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ASTM A572 Specification

Forgings, Fasteners, Boltings, Stud Bolts, Screws, Nuts

Scope

ASTM A572 specification covers five grades of high-strength low-alloy structural steel shapes, plates, sheet piling, and bars. Grades 42 [290], 50 [345], and 55 [380] are intended for riveted, bolted, or welded structures. Grades 60 [415] and 65 [450] are intended for riveted or bolted construction of bridges, or for riveted, bolted, or welded construction in other applications.
For applications, such as welded bridge construction, where notch toughness is important, notch toughness requirements are to be negotiated between the purchaser and the producer.
Specification A588/A588M shall not be substituted for Specification A572/A572M without agreement between the purchaser and the supplier.
The use of columbium, vanadium, titanium, nitrogen, or combinations thereof, within the limitations noted in Section 5, is required; the selection of type (1, 2, 3, or 5) is at the option of the producer, unless otherwise specified by the purchaser. (See Supplementary Requirement S90.)
The maximum thicknesses available in the grades and products covered by this specification are shown in Table 1.
When the steel is to be welded, a welding procedure suitable for the grade of steel and intended use or service is to be utilized. See Appendix X3 of Specification A6/A6M for information on weldability.

Related Specifications of ASTM A572

ASTM A572 Chemical Composition

Diameter, Thickness, or Distance Between
Parallel Faces, in. [mm] Plates and Bars		 Structural Shape Flange or Leg Thickness, in. [mm] Grade C, max, % Mn,B max, % P, max, % S, max, % Si
Plates to 11⁄2 in. [40 mm] Thick, Shapes with
Flange or Leg Thickness to 3 in. [75 mm]
inclusive, Sheet Piling, Bars,
Zees, and Rolled TeesC		 Plates Over 11⁄2 in. [40 mm] Thick
and Shapes with Flange
Thickness Over 3 in. [75 mm]
max, % range, %
6 [150] all 42 [290] 0.21 1.35D 0.04 0.05 0.40 0.15–0.40
4 [100]E all 50 [345] 0.23 1.35D 0.04 0.05 0.40 0.15–0.40
2 [50]F all 55 [380] 0.25 1.35D 0.04 0.05 0.40 0.15–0.40
11⁄4 [32]F ≤2 [50] 60 [415] 0.26 1.35D 0.04 0.05 0.40 G
<1⁄2 – 11⁄4 [13–32] <1-2 [25-50] 65 [450] 0.23 1.65 0.04 0.05 0.40 G
≤1⁄2 [13]H ≤1H 65 [450] 0.26 1.35 0.04 0.05 0.40 G
  • A Copper when specified shall have a minimum content of 0.20 % by heat analysis (0.18 % by product analysis).
    B Manganese, minimum, by heat analysis of 0.80 % (0.75 % by product analysis) shall be required for all plates over 3⁄8 in. [10 mm] in thickness; a minimum of 0.50 % (0.45 % by product analysis) shall be required for plates 3⁄8 in. [10 mm] and less in thickness, and for all other products. The manganese to carbon ratio shall not be less than 2 to 1.
    C Bars over 1 1⁄2 in. [40 mm] in diameter, thickness, or distance between parallel faces shall be made by a killed steel practice.
    D For each reduction of 0.01 percentage point below the specified carbon maximum, an increase of 0.06 percentage point manganese above the specified maximum is permitted, up to a maximum of 1.60 %.
    E Round bars up to and including 11 in. [275 mm] in diameter are permitted.
    F Round bars up to and including 3 1⁄2 in. [90 mm] in diameter are permitted.
    G The size and grade is not described in this specification.
    H An alternative chemical requirement with a maximum carbon of 0.21 % and a maximum manganese of 1.65 % is permitted, with the balance of the elements as shown in Table 2.

ASTM A572 Mechanical Requirements

Tensile Requirements

Grade Yield Point, min Tensile Strength, min Minimum Elongation, % B,C,D
ksi [MPa] ksi [MPa] in 8 in. [200 mm] in 2 in. [50 mm]
ASTM A572 42 [290] 42 [290] 60 [415] 20 24
ASTM A572 50 [345] 50 [345] 65 [450] 18 21
ASTM A572 55 [380] 55 [380] 70 [485] 17 20
ASTM A572 60 [415] 60 [415] 75 [520] 16 18
ASTM A572 65 [450] 65 [450] 80 [550] 15 17
  • A See specimen Orientation under the Tension Tests section of Specification A6/A6M.
    B Elongation not required to be determined for floor plate.
    C For wide flange shapes over 426 lb/ft [634 kg/m], elongation in 2 in. [50 mm] of 19 % minimum applies.
    D For plates wider than 24 in. [600 mm], the elongation requirement is reduced two percentage points for Grades 42, 50, and 55 [290, 345, and 380], and three percentage points for Grades 60 and 65 [415 and 450]. See elongation requirement adjustments in the Tension Tests section of Specification A6/A6M.

ASTM A572 Certifications

  • EN 10204 3.1
  • EN 10204 3.2
  • PED 2014/68/EC
  • MERKBLATT AD 2000 W2/W7/W10
  • API 20 E BSL 1/ BSL 2
  • NACE MR 0175
  • NACE MR 0103

ASTM A572 Supplementary Requirements

S5 Charpy V-Notch Impact Test
S18 Maximum Tensile Strength
S30 Charpy V-Notch Impact Test for Structural Shapes: Alternate Core Location
S32 Single Heat Bundles
S81 Tensile Strength
S90 Type