Material and hybrid connection behaviour of a new nickel-free stainless steel at elevated temperatures

A new nickel-free austenitic stainless steel EN 1.4678 (Forta H500) with excellent corrosion resistance and significant strain hardening has been recently developed, but its elevated temperature behaviour has yet to be investigated. This paper reports an experimental study into the material properties of EN 1.4678 stainless steel at elevated temperatures. 22 coupons were extracted from 6 mm EN 1.4678 stainless steel plates and tested to failure at temperatures up to 1000°C. Elevated temperature reduction factors for the key material properties were derived and compared to corresponding factors for stainless steel specified in existing standards. The average experimentally derived reduction factors and the Ramberg-Osgood material model for stainless steel were applied in the FE modelling of hybrid carbon steel-stainless steel end-plate connections in fire, with a view to exploiting the excellent elevated temperature behaviour of stainless steel to improve the response of connections in steel framed structures in fire.