ASTM structural steel plate grades

ASTM structural steel plates are widely used in buildings, Bridges and industrial structures. Each grade, such as A36, A516, A572, etc., corresponds to specific uses and performance requirements. A reasonable selection of grades can enable the project to balance safety and economy. Next, I will introduce to you several common ASTM structural steel plate grades:

1.ASTM A36

ASTM A36 steel is a common low-carbon structural steel, renowned for its excellent weldability and processing performance, and is one of the most commonly used materials in building structures.
Chemical composition characteristics: The carbon content is relatively low, usually ≤0.25%, and it also contains small amounts of manganese, sulfur, phosphorus and other elements. The range of chemical composition is relatively wide.
Mechanical properties: Yield strength is not less than 36Ksi, tensile strength is 400-550 MPa, elongation is 20%.
Performance features: It has excellent weldability and processability and can be welded by various methods. Economical and practical, it is the most commonly used structural steel.
Application: ASTM A36 steel plates have a wide range of applications and are often used in building steel structures, Bridges, mechanical manufacturing, steel frames, etc.

2.ASTM A283

ASTM A283 steel is a low to medium strength carbon steel plate. It is easy to process and manufacture, suitable for withstanding light to medium structural loads, and is often used in warehouse, storage tank and ship structures. There are four grades (A, B, C, and D), among which grades C and D are the most common in structural buildings. Its ductility is slightly stronger than that of A36, but its strength is slightly lower.
Chemical composition characteristics: Carbon content 0.21% - 0.25%, manganese content 0.85-1.3%.
Mechanical properties: Yield strength 210-280 MPa (varies by grade), tensile strength 340-430 MPa.
Typical applications: It is often used in warehouse structures, riveting of Bridges and buildings, ships, storage tanks and low to medium strength structural components.

3.ASTM A516

ASTM A516 steel is a kind of carbon steel plate used in pressure vessels and boilers. It has good toughness and pressure resistance performance and is a commonly used material in the chemical and storage tank industries. ASTM A516 mainly has four grades: 55, 60, 65 and 70. The higher the grade, the stronger the pressure it can withstand.
Chemical composition characteristics: Carbon content is approximately 0.25%, containing small amounts of Mn and Si.
Mechanical properties: Yield strength 241-290 MPa, tensile strength 415-550 MPa, elongation 20%.
Typical uses: It is often used in pressure vessels, boilers, storage tanks, chemical equipment and other fields.

4.ASTM A514

ASTM A514 steel is a kind of high-strength low-alloy steel with high yield strength and good weldability. It is suitable for Bridges and heavy structures and can withstand high structural stress. It has multiple grades, including: A, B, E, F, H, P, Q and S.
Chemical composition characteristics: It contains 0.12-0.2% C and 0.8-1.2% Mn. The alloying elements in it can increase the yield strength of steel.
Mechanical properties: Yield strength is 690-740 MPa, tensile strength is 740-810 MPa.
Typical applications: Suitable for welding Bridges, heavy structures, and applications that require wear resistance and high impact performance.

5.ASTM A572

ASTM A572 steel is a kind of high-strength low-alloy steel, which combines good toughness and weldability, and is widely used in Bridges, building structures and steel structure projects. It has five grades: 42, 50, 55, 60 and 65. Among them, 42, 50 and 55 are most suitable for riveted, bolted or welded structures, while 60 and 65 are most suitable for riveted or bolted structures of Bridges, or riveted, bolted or welded structures for other purposes.
Chemical composition characteristics: It contains C ≤0.23% and Mn 1.35%. The chemical composition varies among different grades.
Mechanical properties: Yield strength 290-450 MPa, tensile strength 450-620 MPa.
Typical applications: Bridges, building structures, steel structure projects.

Summary

ASTM structural steel plates, with their standardized performance and diverse grades, are widely used in industries such as construction, Bridges, mechanical manufacturing, energy, and pressure vessels. Different grades such as A36, A516, A572, etc. each have their own advantages in terms of strength, toughness, corrosion resistance and weldability, meeting the multi-level demands ranging from conventional engineering to high-strength and weather-resistant environments.

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