Stainless Steel Design Basics

[bookowski]

Real basic questions here. I tried posting this in the steel design forum with no luck.

I have not worked with stainless before and I'm finding it difficult to get design information based on a US code. There is an ASCE document but short of buying that can someone point me in the right direction?

I have a sign (about 4' wide x 8.5' tall) that is supported by two pipes. Wind pressure is about 30psf and it is close to the ocean (marine env). The pipes will have a base plate anchored to a concrete mat. The only information that I have found so far has given me an allowable bending stress of 30ksi for 304 stainless in pipe. I'm assuming that I can just do a straight M/S to check this. What about the base plate - is there a different allowable stress for 304 plates vs pipes? The tables that I have found so far list 30ksi for pipe but lower values for non-pipe sections. How about welds - is there any reduction in the weld area similar to aluminum design?

thanks in advance

 

[SAIL3]

Fy of about 30ksi sounds about right and can be used for plate.
There is no major reduction for welding for 304ss similar to aluminum. If I remember correctly, I think I used 0.6k/in per 1/16" fillet weld using ASD loads.
Ofcourse, one should spec the appropriate eltrode and procedure for welding 304ss.
The modulus of elasticity for ss is not as well defined or constant as in carbon steel up to yield. So the tangent modulus (Et) would be more accurate to use at a given state of stress but this involves an iterative process..so can become cumbersome.
Right or wrong, I have not personally used this varying Et in any ss design and have used an E of 28,000ksi for 304ss in the past.
ASI/ASCE 8-02, I believe, addresses some ss design but have not read it as yet.