Use of stainless steels in bus coach structures

This study focuses on weld integrity of stainless steels in bus coach applications. Safety aspects have been studied based on fracture mechanics and impact toughness testing. Fatigue resistance of welded rectangular hollow section (RHS) profiles was evaluated according to the Eurocode 3 (1992) fatigue standard. Corrosion resistance was studied by salt-spray chamber tests in a deicing salt atmosphere and by field testing for 3 years under an urban bus. The mechanical tests show that austenitic stainless steel EN 1.4310 (AISI 301) is a superior material, and a low-C 12% Cr alloyed stainless steel EN 1.4003 is also a competitive material in bus coach applications. According to the life cycle cost (LCC) calculations, stainless steels are competitive compared with carbon steels or aluminum.