This Master Thesis consists of the development of an experimental program related to the cross-sectional behaviour of austenitic stainless steel beams and stub columns. The tests are performed on both compact and slender sections under pure bending and pure compression. Current design codes will be evaluated with the results obtained. The tests are framed within a vaster study related to the structural behaviour of austenitic stainless steel elements at the frames, columns, beams and material levels.