13.07: Extension of EN 1993‐1‐10 and EN 1993‐1‐12: To higher strengths and thinner sections

Abstract

The Eurocode 3 sections EN 1993-1-10 and EN 1993-1-12 contain tables for the maximum permissible values of element thickness as a function of steel grade, quality and reference temperature. The tables cover steel strengths from S235 to S700 and section thicknesses above 10 mm. The tables have been constructed based on a fracture mechanical brittle fracture analysis using a Charpy-V impact energy criterion as reference.Ultra high strength steels above 700 MPa are not covered by the tables. Such steels are generally used in thinner sections than 10 mm, when the tables in EN 1993-1-10 and EN 1993-1-12 are limited to section thicknesses above 10 mm. Here, the same basic procedure as used for the tables in EN 1993-1-10 and EN 1993-1-12 is used to extend them to higher strength steels and thinner sections. The procedure is modified slightly to account for special characteristics of ultra high strength steels and thin sections. These modifications do not affect the present tables, but they provide a smooth transition to higher strength steels and thinner sections. The strong inherent conservatism in the EN 1993-1-10 procedure is not affected either.