P291: Structural design of stainless steel

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on the need for a stabilised or ‘L’ grade steel for a particular fabrication should
be sought from the steel supplier or fabricator.

Table 2.2 presents the values of the mechanical properties of the stainless steel
grades covered in this publication. The values of the 0.2% proof stress
specified in BS EN 10088 are generally about 15 N/mm2 higher than those for
the corresponding grades in the superseded standard BS 1449-2[13]. Due to their
higher carbon content, the standard carbon grades 1.4301 (304) and 1.4401
(316) tend to have slightly higher proof strength values than the corresponding
low carbon grades.

Table 2.2 Specified properties to BS EN 10088-2

Grade Minimum 0.2% Ultimate tensile Minimum
proof strength(1) strength (N/mm2) elongation after
(N/mm2) fracture %
Y0.2 Us

Basic 1.4301
210 520 – 720 45(2)
chromium- (304)
nickel
austenitic 1.4307
steels 200 500 – 650 45
(304L)

Molybdenum- 1.4401
220 520 – 670 40
chromium- (316)
nickel
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austenitic 1.4404
220 520 – 670 40
steels (316L)

1.4541
200 500 – 700 40
Stabilised (321)
austenitic
steels 1.4571
220 520 – 670 40
(320)
1.4362
(SAF 400 600 – 850 20
2304)
Duplex steels
1.4462
460 640 – 840 20
(2205)

Notes:
The properties apply to material up to 75 mm thick.
(1) Transverse properties
(2) For stretcher levelled material, the minimum values is 5% lower

Fasteners
These are addressed in BS EN ISO 3506, Corrosion-resistant stainless steel
fasteners[14]. The specification gives chemical compositions and mechanical
properties for fasteners in the austenitic, martensitic and ferritic groups.
Alternative materials not specifically covered in the specification are permitted
if they meet the physical and mechanical property requirements and have
equivalent corrosion resistance.
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In BS EN ISO 3506, bolt and nut materials are classified by a letter: ‘A’ for
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austenitic, ‘F’ for ferritic and ‘C’ for martensitic. To obtain the best corrosion
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resistance, it is recommended that austenitic fasteners are used. The letter is

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P291: Structural design of stainless steel
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followed by a number (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) that reflects the corrosion resistance, ‘1’

representing the least durable and ‘4’ and ‘5’ the most durable.

Steel grade A1 is specially designed for machining. Due to high sulphur

content, the steels within this grade have lower resistance to corrosion than
corresponding steels with normal sulphur content. Care should be exercised if
Grade A1 fasteners are being considered, see Section 2.3.1.

Steels of grade A2 have equivalent corrosion resistance to grade 1.4301 (304).

Steels of grade A3 are stabilised stainless steels with equivalent corrosion

resistance to grade 1.4541 (321). (A stabilised steel is one that contains an
addition of a strong carbide-forming agent such as titanium, which reacts
preferentially with carbon and prevents formation of chromium carbides – see
Section 2.2.1.)

Steels of grade A4 contain molybdenum and have equivalent corrosion

resistance to grade 1.4401 (316).

Steels of grade A5 are stabilised molybdenum-bearing stainless steels with

properties of grade 1.4571 (320) steel.

Austenitic fasteners can be obtained in three ultimate strength levels (known as

property classes), see Table 2.3. Note that the mechanical properties must be
agreed between the user and manufacturer for fasteners larger than M24 for
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property classes 70 and 80 as the values depend on the alloy and manufacturing
method.

The condition of the alloy in property class 50 fasteners is soft, resulting in the
highest corrosion resistance. Fasteners in this property class are likely to be
non-magnetic. Property classes 70 and 80 are formed by cold working
(drawing). In this condition, the steel is likely to be magnetic and the corrosion
resistance may be slightly lower than class 50. Property class 50 fasteners
having machined threads may be more prone to thread galling, see Section 7.6.

Appendix A lists some British specifications covering stainless steel fixings and
ancillary components.
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P291: Structural design of stainless steel
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Table 2.3 Minimum specified mechanical properties of austenitic

grade fasteners to BS EN ISO 3506
Bolts Nuts

Thread Ultimate Stress at 0.2% Proof load

Property tensile permanent stress
Grade(1) diameter
class strength(2) strain
range
(N/mm2) (N/mm2) (N/mm2)
Usb Y0.2b

A1, A2, 50 ≤ M39 500 210 500

A3, A4 70 ≤ M24 (3)
700 450 700
and A5
80 ≤ M24(3) 800 600 800

Notes:
(1) In addition to the various steel grades covered in BS EN ISO 3506 under property class 50,
70 and 80, other steel types to BS EN 10088-3 may also be used.
(2) The tensile stress is calculated on the stress area.
(3) For fasteners with nominal diameters d>24 mm, the mechanical properties are to be agreed
between user and manufacturer and marked with grade and property class according to this
table.

Castings
Cast stainless steels generally have a different chemical composition and
structure; this results in more varied mechanical properties than their wrought
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counterparts. Cast forms usually have similar corrosion resistance to the

wrought forms. BS 3100[15] and BS EN 10283[16] give specifications for
stainless steel castings for general engineering purposes.

Cast stainless steels have been used for a variety of fixings such as pin
connections, hinges for dock gates and specific architectural features in exposed
structures such as atrium roofs. They may also be used for load-bearing
components where tight tolerances are required and when welding distortion
would be too great. For large numbers of small and intricate fixings, castings
are likely to be an attractive alternative to wrought fixings.

The guidance in this publication is confined to wrought stainless steels. For

castings, it is usually necessary to carry out tests to verify the strength and
durability characteristics. Guidance on the use of castings in construction is
available[17].

2.2.2 Design values of properties

Flat Products
The value of the modulus of elasticity, E is given by BS EN 10088-1 as
200,000 N/mm2 for all the grades of stainless steel commonly used in
construction. This value may be used in any buckling analysis. For estimating
deflections, the secant modulus, Es is more appropriate; see Section 4.4.8.

The value of Poisson’s ratio, ν can be taken as 0.3. The value of the shear
modulus, G for these grades can be taken as 76,900 N/mm2.
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For design strength, three options may be considered: minimum specified

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values, verified material test data and mill certificate data.

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P291: Structural design of stainless steel
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Table 5.1 Strengths of bolts in clearance holes

Bolt grade Property Shear strength Bearing strength Tension strength
class psb pbb pt
(BS EN ISO (BS EN ISO (N/mm2) (N/mm2) (N/mm2)
3506) 3506)

50 145 511 210

A1, A2 and
70 311 828 450
A4
80 384 1008 560

Table 5.2 Bearing strength of connected parts

Grade of connected Bearing strength of connected parts
part for ordinary bolts in clearance
holes, pbs , (N/mm2)

1.4307 (304L) 468

1.4301 (304) 475

1.4401 and 1.4404
488
(316 and 316L)
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Table 5.3 Shear and tension capacities of bolts in clearance holes

(1) (2)
Bolt size Property class Shear capacity Tension capacity
(BS EN 3506) Psb Pnom
(kN) (kN)
M12 50 12.2 14.2
70 26.2 30.3
80 32.4 37.8
M16 50 22.7 26.4
70 48.7 56.5
80 60.3 70.3
M20 50 35.5 41.2
70 76.1 88.2
80 94.1 109.8
M24 50 51.1 59.3
70 109.6 127.1
80 135.6 158.1
Notes:
(1) The shear area, As has been taken as the tensile stress area of the bolt, At.
(2) The tension capacity is as given by expression (5.4) and thus includes a 20% allowance
for prying.

5.2.3 Long joints, large grip lengths and thick packing

For splices of unusual length (say 500 mm upwards), or when the grip length
(i.e. the total thickness of the connected plies) exceeds 5 bolt diameters, or the
thickness of packing exceeds d/3, the shear capacity might be reduced. In the
absence of data for stainless steel, it is recommended to use the carbon steel
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rules for these situations (e.g. BS 5950-1, clauses 6.3.2.5 and 6.3.2.3 and
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6.3.2.2).
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