Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures

Haitham Al Adawani; Tuan Zaharinie Binti Tuan Zahari; Muhammad Khairi Faiz Ahmad Hairuddin

doi:10.64808/engineeringperspective.1847881

Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures

Abstract

Austenitic stainless steels, specifically AISI 304 (EN 1.4301), are increasingly utilized in structural and architectural engineering due to their superior corrosion resistance and durability. However, the residual performance of cold-worked stainless-steel reinforcement after exposure to elevated temperatures remains a critical concern for structural safety assessments. This study presents a comprehensive finite element (FE) analysis aimed at predicting the residual mechanical behavior of cold-worked AISI 304 reinforcing bars. The numerical framework incorporates user-defined material parameters within an isotropic elastic model coupled with a multi-linear isotropic hardening model. The predictive capability of these models was evaluated against experimental data across three cooling regimes: Water Quenching (Q), Air Cooling (A), and Slow Furnace Cooling (S). The results demonstrate a robust correlation between the numerical simulations and experimental observations for both virgin and thermally exposed materials. The FE models achieved high precision, with discrepancies in ultimate tensile strength (𝑓ᵤ) generally restricted to less than 1.3%. The deviation in the 0.2% proof strength (𝑓0.2p) was maintained within 6.5% for the majority of cases, with minor exceptions reaching 8.01% for rapid water cooling at 700 °C and 6.53% for slow cooling at 900 °C. the findings indicate that the proposed modeling approach effectively captures the complex stress-strain response and total strain components across diverse thermal histories. This study provides a validated numerical tool for the structural fire engineering community to assess the post-fire capacity of stainless-steel reinforced structures with high confidence.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Acknowledgment The authors gratefully acknowledge the Universiti Malaya (UM) for providing the necessary facilities and resources for this research. This research was supported by the Faculty of Engineering Programme under a special funding aid, Bantuan Khas Penyelidikan (BKPFK-2024-15), Universiti Malaya.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Steel Structures , Fire Safety Engineering, Metals and Alloy Materials

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Haitham Al Adawani ^*
Malaysia

Tuan Zaharinie Binti Tuan Zahari
0000-0001-7772-8209
Malaysia

Muhammad Khairi Faiz Ahmad Hairuddin
0000-0001-9173-6053
Malaysia

Publication Date

March 30, 2026

Submission Date

December 29, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.64808/engineeringperspective.1847881

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA37CJ35ME

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Al Adawani, H., Tuan Zahari, T. Z. B., & Ahmad Hairuddin, M. K. F. (2026). Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures. Engineering Perspective, 6(2), 277-286. https://doi.org/10.64808/engineeringperspective.1847881

AMA

1.Al Adawani H, Tuan Zahari TZB, Ahmad Hairuddin MKF. Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures. engineeringperspective. 2026;6(2):277-286. doi:10.64808/engineeringperspective.1847881

Chicago

Al Adawani, Haitham, Tuan Zaharinie Binti Tuan Zahari, and Muhammad Khairi Faiz Ahmad Hairuddin. 2026. “Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars After Exposure to Elevated Temperatures”. Engineering Perspective 6 (2): 277-86. https://doi.org/10.64808/engineeringperspective.1847881.

EndNote

Al Adawani H, Tuan Zahari TZB, Ahmad Hairuddin MKF (March 1, 2026) Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures. Engineering Perspective 6 2 277–286.

IEEE

[1]H. Al Adawani, T. Z. B. Tuan Zahari, and M. K. F. Ahmad Hairuddin, “Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures”, engineeringperspective, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 277–286, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.64808/engineeringperspective.1847881.

ISNAD

Al Adawani, Haitham - Tuan Zahari, Tuan Zaharinie Binti - Ahmad Hairuddin, Muhammad Khairi Faiz. “Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars After Exposure to Elevated Temperatures”. Engineering Perspective 6/2 (March 1, 2026): 277-286. https://doi.org/10.64808/engineeringperspective.1847881.

JAMA

1.Al Adawani H, Tuan Zahari TZB, Ahmad Hairuddin MKF. Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures. engineeringperspective. 2026;6:277–286.

MLA

Al Adawani, Haitham, et al. “Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars After Exposure to Elevated Temperatures”. Engineering Perspective, vol. 6, no. 2, Mar. 2026, pp. 277-86, doi:10.64808/engineeringperspective.1847881.

Vancouver

1.Haitham Al Adawani, Tuan Zaharinie Binti Tuan Zahari, Muhammad Khairi Faiz Ahmad Hairuddin. Finite Element Analysis of the Residual Mechanical Behaviour of Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures. engineeringperspective. 2026 Mar. 1;6(2):277-86. doi:10.64808/engineeringperspective.1847881