Abstract
M.Ing.
3CR12 is corrosion-resisting steel containing 12% chrome. The corrosion-resisting
characteristics of 3CR12 are between those of carbon steel and existing stainless
steels. Since the material properties of 3CR12 differ from carbon steel, the current
SABS code of practice cannot be utilized in the design of hot-rolled components.
A numerical investigation into the effect of gradual yielding material behaviour on the
buckling strength of 3CR12 columns is presented. The columns under investigation
was hot-rolled channel (152 x 76 x 18) sections. The influence of material and
geometric non-linearities were investigated numerically. The effect of residual
stresses was also investigated.
Material data for the Finite Element Model was obtained experimentally via
compression tests. The magnitude and distribution of the residual stresses were
obtained experimentally by using the sectioning method.
The results obtained from the Finite Element Analysis are compared to the buckling
load predictions of the South African Code of Practice (SABS 0162-1:1993).
Conclusions are made regarding the applicability to hot-rolled 3CR12 sections.