM A666, Austenitic Stainless Steel, Sheet, Strip, Plate and Flat Bar for Structural Applications.
(W. W. Yu, Cold-Formed Steel Design, 3rd ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York.)
PREENGINEERED STEEL BUILDINGS
Preengineered steel buildings may be selected from catalogs. They are fully designed by a manufacturer, who supplies them with all structural and covering material, and all fasteners
