Flexural capacity of stainless-steel reinforced-concrete elements

Stainless steel (SS) is increasingly utilized in construction due to its robust strength and exceptional corrosion resistance. However, the lack of a defined yield point for SS introduces challenges in accurately calculating the moment of resistance for SS-reinforced concrete (RC) sections. To tackle this issue, a combined experimental-numerical study was conducted to pinpoint the stress in SS rebars that correlates with the moment of resistance of SS RC sections. This study tested four beams and four columns using two types of stainless steel: Austenitic (316 LN) and Duplex (2205). Following the experimental phase, a sectional analysis model was developed, validated through experimentation, and employed in a detailed parametric study. This research led to the creation of formulas that enable engineers to predict the moment of resistance for SS RC sections more precisely than current methods allow.