scope:

SCOPE OF THIS DESIGN GUIDE

This Design Guide contains information on a wide range of topics relating to the design of stainless steel structures, complementing the provisions in ANSI/AISC 370, Specification for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings (AISC, 2021b), hereafter referred to as ANSI/AISC 370. The design tables and examples herein comply with the requirements of ANSI/AISC 370.

ANSI/AISC 370 follows the contents and structure of ANSI/AISC 360, Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC, 2016), hereafter referred to as ANSI/AISC 360, as closely as possible. The provisions in ANSI/AISC 370 have, as much as possible, been harmonized with ANSI/AISC 360.

ANSI/AISC 370 applies to the design of structural hotrolled or welded open sections, such as I-shaped members, channels, and equal-leg angles. It also applies to rectangular and round hollow structural sections (HSS). Guidance on the design of structural members cold-formed to shape from annealed and cold-rolled austenitic, ferritic, and duplex stainless steel alloys is available from ASCE/SEI 8, Specification for the Design of Stainless Steel Cold-Formed Structural Members (ASCE, 2021), hereafter referred to as ASCE/SEI 8.

The ANSI/AISC 370 provisions apply to austenitic and duplex stainless steels; these are the most appropriate stainless steels for welded, hot-rolled, or extruded structural shapes. In addition to this, some provisions are given on the use of precipitation hardening stainless steel for tension members, fittings, and fasteners.

ANSI/AISC 370 and this Design Guide are intended for the design of primary and secondary structural building components. For special structures, such as those in nuclear installations or pressure vessels, additional requirements may need to be considered.

Guidance on loads, load combinations, system limitations, and general design requirements is given in ASCE/SEI 7, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE, 2016).

This Design Guide addresses various topics related to stainless steel building design and construction. Guidance on properties and specification requirements are given in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 covers alloy selection and durability. Chapter 4 provides the dimensions and properties for common structural products. An overview of the differences between designing with stainless steel using ANSI/AISC 370 and carbon steel using ANSI/AISC 360 is given in Chapter 5. Design tables for compression and flexural members are given in Chapters 6 and 7. Chapter 8 addresses members subject to combined forces. Chapter 9 discusses the use of the continuous strength method. Guidance on connections is given in Chapter 10, accompanied by design tables for bolted connections. Fabrication and erection are covered in Chapter 11.

The following structural sections are covered in this publication:

• W- and S-shapes

• C- and MC-shapes

• Equal-leg angles

• Rectangular HSS

• Square HSS

• Round HSS

• Pipe

At the time of publication, the sections listed herein are generally available to order in the United States. Availability from stock varies greatly with section size and alloy.