In parallel with the experimental study described in the companion paper (Zhao et al.,
submitted for publication), a numerical modelling programme has been carried out to
investigate further the structural behaviour of stainless steel cross-sections under combined
loading. The numerical models, which were developed using the finite element (FE)
package ABAQUS, were initially validated against the experiments, showing the capability of
the FE models to replicate the key test results, the full experimental load–deformation …

Stainless steel has been gaining increasing use in a variety of engineering applications due
to its unique combination of mechanical properties, durability and aesthetics. Significant
progress in the development of structural design guidance has been made in recent years,
underpinned by sound research. However, an area that has remained relatively unexplored
is that of combined loading. Testing and analysis of stainless steel cross-sections under
combined axial load and bending is therefore the subject of the present paper and the …