SEI/ASCE 8-02

American Society of Civil Engineers

Specification for the

Design of Cold-Formed
Stainless Steel
Structural Members

This document uses both International System of Units (SI) and customary units.

Published by the American Society of Civil Engineers

1801 Alexander Bell Drive
Reston, Virginia 20191-4400
ABSTRACT
ASCE’s standard Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed
Stainless Steel Structural Members (ASCE 8-02) provides design
criteria for the determination of the strength of stainless steel struc-
tural members and connections for use in buildings and other stati-
cally loaded structures. The members may be cold-formed to shape
from annealed and cold-rolled sheet, strip, plate, or flat bar stain-
less steel material. Design criteria are provided for axially loaded
tension or compression members, flexural members subjected to
bending and shear, and members subjected to combined axial load
and bending. The specification provides the design strength criteria
using the load and resistance factor design (LRFD) and the allow-
able stress design (ASD) methods. The reasoning behind, and the
justification for, various provisions of the specification are also
presented. The design strength requirements of this standard are in-
tended for use by structural engineers and those engaged in prepar-
ing and administrating local building codes.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Specification for the design of cold-formed stainless steel

structural members / American Society of Civil Engineers.
p. cm.
“Revision of ANSI/ASCE 8-90.”
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7844-0556-5
1. Building, Iron and steel—Specifications—United States.
2. Steel, Structural—Specifications—United States. 3. Load
factor design. I. American Society of Civil Engineers.
TA684 .S652 2001
624.1821—dc21
2001022355

Photocopies. Authorization to photocopy material for internal or

personal use under circumstances not falling within the fair use
provisions of the Copyright Act is granted by ASCE to libraries
and other users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center
(CCC) Transactional Reporting Service, provided that the base fee
of $8.00 per article plus $.50 per page is paid directly to CCC, 222
Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923. The identification for
ASCE Books is 0-7844-0556-5/02/$8.00  $.50 per page. Re-
quests for special permission or bulk copying should be addressed
to Permissions & Copyright Dept., ASCE.

Copyright ©2002 by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

All Rights Reserved.
Library of Congress Catalog Card No: 2001022355
ISBN 0-7844-0556-5
Manufactured in the United States of America.
 STANDARDS
In April 1980, the Board of Direction approved Buried Precast Concrete Pipe Using Standard Instal-
ASCE Rules for Standards Committees to govern the lations (SIDD)
writing and maintenance of standards developed by the ASCE 16-95 Standard for Load and Resistance Factor
Society. All such standards are developed by a consen- Design (LRFD) of Engineered Wood Construction
sus standards process managed by the Management ASCE 17-96 Air-Supported Structures
Group F (MGF), Codes and Standards. The consensus ASCE 18-96 Standard Guidelines for In-Process Oxy-
process includes balloting by the balanced standards gen Transfer Testing
committee made up of Society members and nonmem- ASCE 19-96 Structural Applications of Steel Cables
bers, balloting by the membership of ASCE as a for Buildings
whole, and balloting by the public. All standards are ASCE 20-96 Standard Guidelines for the Design and
updated or reaffirmed by the same process at intervals Installation of Pile Foundations
not exceeding 5 years. ASCE 21-96 Automated People Mover Standards—
The following Standards have been issued. Part 1
ASCE 21-98 Automated People Mover Standards—
ANSI/ASCE 1-82 N-725 Guideline for Design and Part 2
Analysis of Nuclear Safety Related Earth Structures ASCE 21-00 Automated People Mover Standards—
ANSI/ASCE 2-91 Measurement of Oxygen Transfer in Part 3
Clean Water SEI/ASCE 23-97 Specification for Structural Steel
ANSI/ASCE 3-91 Standard for the Structural Design Beams with Web Openings
of Composite Slabs and ANSI/ASCE 9-91 Standard SEI/ASCE 24-98 Flood Resistant Design and Con-
Practice for the Construction and Inspection of struction
Composite Slabs ASCE 25-97 Earthquake-Actuated Automatic Gas
ASCE 4-98 Seismic Analysis of Safety-Related Nu- Shut-Off Devices
clear Structures ASCE 26-97 Standard Practice for Design of Buried
Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures Precast Concrete Box Sections
(ACI 530-99/ASCE 5-99/TMS 402-99) and Specifi- ASCE 27-00 Standard Practice for Direct Design of
cations for Masonry Structures (ACI 530.1- Precast Concrete Pipe for Jacking in Trenchless
99/ASCE 6-99/TMS 602-99) Construction
ASCE 7-98 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and ASCE 28-00 Standard Practice for Direct Design of
Other Structures Precast Concrete Box Sections for Jacking in
ASCE 8-90 Standard Specification for the Design of Trenchless Construction
Cold-Formed Stainless Steel Structural Members SEI/ASCE 30-00 Guideline for Condition Assessment
ANSI /ASCE 9-91 listed with ASCE 3-91 of the Building Envelope
ASCE 10-97 Design of Latticed Steel Transmission EWRI/ASCE 33-01 Comprehensive Transboundary
Structures International Water Quality Management
SEI/ASCE 11-99 Guideline for Structural Condition Agreement
Assessment of Existing Buildings EWRI/ASCE 34-01 Standard Guidelines for Artificial
ANSI/ASCE 12-91 Guideline for the Design of Urban Recharge of Ground Water
Subsurface Drainage EWRI/ASCE 35-01 Guidelines for Quality Assurance
ASCE 13-93 Standard Guidelines for Installation of of Installed Fine-Pore Aeration Equipment
Urban Subsurface Drainage CI/ASCE 36-01 Standard Construction Guidelines for
ASCE 14-93 Standard Guidelines for Operation and Microtunneling
Maintenance of Urban Subsurface Drainage SEI/ASCE 37-02 Design Loads on Structures During
ASCE 15-98 Standard Practice for Direct Design of Construction

iii
 FOREWORD
Prior to 1990, the design of cold-formed stainless This new ASCE Standard Specification includes
steel structural members was based on the allowable both the load and resistance factor design (LRFD)
stress design specification issued by the American Iron method and the allowable stress design (ASD) method.
and Steel Institute. Based on the initiative of Chromium In the LRFD method, separate load and resistance fac-
Steels Research Group at Rand Afrikaans University in tors are applied to specified loads and nominal resis-
1989, a new ASCE Standard Specification for the De- tance to ensure that the probability of reaching a limit
sign of Cold-Formed Stainless Steel Structural Mem- state is acceptably small. These factors reflect the un-
bers was developed at the University of Missouri-Rolla certainties of analysis, design, loading, material prop-
under the Sponsorship of the American Society of Civil erties, and fabrication.
Engineers. It was subsequently reviewed and approved The material presented in this publication has been
by the ASCE Stainless Steel Cold-Formed Sections prepared in accordance with recognized engineering
Standards Committee in 1990. This ASCE project was principles. This Standard and Commentary should not
financially supported by the Chromium Centre in South be used without first securing competent advice with
Africa, the Nickel Development Institute in Canada, respect to suitability for any given application. The
and the Specialty Steel Industry of the United States. publication of the material contained herein is not in-
The development of this new ASCE Standard Specifi- tended as a representation or warranty on the part of
cation was primarily based on the 1974 Edition of the the American Society of Civil Engineers, or of any
AISI specification for stainless steel design and the re- other person named herein, that this information is
cent extensive research conducted by Chromium Steels suitable for any general or particular use or promises
Research Group at Rand Afrikaans University under freedom from infringement of any patent or patents.
the sponsorship of Columbus Stainless Steel (the Mid- Anyone making use of this information assumes all lia-
dleburg Steel and Alloys) in South Africa. bility from such use.

v
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) the Management Group F. Codes and Standards. This
acknowledges the devoted efforts of Wei-Wen Yu, group comprises individuals from many backgrounds
Theodore V. Galambos, and Shin-Hua Lin for develop- including: consulting engineering, research, construc-
ing this Standard Specification. Appreciation is ex- tion industry, education, government, design, and pri-
pressed to the American Iron and Steel Institute for re- vate practice.
linquishing to ASCE the 1974 edition of AISI This Standard was prepared through the consensus
Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Stainless standards process by balloting in compliance with pro-
Steel Structural Members for revision and publication cedures of ASCE’s Management Group F. Codes and
as an ASCE standard. Standards. Those individuals who serve on the Stan-
ASCE acknowledges the work of the Stainless dards Committee are:
Steel Cold-Formed Section Standards Committee of

Prodyot K. Basu Albert C. Nuhn Gert J. Van den Berg

Adrian F. Dier Clarkson W. Pinkham Pieter Van Der Merwe
Mark W. Fantozzi Kim Rasmussen Ivan M. Viest
Theodore Galambos, Chairman James D. Redmond Shien T. Wang
Joseph C. Kotlarz Reinhold M. Schuster Vernon Watwood
Roger A. LaBoube John G. Tack Don S. Wolford, Vice Chairm.
Shin-Hua Lin, Secretary Torkel Stenquist Wei-Wen Yu
Robert R. McCluer Cosmas A. Tzavelis John P. Ziemianski

vii
 CONTENTS

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
1. General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Limits of Applicability and Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1.1 Scope and Limits of Applicability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1.2 Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1.3 Units of Symbols and Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Nonconforming Shapes and Constructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3 Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3.1 Applicable Stainless Steels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3.2 Other Stainless Steels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3.3 Ductility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3.4 Delivered Minimum Thickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4 Loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4.1 Dead Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4.2 Live and Snow Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4.3 Impact Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4.4 Wind and Earthquake Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4.5 Ponding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.5 Structural Analysis and Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.5.1 Design Basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.5.1.1 Design for Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.5.1.2 Design for Serviceability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.5.2 Loads, Load Factors, and Load Combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.5.3 Resistance Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.5.4 Yield Strength and Strength Increase from Cold Work of Forming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.5.4.1 Yield Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.5.4.2 Strength Increase from Cold Work of Forming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.5.4.2.1 Type of Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.5.4.2.2 Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.5.5 Design Tables and Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.6 Reference Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2. Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1 Dimensional Limits and Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.1 Flange Flat-Width-to-Thickness Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.2 Maximum Web Depth-to-Thickness Ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 Effective Widths of Stiffened Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2.1 Uniformly Compressed Stiffened Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2.2 Effective Widths of Webs and Stiffened Elements with Stress Gradient . . . . . . . . . 6
2.3 Effective Widths of Unstiffened Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.3.1 Uniformly Compressed Unstiffened Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.3.2 Unstiffened Elements and Edge Stiffeners with Stress Gradient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.4 Effective Widths of Elements with Edge Stiffener or One Intermediate Stiffener . . . . . . . 8
2.4.1 Uniformly Compressed Elements with Intermediate Stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.4.2 Uniformly Compressed Elements with Edge Stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.5 Effective Widths of Edge-Stiffened Elements with Intermediate Stiffeners
or Stiffened Elements with More Than One Intermediate Stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.6 Stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3. Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.1 Properties of Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.2 Tension Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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3.3 Flexural Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3.3.1 Strength for Bending Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.3.1.1 Nominal Section Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.3.1.2 Lateral Buckling Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.3.2 Strength for Shear Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.3.3 Strength for Combined Bending and Shear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.3.4 Web Crippling Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.3.5 Combined Bending and Web Crippling Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.4 Concentrically Loaded Compression Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.4.1 Sections Not Subject to Torsional or Torsional-Flexural Buckling . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.4.2 Doubly or Point-Symmetric Sections Subject to Torsional Buckling . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.4.3 Singly Symmetric Sections Subject to Torsional-Flexural Buckling . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.4.4 Nonsymmetric Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.5 Combined Axial Load and Bending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.6 Cylindrical Tubular Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.6.1 Bending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.6.2 Compression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.6.3 Combined Bending and Compression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.7 Arc-and-Tangent Corrugated Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4. Structural Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.1 Built-Up Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.1.1 I-Sections Composed of Two Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.1.2 Spacing of Connections in Compression Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.2 Mixed Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3 Lateral Bracing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3.1 Symmetrical Beams and Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3.2 Channel-Section and Z-Section Beams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3.2.1 Bracing When One Flange Is Connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3.2.2 Neither Flange Connected to Sheathing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3.3 Laterally Unbraced Box Beams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5. Connections and Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.1 General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.2 Welded Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.2.1 Groove Welds in Butt Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.2.2 Fillet Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.2.3 Resistance Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.3 Bolted Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.3.1 Spacing and Edge Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.3.2 Tension in Connected Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.3.3 Bearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.3.4 Shear and Tension in Stainless Steel Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6. Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.1 Determination of Stress-Strain Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.2 Tests for Determining Structural Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.3 Tests for Determining Mechanical Properties of Full Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Appendices
Appendix A Design Tables and Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Appendix B Modified Ramberg-Osgood Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Appendix C Stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
C.1 Transverse Stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
C.2 Shear Stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

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C.3 Nonconforming Stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Appendix D Allowable Stress Design (ASD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Tables
Table 1. Short, Wide Flanges: Maximum Allowable
Ratio of Effective Design Width to Actual Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 2. Nominal Web Crippling Strength, Pn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Table 3. Nominal Shear Strength of Arc Spot Welding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Table 4. Nominal Shear Strength of Pulsation Welding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Table 5. Maximum Size of Bolt Holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Table 6. Nominal Shear and Tensile Stresses for Stainless Steel Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Table A1. Specified Yield Strengths of Stainless Steels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Table A2a. Secant Moduli for Deflection Calculations (Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . 31
Table A2b. Secant Moduli for Deflection Calculations (UNS S20400) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Table A3. Secant Moduli for Deflection Calculations (Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . 34
Table A4a. Initial Moduli of Elasticity and
Initial Shear Moduli (Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Table A4b. Initial Moduli of Elasticity and Initial Shear Moduli (UNS S20400) . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Table A5. Initial Moduli of Elasticity and Initial Shear Moduli (Types 409, 430, and 439) . . 35
Table A6a. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Stiffened Elements
(Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Table A6b. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Stiffened Elements (UNS S20400) . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Table A7. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Stiffened Elements (Types 409, 430, and 439) . . 36
Table A8a. Plasticity Reduction Factors for
Unstiffened Elements (Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Table A8b. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Unstiffened Elements (UNS S20400) . . . . . . . . . . 38
Table A9. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Unstiffened Elements
(Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Table A10a. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Lateral
Buckling Strengths (Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Table A10b. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Lateral Buckling Strengths (UNS S20400) . . . . . 41
Table A11. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Lateral
Buckling Strengths (Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Table A12. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Shear Strengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Table A13a. Tangent Moduli for Design of Columns (Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . 43
Table A13b. Tangent Moduli for Design of Columns (UNS S20400) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Table A14. Tangent Moduli for Design of Columns (Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Table A15. Tensile Strength of Weld Metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Table A16. Tensile Strengths of Annealed, 1/16 Hard, 1/4 Hard, and 1/2 Hard Base Metals . . 46
Table A17. Ratio of Effective Proportional Limit-to-Yield Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Table B. Coefficient n Used for Modified Ramberg-Osgood Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Table D. Safety Factors by Subjects and Sections of the Specification for the
Design of Cold-Formed Stainless Steel Structural Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Figures
Figure 1. Stiffened Elements with Uniform Compression* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Figure 2. Stiffened Elements with Stress Gradient and Webs* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Figure 3. Unstiffened Elements with Uniform Compression* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Figure 4. Elements with Intermediate Stiffener* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Figure 5. Elements with Edge Stiffener* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Figure A1a. Secant Moduli for Deflection Calculations (Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . 48
Figure A1b. Secant Moduli for Deflection Calculations (S20400, Compression) . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

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CONTENTS

Figure A2. Secant Moduli for Deflection Calculations (Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . 51
Figure A3a. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Stiffened Compression Elements
(Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Figure A3b. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Stiffened Compression Elements (S20400) . . . . . 53
Figure A4. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Stiffened Compression Elements
(Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Figure A5a. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Unstiffened Compression Elements
(Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Figure A5b. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Unstiffened Compression Elements (S20400) . . . 56
Figure A6. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Unstiffened Compression Elements
(Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Figure A7a. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Design of Laterally Unbraced Single
Web Beams (Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Figure A7b. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Design of Laterally Unbraced Single
Web Beams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Figure A8. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Design of Laterally Unbraced Single
Web Beams (Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Figure A9. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Shear Stresses in Webs
(Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Figure A10. Plasticity Reduction Factors for Shear Stresses in Webs
(Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Figure A11a. Tangent Moduli for Design of Columns (Types 201, 301, 304, and 316) . . . . . . . . 64
Figure A11b. Tangent Moduli for Design of Columns (Type 204) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Figure A12. Tangent Moduli for Design of Columns (Types 409, 430, and 439) . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

* Reproduced with permission of the American Iron and Steel Institute from AISI Specification for
the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members with Commentary (1986).

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 COMMENTARY CONTENTS

(This Commentary is not a part of the standard. It is included for information purposes.)
Commentary on ASCE Standard Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Stainless Steel
Structural Members

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
1. General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
1.1 Limits of Applicability and Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
1.1.1 Scope and Limits of Applicability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
1.1.2 Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
1.1.3 Units of Symbols and Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
1.2 Nonconforming Shapes and Constructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
1.3 Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
1.3.1 Applicable Stainless Steels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
1.3.2 Other Stainless Steels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
1.3.3 Ductility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
1.3.4 Delivered Minimum Thickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
1.4 Loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
1.5 Structural Analysis and Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
1.5.1 Design Basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
1.5.4 Yield Strength and Strength Increase from Cold Work of Forming . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
1.5.5 Design Tables and Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
1.6 Reference Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
2. Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
2.1 Dimensional Limits and Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
2.1.1 Flange Flat-Width-to-Thickness Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
2.1.2 Maximum Web Depth-to-Thickness Ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
2.2 Effective Widths of Stiffened Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
2.2.1 Uniformly Compressed Stiffened Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
2.2.2 Effective Widths of Webs and Stiffened Elements with Stress Gradient . . . . . . . . 85
2.3 Effective Widths of Unstiffened Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
2.3.1 Uniformly Compressed Unstiffened Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
2.3.2 Unstiffened Elements and Edge Stiffeners with Stress Gradient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
2.4 Effective Widths of Elements with Edge Stiffener or One Intermediate Stiffener . . . . . . 86
2.4.1 Uniformly Compressed Elements with Intermediate Stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
2.4.2 Uniformly Compressed Elements with Edge Stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
2.5 Effective Widths of Edge-Stiffened Elements with Intermediate Stiffeners
or Stiffened Elements with More Than One Intermediate Stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
2.6 Stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
3. Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
3.1 Properties of Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
3.2 Tension Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
3.3 Flexural Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
3.3.1 Strength for Bending Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
3.3.1.1 Nominal Section Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
3.3.1.2 Lateral Buckling Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
3.3.2 Strength for Shear Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
3.3.3 Strength for Combined Bending and Shear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
3.3.4 Web Crippling Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
3.3.5 Combined Bending and Web Crippling Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

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3.4 Concentrically Loaded Compression Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

3.4.1 Sections Not Subject to Torsional or Torsional-Flexural Buckling . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
3.4.2 Doubly or Point-Symmetric Sections Subject to Torsional Buckling . . . . . . . . . . . 93
3.4.3 Singly Symmetric Sections Subject to Torsional-Flexural Buckling . . . . . . . . . . . 93
3.4.4 Nonsymmetric Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
3.5 Combined Axial Load and Bending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
3.6 Cylindrical Tubular Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
3.6.1 Bending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
3.6.2 Compression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
3.7 Arc-and-Tangent Corrugated Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
4. Structural Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
4.1 Built-Up Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
4.1.1 I-Sections Composed of Two Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
4.1.2 Spacing of Connections in Compression Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
4.2 Mixed Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
4.3 Lateral Bracing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
4.3.1 Symmetrical Beams and Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
4.3.2 Channel-Section and Z-Section Beams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
4.3.2.1 Bracing When One Flange Is Connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
4.3.2.2 Neither Flange Connected to Sheathing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
4.3.3 Laterally Unbraced Box Beams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
5. Connections and Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
5.1 General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
5.2 Welded Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
5.2.1 Groove Welds in Butt Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
5.2.2 Fillet Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
5.2.3 Resistance Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
5.3 Bolted Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
5.3.1 Spacing and Edge Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
5.3.2 Tension in Connected Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
5.3.3 Bearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
5.3.4 Shear and Tension in Stainless Steel Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
6. Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
6.1 Determination of Stress-Strain Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
6.2 Tests for Determining Structural Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
6.3 Tests for Determining Mechanical Properties of Full Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Appendices
Appendix A Design Tables and Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Appendix B Modified Ramberg-Osgood Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Appendix C Stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Appendix D Allowable Stress Design (ASD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Tables
Table C1. ASTM Requirements for Mechanical Properties of Types 409, 430, and 439 . . . . . 72
Table C2. ASTM Requirements for Mechanical Properties of Types 201, S20400, 301,
304, and 316 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Table C3. Tested Mechanical Properties of Annealed and Strain-Flattened Types 201-2
and 304 Austenitic Stainless Steels, Adapted from Reference 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Table C4. Tested Mechanical Properties of 1/4-Hard and 1/2-Hard Type 301 Austenitic
Stainless Steels, Adapted from Reference 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

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Table C5. Tested Mechanical Properties of 1/4-Hard and 1/2-Hard Types 201 and 301
Austenitic Stainless Steels, Adapted from Reference 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Table C6. Tested Mechanical Properties of Types 409, 430, and 439 Ferritic
Stainless Steels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Table C7. Statistics on Yield Strengths of Types 409, 430, and 439 Ferritic Stainless Steels . . 75
Table C8. Computed Safety Indices, , for Cold-Formed Stainless Steels Using
Fillet Welds (Dn/Ln  0.2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Table C9. AWS Requirements for Mechanical Property of All-Weld Metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Figures
Figure C1. Members with Stiffened and Partially Stiffened Compression Elements* . . . . . . . . 68
Figure C2. Members with Unstiffened Compression Elements* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Figure C3. Members with Multiple-Stiffened Compression Elements* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Figure C4. Stress-Strain Diagram Showing Yield Strength Determination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Figure C5. Frequency Distributions of Resistance and Load Effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Figure C6. Probability Distribution of 1n(R/Q) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Figure C7. Local Buckling and Post-Buckling Strength of Stiffened Compression Element . . . 83
Figure C8. Correlation Between Effective Width Formula and Test Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Figure C9. Application of Design Equations Listed in Table 2* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Figure C10. Assumed Distribution of Reaction or Load* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Figure C11. Sections Used for One Exception Clause of Section 3.3.5* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Figure C12. Ultimate Moment Capacity of Stainless Steel Cylindrical Tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Figure C13. I-Beam Composed of Two Channels* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Figure C14. Spacing of Connections in Compression Element* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

* Reproduced with permission of the American Iron and Steel Institute from AISI Specification for
the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members with Commentary (1986).

xv
 NOTATION

Symbol Definition Section

A Full, unreduced cross-sectional area of the member 3.3.1.2,3.4
Ab b1t  As, for transverse stiffeners at interior support
and under concentrated load, and b2t  As,
for transverse stiffeners at end support App. C.1
Ab Gross cross-sectional area of bolt 5.3.4
Ac 18t2  As, for transverse stiffeners at interior support
and under concentrated load, and 10t2  As,
for transverse stiffeners at end support App. C.1
Ae Effective area at the stress Fn 3.4,3.6.2
An Net area of cross section 3.2,5.3.2
Ao Reduced area of cross section 3.6.2
As Cross-sectional area of transverse stiffeners 2.4,2.4.1,2.4.2,
App. C.1
As Effective area of stiffener 2.4,2.4.1,2.4.2
Ast Gross area of shear stiffener App. C.2
a For a reinforced web element,
the distance between transverse stiffeners App. C.2
a Length of bracing interval 4.3.2.2
b Effective design width of compression element 2.2.1,2.2.2,2.3.1,2.3.2,
2.4.1,2.4.2,2.5
bd Effective width for deflection calculation 2.2.1,2.2.2
be Effective design width of sub-element or element 2.2.2,2.5
bo See Figure 4 2.4,2.4.1,2.5
b1,b2 Effective widths, see Figure 2 2.2.2
C Ratio of effective proportional limit-to-yield strength, Fpr /Fy 3.6.1
Cb Bending coefficient dependent on moment gradient 3.3.1.2
Cm End moment coefficient in interaction formula 3.5
Cmx End moment coefficient in interaction formula 3.5
Cmy End moment coefficient in interaction formula 3.5
Cs Coefficient for lateral torsional buckling 3.3.1.2
Cv Shear stiffener coefficient App. C.2
Cw Torsional warping constant of cross section 3.3.1.2
Cy Compression strain factor 3.3.1.1
C1 Coefficient as defined in Figures 4 and 5 2.4,2.4.2
C2 Coefficient as defined in Figures 4 and 5 2.4,2.4.2
cƒ Amount of curling 2.1.1
D Outside diameter of cylindrical tube 3.6.1,3.6.2
D Dead load, includes weight of test specimen 6.2
D Overall depth of lip 2.1.1,2.4,2.4.2,4.1.1
D Shear stiffener coefficient App. C.2
Dn Nominal dead load 1.5.2
d Depth of section 2.4,2.1.1,3.3.1,
4.1.1,4.3.2.2
d Diameter of bolt 5.3,5.3.1,5.3.2,5.3.3
dh Diameter of standard hole 5.3.1
ds Reduced effective width of stiffener 2.4,2.4.2
ds Actual effective width of stiffener 2.4,2.4.2
En Nominal earthquake load 1.5.2

xvii
NOTATION

Symbol Definition Section

Eo Initial modulus of elasticity 2.2.1,2.3.1,2.4,2.5,
3.3.1.1,3.3.1.2,3.3.2,
3.3.5,3.6.1,3.6.2,
4.3.3,App. B
Er Reduced modulus of elasticity 2.2.1
Es Secant modulus 3.3.1.1,3.4,App. B
Esc Secant modulus in compression flange 2.2.1
Est Secant modulus in tension flange 2.2.1
Es /Eo Plasticity reduction factor for unstiffened compression elements 3.3.1.1,3.4,App. B
Et Tangent modulus in compression 3.3.1.1,3.4,App. B,
3.4.1,3.6.2
Et /Eo Plasticity reduction factor for lateral buckling 3.3.1.2,3.6.2,App. B
E E
t /
o Plasticity reduction factor for stiffened compression elements 3.3.1.1,3.4,App. B
e Distance measured in line of force from centerline
of standard hole to nearest edge of adjacent hole or to
end of connected part toward which force is directed 5.3.1
ey Yield strain  Fy /Eo 3.3.1.1
Fcr Critical buckling stress 3.3.1.1,3.4
FD Dead load factor 6.2
FL Live load factor 6.2
Fn Nominal buckling stress 3.4,3.6.2
Fnt Nominal tensile strength of bolts 5.3.4
Fnv Nominal shear strength of bolts 5.3.4
Fnt Nominal tensile strength for bolts subject to 5.3.4
combination of shear and tension
Fp Nominal bearing stress 5.3.3
Fpr Effective proportional limit 3.6.1
Ft Nominal tension stress limit on net section 5.3.2
Fu Tensile strength in longitudinal direction 5.3.1,5.3.2,5.3.3,5.3.4
Fua Tensile strength of annealed base metal 5.2.1,5.2.2
Fxx Strength level designation in AWS electrode classification 5.2.2
Fy Yield strength used for design, not to exceed specified 1.5.4.2,2.2.1,2.5,3.2,
yield strength or established in accordance with Section 6.4, 3.3.1,3.3.2,3.3.4,3.3.5,
or as increased for cold work of forming in Section 1.5.4.2 3.6.1,3.6.2,5.2.1,
App. C.1,App. B
Fyc Yield strength in compression 3.3.1.1
Fyt Yield strength in tension 3.3.1.1
Fys Yield strength of stiffener steel App. C.1
Fyv Shear yield strength 3.3.2
Fyw Lower value of yield strength in
beam web Fy or stiffener section Fys App. C.1
ƒ Stress in compression element computed on the basis 2.2.1,2.2.2,
of the effective design width 2.3.2,2.4,2.4.1
ƒav Average computed stress in full, unreduced flange width 2.1.1
ƒb Perceptible stress for local distortion 3.3.1.1,3.4
ƒd Computed compressive stress in element being considered. 2.2.1,2.2.2,
Calculations are based on effective section at load 2.3.1,2.4.1,2.4.2
for which deflections are determined.
ƒd1,ƒd2 Computed stresses ƒ1 and ƒ2 as shown in Figure 2. 2.2.2
Calculations are based on the effective section at
the load for which deflections are determined

xviii
 NOTATION

Symbol Definition Section

ƒd3 Computed stress ƒ3 in edge stiffener, as shown in 2.3.2
Figure 5. Calculations are based on the effective
section at the load for which deflections are determined.
ƒv Computed shear stress on bolt 5.3.4
ƒ1,ƒ2 Web stresses defined by Figure 2 2.2.2
ƒ3 Edge stiffener stress defined by Figure 5 2.3.2
Go Initial shear modulus 3.3.2
Gs Secant shear modulus 3.3.2
Gs/Go Plasticity reduction factor for shear stress 3.3.2
g Vertical distance between two rows of connections 4.1.1
nearest to top and bottom flanges
h Depth of flat portion of web measured along plane of web 2.1.2,3.3.2,
3.3.4,App. C.2
Ia Adequate moment of inertia of stiffener so that each 2.4.1,2.4.2
component element will behave as stiffened element
Ib Moment of inertia of full, unreduced section about axis of bending 3.5
Is Actual moment of inertia of full stiffener about its own 2.1.1,2.4,2.4.1,
centroidal axis parallel to the element to be stiffened 2.4.2, 2.5
Isƒ Moment of inertia of full area of multiple stiffened element, 2.5
including intermediate stiffeners, about its own
centroidal axis parallel to element to be stiffened
Ix, Iy Moments of inertia of full section about principal axes 4.1.1,4.3.2.2
Ixy Product of inertia of full section about major and minor centroidal axes 4.3.2.2
Iyc Moment of inertia of compression portion of section
about gravity axis of the entire section about the y-axis 3.3.1.2
J St. Venant torsion constant 3.3.1.2
j Section property for torsional-flexural buckling 3.3.1.2
K Effective length factor 3.4,3.4.1
K A constant 4.3.2.2
Kb Effective length factor in plane of bending 3.5
Kc Reduction factor due to local buckling 3.6.1,3.6.2
Kt Effective length factor for torsion 3.3.1.2
Kx Effective length factor for bending about x-axis 3.3.1.2
Ky Effective length factor for bending about y-axis 3.3.1.2
k Plate buckling coefficient 2.2.1,2.2.2,2.3.1,
2.3.2,2.4.1,2.4.2
kv Shear buckling coefficient App. C.2
L Full span for simple beams, distance between inflection
points for continuous beams, twice length of cantilever beams 4.1.1,2.1.1
L Length of fillet weld 5.2.2
L Unbraced length of member 3.3.1.2,3.4.1
Lb Actual unbraced length in plane of bending 3.5
Ln Nominal live load 1.5.2
Lrn Nominal roof live load 1.5.2
Lst Length of transverse stiffener App. C.1
Lt Unbraced length of compression member for torsion 3.3.1.2
Lx Unbraced length of compression member for bending about x-axis 3.3.1.2
Ly Unbraced length of compression member for bending about y-axis 3.3.1.2
Mc Critical moment 3.3.1.2
Mld Permissible moment for local distortions 3.3.1.1

xix
NOTATION

Symbol Definition Section

Mn Nominal moment strength 3.3.1.1,3.3.1.2,
3.3.3,3.3.5,3.6.1
Mnx,Mny Nominal flexural strength about centroidal axes 3.5
determined in accordance with Section 3.3
Mu Required flexural strength 3.3.3,3.3.5
Mux Required flexural strength bent about x-axis 3.5
Muy Required flexural strength bent about y-axis 3.5
My Moment causing maximum strain ey 2.2.1,3.3.1.2
M1 Smaller end moment 3.3.1.2,3.5
M2 Larger end moment 3.3.1.2,3.5
m Distance from shear center of one channel to mid-plane of its web 4.1.1,4.3.2.2
N Actual length of bearing 3.3.4
n Coefficient App. B
P Concentrated load or reaction 4.1.1
PE 2EoIb /(KbLb)2 3.5
PL Force to be resisted by intermediate beam brace 4.3.2.2
Pld Permissible load for load distortions 3.4
Pn Nominal axial strength of member 3.3.4,3.3.5,3.4,3.6.2
Pn Nominal strength of connection 5.2.1,5.2.2,5.2.3,
5.3.1,5.3.2,5.3.3,5.3.4
Pno Nominal axial load determined in accordance 3.5
with Section 3.4 for Fn  Fy.
Pu Required axial strength 3.3.5,3.5
q Uniformly distributed factored load in plane of web 4.1.1
Rp Average tested value 6.2
R Inside bend radius 3.3.4
Ra Allowable design strength App. D
Rrn Nominal roof rain load 1.5.2
Rn Nominal strength 1.5.1.1,1.5.3
r Radius of gyration of full, unreduced cross section 3.3.1.1,3.4.1
r Force transmitted by the bolt or bolts at the
section considered, divided by the tension
force in the member at that section 5.3.2
rcy Radius of gyration of one channel about its centroidal
axis parallel to web 4.1.1
rI Radius of gyration of I-section about the axis
perpendicular to the direction in which buckling would occur
for given conditions of end support and intermediate bracing 4.1.1
ro Polar radius of gyration of cross section about shear center 3.3.1.2,3.4.3
rx,ry Radius of gyration of cross section about centroidal principal axes 3.3.1.2
S 1.28E ƒ
o / 2.4,2.4.1
Sc Elastic section modulus of effective section calculated
at stress Mc/Sƒ in extreme compression fiber 3.3.1.1,3.3.1.2
Se Elastic section modulus of effective section calculated
with extreme compression or tension fiber at Fy 3.3.1.1
SF Elastic section modulus of full, unreduced section for 3.3.1.1,3.3.1.2,3.6.1
the extreme compression fiber
Sn Nominal snow load 1.5.2
s Fastener spacing 4.1.2

xx
 NOTATION

Symbol Definition Section

s Spacing in line of stress of welds, rivets, or bolts connecting 5.3.2
a compression cover plate or sheet to a nonintegral or other element
s Weld spacing 4.1.1
smax Maximum permissible longitudinal spacing of welds or other
connectors joining two channels to form I-section 4.1.1
Tn Nominal tensile strength 3.2
Ts Strength of connection in tension 4.1.1
t Base steel thickness of any element or section 1.1.2,1.3.4,1.5.2.1,
2.1.1,2.1.2,2.2.1,2.4,
2.4.1,2.4.2,2.5,2.6.1,
3.3.1.1,3.3.1.3,3.3.2,
3.3.4,3.3.5,3.4,3.6.1,
3.6.2,4.1.2,5.2.2,5.3.2,
App. C
t Thickness of thinnest connected part 5.3.1
ts Equivalent thickness of multiple-stiffened element 2.5,App. C1
tw Effective throat of weld 5.2.2
V Actual shear strength 3.3.3
Vn Nominal shear strength 3.3.2
Vu Required shear strength 3.3.3
w Flat width of element exclusive of radii 1.1.2,2.1.2,2.2.1,2.4,
2.4.1,2.4.2,2.5,3.3.1.1,
3.3.1.3,3.3.2,3.3.4,
3.3.5,3.4,3.6.1,
3.6.2,4.1.2
w Flat width of bearing plate 3.3.5
wƒ Width of flange projection beyond web or half
distance between webs for box- or U-type sections 2.1.1c
wƒ Projection of flanges from inside face or web 2.1.1b
Wn Nominal wind load 1.5.2
x Distance from concentrated load to brace 4.3.2
xo Distance from shear center to centroid along the principal x-axis 3.3.1.2,3.4.3
Y Yield strength of web steel divided by yield strength of stiffener steel App. C.2
 Reduction factor for computing effective area of stiffener section 2.5
 Coefficient, for sections with stiffening lips, 4.1.1
  1.0; for sections without stiffening lips,   0
1/nx Magnification factor 3.5
1/ny Magnification factor 3.5
 Coefficient 3.4.3
 Plasticity reduction factor 3.3.1.1,3.4,App. B
Angle between web and bearing surface
45° but no more than 90° 3.3.4
 Poisson’s ratio in elastic range  0.3 3.3.1.1,3.4
ex Buckling stress about x-axis 3.4.2,3.4.3
ey Buckling stress about y-axis 3.3.1.2
t Torsional buckling stress 3.3.1.2,3.4.3
 Normal stress App. B
Normal strain App. B
 Reduction factor 2.2.1
 Slenderness factor 2.2.1

xxi
NOTATION

Symbol Definition Section

c 3.048C 3.6.1
 ƒ2 /ƒ1 2.2.2
 Resistance factor 1.1.1,1.5.1.1,5.2,5.2.1,
5.2.2,5.2.3,5.3.1,5.3.2,
5.3.3,5.3.4,6.2, App. D
b Resistance factor for bending strength 3.3.1,3.3.1.1,3.3.1.2,
3.3.3,3.3.5,3.5,
3.6.1,3.7
c Resistance factor for concentrically loaded compression member 3.4,3.5,3.6.2,App. C
d Resistance factor for local distortion 3.3.1.1,3.4
t Resistance factor for tension member 3.2
v Resistance factor for shear strength 3.3.2,3.3.3,App. C
w Resistance factor for web crippling strength 3.3.4,3.3.5
 Safety factor App. D

CONVERSION TABLE

This table contains some conversion factors between US Customary and SI

Metric Units. The formulas included in this Specification are generally nondi-
mensional, except that some adjustments are required for SI Unit in Section
3.3.4.

Metric Conversion Table

To convert to Multiply by

Length in. mm 25.4

mm in. 0.03937
ft m 0.30480
m ft 3.28084
Area in.2 mm2 645.160
mm2 in.2 0.00155
ft2 m2 0.09290
m2 ft2 10.76391
Forces kip force kN 4.448
lb N 4.448
kN kip 0.2248
Stresses ksi MPa 6.895
MPa ksi 0.145
Moments ft-kip kN-m 1.356
kN-m ft-kip 0.7376
Uniform loading kip/ft kN/m 14.59
kN/m kip/ft 0.06852
kip/ft2 kN/m2 47.88
kN/m2 kip/ft2 0.02089
psf N/m2 47.88
Angle degree radian 0.01745
radian degree 57.29579

xxii
Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Stainless
Steel Structural Members
1. GENERAL PROVISIONS 6. Stress. Stress as used in this Specification means
force per unit area.
1.1 Limits of Applicability and Terms 7. Performance Test. A performance test is a test
1.1.1 Scope and Limits of Applicability made on structural members, connections, and as-
This ASCE Standard Specification shall apply to semblies whose performance cannot be deter-
the design of structural members cold-formed to shape mined by the provisions of Sections 1 through 5 of
from annealed and cold-rolled sheet, strip, plate, or flat this Specification or its specific references.
bar stainless steels when used for load-carrying pur- 8. Specified Minimum Yield Strength. The specified
poses in buildings and other statically loaded struc- minimum yield strength is the lower limit of
tures. It may also be used for structures other than yield strength which varies with the rolling direc-
buildings provided appropriate allowances are made tion (transverse or longitudinal) and the type of
for thermal and/or dynamic effects. Appendices to this stress (tension or compression) must be equalled
Specification shall be considered as integral parts of or exceeded in a specification test to qualify a
the Specification. lot of steel for use in a cold-formed stainless
This ASCE Standard supersedes the 1974 edition steel structural member designed at that yield
of the Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed strength.
Stainless Steel Structural Members issued by the 9. Cold-Formed Stainless Steel Structural Members.
American Iron and Steel Institute. Cold-formed stainless steel structural members
are shapes which are manufactured by press-brak-
1.1.2 Terms ing blanks sheared from sheets, cut lengths of
Where the following terms appear in this Specifi- coils or plates, or by roll forming slit widths
cation they shall have the meaning herein indicated: from cold- or hot-rolled coils or sheets; both
forming operations being performed at ambient
1. Stiffened or Partially Stiffened Compression room temperature, that is, without manifest addi-
Elements. A stiffened or partially stiffened com- tion of heat such as would be required for hot
pression element is a flat compression element forming.
(i.e., a plane compression flange of a flexural 10. Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD). A
member or a plane web or flange of a compres- method of proportioning structural components
sion member) of which both edges parallel to (members, connectors, connecting elements and
the direction of stress are stiffened by a web, assemblages) such that no applicable limit state is
flange, stiffening lip, intermediate stiffener, or exceeded when the structure is subjected to all ap-
the like. propriate load combinations.
2. Unstiffened Compression Elements. An unstiff- 11. Design Strength. Factored resistance or strength
ened compression element is a flat compression el- (force, moment, as appropriate), Rn, provided by
ement which is stiffened at only one edge parallel the structural component.
to the direction of stress. 12. Required Strength. Load effect (force, moment, as
3. Multiple-Stiffened Elements. A multiple-stiffened appropriate) acting on the structural component
element is an element that is stiffened between determined by structural analysis from the factored
webs, or between a web and a stiffened edge, by loads (using most appropriate critical load combi-
means of intermediate stiffeners which are parallel nations).
to the direction of stress. A sub-element is the por- 13. Nominal Loads. The magnitudes of the loads spec-
tion between adjacent stiffeners or between web ified by the applicable code.
and intermediate stiffener or between edge and in- 14. Allowable Stress Design (ASD). A method of pro-
termediate stiffener. portioning structural components on the basis of
4. Flat-Width-to-Thickness Ratio. The flat width of working loads and allowable capacities.
an element measured along its plane, divided by
its thickness.
5. Effective Design Width. Where the flat width of an 1.1.3 Units of Symbols and Terms
element is reduced for design purposes, the re- The Specification is written so that any compatible
duced design width is termed the effective width system of units may be used except where explicitly
or effective design width. stated otherwise in the text of these provisions.