THE 14 MOST WIDELY USED ASTM STEEL SPECIFICATIONS IN INDUSTRY

Fourteen ASTM specifications cover common carbon steels, HSLA steels, and quenched and tempered structural steels.  They are: A36, A53, A242, A440, A441, A514, A517, A572, A588, A606, A607, A618, A633, A709, A710, and A809.

ASTM A36. Covers carbon steel sheets, plates, and bars of structural quality, for use in riveted, bolted, and welded bridge and building construction, and for general structural purposes.  Tensile strength requirements range from 58 to 80 ksi, and yield strength of 35 ksi minimum.

ASTM A53. Covers seamless and welded black and hot-dip galvanized steel pipe, in NPS 1/8 through 26, and wall thicknesses from 0.068″ through 2.344″.  Yield strength requirements range from 25 to 35 ksi minimum, and tensile strength from 45 to 60 ksi for three types and two grades.

ASTM A242 (Cor-Ten) covers HSLA structural steel shapes, plates, and bars for welded, riveted, or bolted construction.  The maximum carbon content of these steels is 0.24%; the typical content ranges from 0.09 to 0.17%.  Materials produced to this specification are intended primarily for structural members where durability and light weight are important.

Some producers can supply steels containing copper (0.20% copper minimum, with approximately twice the atmospheric corrosion resistance of carbon steels).  Steels meeting the requirements of ASTM A242, although modified to provide four times the atmospheric corrosion resistance of structural steels, are also available. 

These newer grades, sometimes called “weathering steels,” are used for structural and architectural purposes where painting is to be avoided for aesthetic or economic reasons.

Welding characteristics vary according to the type of steel; producers can recommend the most weldable material and offer welding guidance if the conditions under which welding will be performed are known.

ASTM A374 covers cold-rolled sheets and strips with a minimum yield strength of 45 ksi.  It is similar in many respects to A242.

ASTM A375 covers hot-rolled strips and sheets with a minimum yield strength of 50 ksi.  It is similar in many respects to A242.

ASTM A440 covers high-strength intermediate-manganese HSLA steels containing copper, used primarily for riveted or bolted structures.  These steels are not generally recommended for welding, due to their relatively high carbon and manganese contents.  ASTM A440 and its companion, A441, have the same minimum mechanical properties as A242.

A440 steels have approximately twice the atmospheric corrosion resistance of carbon structural steels, and very good abrasion resistance.  The high manganese content, typically around 1.45%, tends to produce a weld metal that air-hardens, a condition that can result in high stresses and weld cracking.  If these steels must be welded, careful preheating is required, higher than that for A441.

ASTM A441 covers intermediate-manganese HSLA steels, which are readily weldable with proper procedures.  The specification requires vanadium additions and a lower manganese content, 1.25% maximum, than ASTM A440.  The minimum mechanical properties are the same as those of A242 and A440 steels, except that I-shapes and bars from 4 to 8″ in thickness are covered by A441.

The atmospheric corrosion resistance of this steel is approximately twice that of carbon structural steels.  Another property of ASTM A441 steels is their superior toughness at low temperatures.  Only shapes, plates, and bars are covered by the specification, although weldable strips and sheets can be supplied by some manufacturers with approximately the same minimum mechanical properties.

ASTM A500 covers cold-formed welded and seamless round, square, rectangular, and special-shaped structural tubing for welded, riveted, and bolted construction of bridges and buildings, and for general structural purposes. 

This tubing is produced in both welded and seamless sizes with a maximum periphery of 64″ and a maximum wall thickness of 0.625″.  Minimum strength properties range from 33 ksi yield and 45 ksi tensile for Grade A, to 46 ksi yield and 62 ksi tensile for Grade C.

ASTM A501 covers hot-formed welded and seamless round, square, rectangular, and special-shaped structural tubing for welded, riveted, and bolted construction of bridges and buildings, and for general structural purposes.  Square and rectangular tubing can be supplied in sizes from 1″ to 10″ flat-width sides, and wall thicknesses from 0.095″ to 1.00″.  Minimum tensile strength requirements are 58 ksi, and yield strength 38 ksi.

ASTM A514 covers quenched and tempered alloy steel plates of structural quality in thicknesses of 6″ and under, intended primarily for use in welded bridges and other structures.  Tensile strength requirements range from 100 to 130 ksi and yield strength from 90 to 100 ksi.

ASTM A516 covers carbon steel plates intended primarily for service in welded pressure vessels where improved notch toughness is important.  These plates are supplied in four grades with tensile strength requirements ranging from 55 to 90 ksi, and yield strength from 30 to 38 ksi.

ASTM A517 covers high-strength quenched and tempered alloy steel plates intended for use in fusion-welded boilers and other pressure vessels.  Plates are available in 12 grades ranging in thickness from 1.25″ to 6″, with tensile strength requirements of 115 to 135 ksi, and yield strength of 10 ksi maximum.

ASTM A529 covers carbon steel plates and bars less than ½” in thickness or diameter, and Group 1 shapes shown in Table A of ASTM Specification A6/A6M, of structural quality for use in building structural systems, trusses, and related structures for welded, riveted, or bolted construction.  Tensile strength requirements are 60 to 85 ksi, and yield strength 42 ksi minimum.

ASTM A570 covers hot-rolled carbon steel strips and sheets of structural quality in cut lengths or coils.  Available in thicknesses up to 0.229″ and seven grades.  Minimum tensile strength requirements range from 49 ksi and 30 ksi yield for Grade 30, to 70 ksi tensile and 55 ksi yield for Grade 55.

ASTM A572 includes six grades of high-strength low-alloy structural steels in shapes, plates, and bars.  These steels offer a choice of strength levels ranging from 42 to 65 ksi yield strength.  Proprietary HSLA steels of this type, with 70 and 75 ksi yield points, are also available.  Increased care is required when welding these steels as the strength level increases.

A572 steels are distinguished from other HSLA steels by their columbium, vanadium, and nitrogen content.  Copper additions above a minimum of 0.20% can be specified for atmospheric corrosion resistance approximately twice that of carbon structural steels.

A supplementary requirement is included in the specification, allowing the specific alloying elements required in the steel to be designated. Some examples are Type 1 designation for columbium, Type 2 for vanadium, Type 3 for columbium, and Type 4 for vanadium and nitrogen.  Specific grade designations must accompany these type requirements.

ASTM A588 provides a weathering steel similar to A242, except that the 50 ksi yield point is available in thicknesses up to at least 4″.

ASTM A606 covers high-strength low-alloy hot-rolled and cold-rolled strips and sheets, in cut lengths or coils, intended for use in structural and miscellaneous purposes where weight savings and durability are important.  They have enhanced atmospheric corrosion resistance and are supplied in two types: Type 1 containing a minimum of 0.02% copper; Type 4 provides a level of corrosion resistance substantially better than that of carbon steels, with or without copper.

ASTM A607 covers high-strength low-alloy hot-rolled strips and sheets, or cold-rolled sheets, with columbium or vanadium, or a combination of these, in cut lengths or coils for applications where higher strengths and weight savings are important.  The steels are available in two classes similar in strength level.  Class 2 offers improved weldability and formability over Class 1.  When copper is specified, the atmospheric corrosion resistance is twice that of plain carbon steel.

ASTM A618 covers grades of cold-formed welded and seamless high-strength low-alloy square, rectangular, round, or special-shaped tubing for welded, riveted, or bolted bridge and building construction, and for general structural purposes.  Grades Ia and Ib have substantially better atmospheric corrosion resistance than Grade II.

ASTM A633 covers normalized high-strength low-alloy structural steel plates for welded, riveted, or bolted construction.  It is suitable for use at temperatures down to -50°F and at higher temperatures where higher than normal notch toughness is expected.  Four grades, A, C, D, and E, cover a yield strength range from 42 to 60 ksi.

ASTM A709 covers carbon and high-strength low-alloy structural steel bars, shapes, and plates, and quenched and tempered alloy steel for structural plate intended for use in bridges.  Six grades are available in four yield strength levels of 36, 50, 70, and 100 ksi.  Grades 50W, 70W, and 100W have enhanced atmospheric corrosion resistance.

ASTM A710 covers age-hardening low-carbon nickel-copper-chromium-molybdenum-columbium, nickel-copper-columbium, and nickel-copper-manganese-molybdenum-columbium alloy steel plates for general applications.  Three different grades and three different conditions provide minimum yield strengths from 50 to 90 ksi.

ASTM A808 covers hot-rolled high-strength low-alloy alloy steel plates with improved notch toughness in the as-rolled condition.  The maximum thickness is 2½”.  Tensile strength property requirements range from 60 to 65 ksi minimum, and yield strength from 42 to 50 ksi.