Revised ASCE specification for the design of cold-formed stainless steel structural members

Since the publication of the first edition of the AISI specification for the design of light gage cold-formed stainless steel structural members in 1968 [Specification for the design of light gage cold-formed stainless steel structural members. 1968 ed. American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI); 1968], cold-formed stainless steel members have been increasingly used in building construction and other structural applications due to their superior corrosion resistance, ease of maintenance, pleasing appearance, and high strength. In 1990, the first ASCE standard, ANSI/ASCE-8-90 [Specification for the design of cold-formed stainless steel structural members (ANSI/ASCE 8-90). American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); 1991], was published by the American Society of Civil Engineers to provide the LRFD and ASD criteria for the design of cold-formed stainless steel structural members. This ASCE Standard was revised in 2002 as SEI/ASCE 8-02 [Specification for the design of cold-formed stainless steel structural members (SEI/ASCE 8-02). American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); 2002]. The updated ASCE specification supersedes the 1990 edition of the specification. This paper reviews the background information for the development of the ASCE design standard and summarizes the revisions made in the updated specification. A design example of column section, utilizing the design requirements of the standard, is also presented in this paper. Specified design provisions for members and connections are briefly summarized herein. For details, see the ASCE publication [Specification for the design of cold-formed stainless steel structural members (SEI/ASCE 8-02). American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); 2002].