Experimental Study on the Local Buckling Response of WAAM Stainless Steel Square Hollow Sections

Abstract Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) has the potential to produce free form metallic structures, suitable for use in construction industry, and so is currently being rapidly developed by structural engineers. This paper details an experimental program investigating stability performance of ten WAAM 316L stainless steel square hollow section stub columns with varying cross‐sectional slenderness. Tensile coupon tests were also carried out determine material properties builds three different directions relative printing direction. The tensile revealed a high degree anisotropy while ductility requirements set Eurocode 3 are met all coupons. Two thickness parameters (i.e. average minimum thickness) obtained through geometric analysis columns, used conjunction design rules conventional steels. predictions load‐carrying capacities offered these two treatments compared column test results, confirming applicability current rule, along recommended treatments.