Stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant alloy of iron, chromium,
and, in some cases, nickel and other metals. There are a variety
of uses for stainless steel in construction; it is mostly used
for impact-resistant structures such as security walls, gates,
security barriers, etc. A reason why it is used for construction
is that it needs little maintenance and offers good strength,
toughness, and fatigue properties. One of the advantages of using
stainless steel for construction is its durability. Its high
chromium content makes it highly resistant to corrosion and
rusting. There are different types of stainless steel and those
are: austenitic, ferritic, martensitic, duplex (austenitic-
ferritic), or precipitation
PROPERTIES
CONDUCTIVITY- Stainless steels are weak electrical conductors,
with electrical conductivities lower than copper. Their strong
protective oxide layer affects their non-electrical contact
resistance (ECR), which restricts their use in electrical
connector applications. Lower ECR values can be found in copper
alloys and nickel-coated relations.
MELTING POINT- As with most alloys, the melting point of
stainless steel is expressed as a range of temperatures instead
of a single value. The range of temperatures varies depending on
the particular quality of the alloy in question and ranges from
1,400 to 1,530 °C (2,550 to 2,790 °F)
HARDNESS- Stainless steel is a highly durable metal with an
excellent degree of hardness. Two significant elements, chromium
and nickel, are the primary causes of this property. On the
material's surface, chromium creates an oxide coating that
shields it from corrosion and wear. Meanwhile, nickel increases
the metal's overall hardness by improving its ductility and
strength. Also, to boost the hardness of stainless steel, it can
be heat-treated through annealing or quenching.
THERMAL CONDUCTION- The composition and structure of stainless
steel change its thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity
of stainless steel varies from 15 to 20 W/mK. As a result, it
retains more energy which allows to maintain the environment's
temperature.
MAGNETISM- Martensitic, duplex, and ferritic stainless steels are
magnetic, while austenitic steel is non-magnetic. Ferritic
steel's magnetism is due to its body-centered cubic crystal
structure, limiting carbon absorption to 0.025%.
CORROSION- Nitrogen addition enhances corrosion resistance and
mechanical strength in stainless steel grades, varying chromium
and molybdenum content.
WEAR- Galling, also known as cold welding, is severe adhesive
wear caused by metal surfaces moving under pressure, affecting
Austenitic stainless steel fasteners and other self-generating
alloys.
DENSITY- The density of stainless steel can be somewhere between
7,500kg/m3 to 8,000kg/m3 depending on the alloy.
Illustration
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a
sudden cracking and failure of a component without deformation.
It may occur when three conditions are met:
The part is stressed (by an applied load or by residual
stress).
The environment is aggressive (high chloride level,
temperature above 50 °C (120 °F), presence of H2S).
The stainless steel is not sufficiently SCC-resistant.
The SCC mechanism results from the following sequence of events:
1.Pitting occurs.
2.Cracks start from a pit initiation site.
3.Cracks then propagate through the metal in a transgranular
or intergranular mode.
4.Failure occurs.
SHEARING STRESS
BENDING STRESS
Allowable bending stress is a crucial factor in the construction
industry, as it determines the maximum bending stress and
allowable bending stress. The formula for calculating allowable
bending stress is σallowable = σmax/Fs. To calculate allowable
bending stress, determine the factor of safety based on the
application and maximum bending stress. Aluminum has a mechanical
advantage due to its lighter weight, with grades like 3003, 5052,
and 5083 being easily bent. The bending strength of plywood
depends on the number of plies, thickness, and grain arrangement.
Wood also has various allowable bending stress values.
