Elevated temperature material properties of a new nickel-free austenitic stainless steel
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Liang, Zeqi
Zhang, Ruizhi
Gardner, Leroy
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
An experimental investigation into the mechanical properties of a new nickel-free high-strength austenitic stainless steel — grade EN 1.4678 (Forta H500) — at both room temperature and elevated temperatures has been conducted and is presented in this paper. A total of 42 coupons, including six for room temperature and 36 for elevated temperatures, were extracted from 6 mm EN 1.4678 stainless steel plates and tested to failure. For the elevated temperature tests, 20 coupons were subjected to isothermal conditions at temperatures ranging from 100 °C to 1000 °C, while 16 coupons were tested under anisothermal conditions at stress levels ranging from 10% to 110% of the 0.2% proof strength at room temperature. Elevated temperature reduction factors for the key material properties were derived and compared with corresponding factors specified in existing design standards. The modulus of elasticity and strengths of the EN 1.4678 stainless steel were seen to decrease with increasing temperature, while the ductility was found to decrease up to approximately 700 °C, beyond which it increased. The investigated EN 1.4678 stainless steel exhibited elevated temperature characteristics comparable to those of the austenitic I group specified in EN 1993-1-2. Use of the reduction factors of the austenitic I group is therefore recommended, except for ultimate and fracture strains, where the grade-specific reduction factors proposed herein are recommended. Finally, use of two-stage and four-stage Ramberg-Osgood models to represent the stress-strain response of EN 1.4678 stainless steel at room and elevated temperatures is evaluated; both models are shown to provide accurate results.
Date Issued
2026-01-01
Date Acceptance
2025-08-24
Citation
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2026, 236 (Part A)
ISSN
0143-974X
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Volume
236
Issue
Part A
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Subjects
BEAMS
Constitutive models
Construction & Building Technology
DESIGN
Elevated temperatures
Engineering
Engineering, Civil
Material properties
Nickel-free austenitic stainless steel
Reduction factors
RESISTANCE
Science & Technology
Steady-state tests
STRESS-STRAIN CURVES
Technology
Transient-state tests
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
109922
Date Publish Online
2025-09-12