الفهرس 
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Abstract
This thesis reports tests performed on stainless steel built-up section columns (SSBUSC).The tests augmented available tests in the field and provided useful information regarding the buckling behavior of the columns and the column strengths, which can be validate and verify nonlinear finite element models. The tests were simply operated and columns had different cross section geometries. The load-axial shortening curves, load-axial strain curves, failure modes and column strengths were observed in the tests. The tests results were used to validate and verify a nonlinear 3-D finite element model, which accounted for the nonlinear material behavior of the stainless steel columns, initial geometric imperfections and geometric nonlinearities. The load-axial shortening curves, failure modes and column strengths were predicted from the finite element analysis and compared well against the test results. Parametric studies were performed using the verified finite element model to investigate the effects of different parameters affect the buckling behavior and strength of the columns. The parameters investigated comprised different column lengths, different stainless steel types, different geometries and different slendernesses. The column strengths obtained from the current study were compared against the design values calculated using the European Code(EC3) and also compered with americn specification (AISC). All results are generally slightly conservative for high strength stainless steel (duplex stainless steel 4462) and unconservative for low strength stainless steel (austenitic stainless steel 304).